- Shinya Yamanaka was awarded the 2012 Nobel Prize, a milestone noted in the channel as relevant to stem-cell and regenerative-medicine research pursued by the community.  
- A member is building an open-source UV spectrophotometer for DNA quantification, documenting progress on a DIY science blog; key components include an Edmund Optics silicon photodiode and an Arduino-based open-voltage readout.  
- Another participant is developing a Perl wrapper for librtlsdr, enabling easier scripting of low-cost software-defined-radio dongles for bio-signal or environmental monitoring.  
- Ongoing collaboration on a laser-cutter design: the SCAD model still needs completion, and the builder (relocating from NYC to Oregon) is seeking CAD help; meanwhile, a separate member is perfecting a home PCB mill capable of 10–15 mil traces for 0805 SMD prototyping.  
- Falcon 9’s successful ISS resupply mission despite an in-flight engine shutdown was highlighted as an example of fault-tolerant aerospace engineering, with discussion of its real-time trajectory-replanning capability.  
- A Wellcome Trust “open-science” hackathon was announced; channel members debated tactics for securing corporate-sponsored travel to the concurrent Open Science Summit in San Francisco.  
- A brief technical exchange explained classic SQL-injection mechanics (‘ OR 1=‘1) after a vulnerable URL was discovered, underscoring security awareness in DIY web tools.