• A new 3-D shape-segmentation pipeline for Reeb-graph construction was proposed: locate local Gaussian-curvature extrema, compute a geodesic-distance scalar field “mu” from every surface point to each extremum, threshold the field, and treat contiguous intervals as graph nodes; exact-geodesic code from Scilab and the Google Code “ExactGeodic” project were recommended for implementation.

• The DIYbio community debated whether to prioritize support for well-funded iGEM university teams or focus scarce resources on the estimated 20–100 true basement/amateur biohackers, while also exploring open, low-cost lab automation such as $30 robotic pipetting printers and community “fab-lab” wet-labs on every block.

• Virus-templated nanomaterials were spotlighted via two Angela Belcher papers showing genetically engineered M13 viruses assembling high-power Li-ion battery electrodes (gold/cobalt nanowires), with discussion of energy density gains and sourcing raw materials from seawater.

• Exoskeleton power requirements were benchmarked: the Berkeley BLEEX consumes ~250 W (≈70 lithium cells, ~$300), prompting ideas for spring-stilt legs to reach 30 mph running speeds and calls for open datasets on power budgets; Lockheed Martin’s HULC and Nissan’s “old-suit” geriatric simulator were cited as contrasting augmentation vs. empathy approaches.

• A 1,000 × 1,000 Euclidean distance matrix across 3,000 designs was generated from component-to-component DSMs, yielding the 50 most divergent designs; related mechanical-assembly research papers on Lego shape grammars, mating-trajectory analysis, and gap-based fitting were shared.

• Open-manufacturing tooling links included Physical Design Co.’s shape-grammar-to-CNC-plywood software, Jukumagic’s stripboard CAD with netlist import, and Eric Hunting’s critique of MIT-style top-down fab-labs versus organic, urban-scalable community workshops.

• Forum vs. mailing-list friction arose over how to engage 1,000+ iGEM students—options ranged from new forums/mail2forum gateways to consolidated cross-posted lists with better archival indexing like kanzure’s categorized openmanufacturing archives.

• Additional resources circulated: Johns Hopkins shape-analysis course page, Keith Price’s skeleton-based recognition bibliography, LyX for LaTeX math notes, and vym (view your mind) for Linux visual note-taking.