- IBM’s DNA-scaffolding lithography was highlighted as a route to sub-22 nm semiconductor nodes by using DNA molecules to position millions of carbon nanotubes, potentially leap-frogging conventional lithography limits.  
- A YAML-based parts-description format (http://adl.serveftp.org/skdb/packages/screw/metadata.yaml) was proposed for open-source hardware repositories to encode mechanical attributes such as torque, voltage, and corrosion resistance for components like stepper motors.  
- The complete LDraw Lego parts library and the LSculpt tool (http://lego.bldesign.org/LSculpt/) were shared as a toolchain for converting arbitrary 3-D meshes into buildable Lego models, bridging hobbyist CAD and rapid prototyping.  
- Proprietary “.repo” XML archives from the ADL lab were reverse-engineered with custom Perl scripts to extract base64-encoded design files, demonstrating practical repository archaeology for liberating closed hardware data.  
- A spacecraft thermal-management concept was proposed: retractable radiator fins that deploy only during high-power weapon firing to minimize the persistent “radiator Achilles heel” in combat scenarios.  
- Genetic-algorithm guidance for simulated rockets was reported, alongside anecdotal evidence that even children grasp PID control when given hands-on experiments, underscoring the value of interactive learning in control theory.  
- Participants argued that journal paywalls are economically obsolete when ubiquitous Wi-Fi can deliver hundreds of papers in minutes, envisioning “free bandwidth” as latency and throughput sufficient for trans-Pacific telepresence via stereo-camera telerobots.  
- Two ultra-low-cost DIY CNC builds—an Instructables 3-axis desktop mill and a “$30 Milling Machine”—were circulated, along with practical machining notes for fabricating an end-mill holder from 1.25-inch steel rod.