• MIT’s first open online course, 6.002x “Circuits and Electronics,” launches at https://6002x.mitx.mit.edu, providing free access to MIT-level engineering education and marking a milestone for open transhumanist learning.  
• A 41 MB curated reference on DNA synthesis—combining Merrifield’s 1984 Nobel lecture, 2005 reviews, and other foundational papers—is released at http://diyhpl.us/~bryan/papers2/DNA/combination.pdf, alongside Bryan Bishop’s broader synthesis literature list at http://diyhpl.us/~bryan/papers2/DNA/synthesis.html.  
• Channel members dissect multiple oligonucleotide chemistries (phosphoramidite, H-phosphonate, phosphate diester/triester, base-protection-free routes) and stress rigorous reaction tracking and reagent documentation as essential DIY best practices.  
• MIT CSAIL’s open-source AutoCAD plugin “MICADO” (http://groups.csail.mit.edu/cag/micado/index.html) and an accompanying paper demonstrate 16 pneumatic channels controlling 12,870 micro-reactors for massively parallel microfluidic synthesis and assays.  
• Practical biohacking advice: favor Agrobacterium-mediated plant transfection over gene guns, though synthetic oligo delivery via gene gun remains feasible; a £634 used DNA synthesizer on eBay prompts cost-risk debate and a proposed #freesideatl inspection.  
• Pacific Biosciences publishes a technical note on de-novo and hybrid genome assembly methods at http://pacb.com/sites/default/files/pdf/TechnicalNote_DeNovo_and_Hybrid_Assembly.pdf, advancing long-read DIY genomics.  
• Phage therapy is critically evaluated: immune clearance, limited systemic efficacy, and its role as the “least bad” option against antibiotic-resistant super-bugs are highlighted, alongside an open question on why commensal bacteria evade immune attack and whether dynamic immune reprogramming could prevent rejection of therapeutic enzymes (e.g., for atherosclerotic plaque degradation).  
• Ray Kurzweil’s 2012 U.S. presidential run announcement (http://singularityhub.com/2012/02/12/ray-kurzweil-running-for-president-seriously/) is met with skepticism, while Longecity launches a cryopreservation fundraiser at http://www.longecity.org/forum/page/index.html/_/science/projects/cryopreservation-fundraiser-r36.