- A 3-D printed keyboard project was discussed, including a Thingiverse link to “keyboard pants” and the abandoned attempt to solder traces or use conductive thread on flexible silicone keyboards.  
- DARPA solicitation SN-10-67 (“Adaptive Vehicle Make”) was flagged; the FBO.gov page and an associated conference registration site were shared.  
- The open-source-hardware definition debate was referenced via a Wired article questioning what truly counts as open-source hardware.  
- A compact, web-enabled hydroponic “LabBox Grower” was highlighted—an automated micro-grow system that can be monitored and even tweet its status.  
- Ongoing frustration with NURBS (Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines) data structures was detailed, centering on why a single integer is used to encode 3-D coordinates and the confusing indexing scheme in legacy code from a 1990s Tripod-hosted library.  
- Conversation turned to Turritopsis dohrnii, the “immortal jellyfish,” and the feasibility of using its developmental-reversion genes for human gene therapy; skepticism was voiced about simply ingesting jellyfish-derived antioxidants.  
- Practical biohacking anecdotes included splitting two $4 USB keyboards to build a custom split keyboard and the need for PI supervision when handling chemicals on university campuses.  
- MIT Media Lab and its new glass-walled building (“glass hamster cage”) were briefly critiqued for favoring artistic demos over rigorous engineering.  
- A chemistry graduate student described using GROMACS, CHARMM, and NAMD for metadynamics and coarse-graining simulations, with future plans for synthetic mitochondria-like organelles that could deliver gene therapy or trigger cellular “reset” mechanisms.