• Cryonics revival versus mind-uploading: participants weighed physical re-animation of vitrified brains against destructive whole-brain scanning followed by computational emulation, with the latter viewed as the more pragmatic route.

• Technical hurdles for whole-brain scanning: current techniques give either nanometer-scale resolution on tiny tissue blocks or low-resolution large volumes; slicing yields poor Z-resolution, so alternatives such as ion-beam milling, femtosecond-laser ablation, or precision grinding of glassified tissue were debated.

• DIY connectomics proposal: an automated polishing rig—rotating table that grinds ~100 nm layers and optically images each surface under oil cooling—was suggested as a low-cost way to collect the thousands of sections needed for fruit-fly-scale connectome mapping.

• Structural preservation risks: vitrification can fracture the vascular tree through differential thermal contraction, and synaptic-level detail must survive freezing for either physical revival or accurate uploading to succeed.

• Electron-microscopy limitations: EM can map synaptic connectivity via postsynaptic densities but cannot resolve individual receptor proteins, and its requirement for high-vacuum, dry surfaces complicates integration with in-situ polishing or oil-bath imaging schemes.

• Open-science infrastructure critique: OpenWetWare is seen as stagnant and visually outdated yet remains mandatory for iGEM teams, highlighting a gap between appearance and actual usage in open-science platforms.

• BioBrick quality crisis: iGEM participants report that ~90 % of requested BioBrick parts fail, prompting calls for a new digitally configurable part specification and stricter quality control.

• Synthetic-biology software landscape: Genome Compiler now offers full BioBrick integration, but its closed, UI-driven model is contrasted with an open API that could enable automated metabolic-pathway searches using KEGG data; both Genome Compiler and Benchling are actively fundraising on AngelList.

• DIYbio NYC meetup showcased dolphin-inspired electric-field “bottlenose” sensors, magnet-finger haptics, and RFID implants, while attendees worried the term “biohacking” is being diluted by lifestyle trends.

• Nootropic experimentation: a user began a citicoline + alpha-GPC + noopept stack sourced from Brainpower Nutriceuticals, with discussion of dosing, gelatin capsules, and supplier reputation.