- A “biological laser” was reported in Nature News, describing engineered human kidney cells that incorporate green-fluorescent-protein to emit coherent green light when optically pumped, pointing toward living optical devices or biosensors.  
- DARPA’s new “Open Manufacturing” program (BAA-11-54) was highlighted, with an estimated $130–135 M budget over 3–4 years; it appears to be the successor to the Adaptive Vehicle Make (AVM) portfolio and is distinct from the iFAB and META efforts.  
- The Toaster Project—an open-hardware experiment to build a domestic toaster from raw geological materials—now has its own public site at http://www.thetoasterproject.org/.  
- A brief debate on patent reform was quoted: one participant proposed replacing monopoly grants with tax exemptions for inventors, framing patents as scarce resources that the USPTO “just hands out.”  
- A screenshot of an unidentified CAD program (possibly named “Solid”) was shared, illustrating the ongoing difficulty of discovering and naming open-source or niche design tools.  
- Carranza’s Cooperative Mind meetup group in the Bay Area was advertised via a Meetup.com link, continuing the channel’s tradition of cataloging local transhumanist and biohacker gatherings.