- The “Mockingbird” reusable micro-rocket was discussed: a claimed $1 M vehicle able to lift ~10 kg, translating to $100 k/kg at single use, $10 k/kg after 10 flights, $1 k/kg after 100 flights, and $100/kg after 1 000 flights, with the degree of reusability seen as the main uncertainty.  
- A participant planned to meet SpaceX recruiters at a university career fair and was urged to suggest better public-engagement strategies, including contacting Cariann from SpaceVidcast.  
- UC San Francisco researchers reportedly identified a sperm-cell proton-channel that triggers the electrical “start signal” for fertilization, a possible target for future reproductive or contraceptive bio-interventions.  
- Smart-buildings.com was pitched as a low-cost building-automation platform: ~$20 k to instrument 200 k ft² using custom PCBs on every floor to reach the required price point.  
- The “Gene Bay” concept—an open, distributed marketplace for DNA synthesis—was reframed: instead of a single public site, each synthesis company could host its own instance, enabling contract aggregation without direct supplier competition.  
- A Kenya FabLab demonstrated digitizing a mahogany rhino model and machining a ¾-scale replica in soapstone on a Roland Modela desktop mill, highlighting the machine’s ability to cut soft stone.  
- Links collected include Yann LeCun’s publication index (deep-learning resources), Walmart’s new Sustainability Consortium, Texas Emerging Technology Fund, and a longevity-research paper repository on designfiles.org.