- A discussion of “serious games” for science—FoldIt, GalaxyZoo, Phylo—prompted a call for additional examples and the mention of a coronal-mass-ejection–tagging game modeled on GalaxyZoo.  
- A widely circulated Daily Mail article claiming “reversal of aging” in mice via telomerase re-activation was dissected; participants argued the study only restored artificially shortened telomeres and likely does not extend maximum lifespan, with links to the Nature paper (DePinho et al., 2010) and a PLoS ONE paper on caloric restriction and telomerase.  
- State-of-the-art DNA synthesis techniques were debated: frustration was voiced that solid-phase oligo synthesis remains dominant, and next-gen platforms (PacBio wells, Cambridge Nanopore, Ion Torrent “PostLight,” quantum-dot surface synthesis) were listed, though all were noted to be sequencing rather than de-novo synthesis methods.  
- Tissue-engineering advances were teased: a researcher using MakerBot and RepRap Mendel printers reported “highest cell density” 3-D constructs with vascularization solved “depending on definition,” but withheld details pending peer-reviewed publication, highlighting the tension between open discourse and academic IP norms.  
- Contour Crafting (large-scale 3-D printing of buildings) was shared as a link, alongside casual references to DIY pallet houses and N55’s open-source hardware projects.