- **Open-source PDF watermark remover**: kanzure released pdfparanoia (GitHub: kanzure/pdfparanoia), a Python tool that uses pdfminer to locate and surgically delete FlateDecode watermark objects from IEEE, AIP and other publisher PDFs; contributors are adding new publisher-specific rules.

- **Cryonics outreach strategy**: eleitl planned a German “Nerd Nite” talk on cryonics, debating how to balance Futurama memes for lay audiences with technical depth on vitrification and destructive brain scanning.

- **Clinical-trial transparency campaign**: kanzure promoted the AllTrials initiative and an OKFN blog post calling for an open, comprehensive database of all clinical trials to counter publication bias.

- **Remote scientific-programming job discussion**: nmz787 asked about remote scientific-programming gigs to fund lab work; kanzure suggested Enthought as a potential employer.

- **Garlic lectin immunogenicity findings**: nmz787 and jrayhawk analyzed a paper showing garlic lectins ASA I & II resist peptic digestion, retain hemagglutination activity up to 60 °C, and trigger immune responses, raising questions about raw-garlic dosing.

- **Worm connectome insight**: archels highlighted a Neuron paper demonstrating that system-wide neural rewiring—not identical neurons—explains behavioral differences between predatory and bacterial-feeding nematodes, with a linked 3-D reconstruction.

- **CRO startup economics**: yashgaroth estimated ~$200 k equipment, $40–80 k salaries, and $2–3 k/month space for a basic biology CRO; kanzure floated a $20 k “Science-Exchange-like” brokerage model instead of in-house assays.

- **AssayDepot business model**: Kevin Lustig sells private, branded versions of the AssayDepot marketplace to pharma giants for ~$250 k/year plus integration fees, enabling centralized outsourcing of lab experiments.

- **HPLC service business debate**: participants discussed launching a small-scale HPLC service, weighing startup costs, biotech-hub location necessity, and whether demand exists for “random HPLC runs” at ~$20/hour labor.

- **Sequencing cost curves**: the group agreed $100/genome is still above the price of the hard drive needed to store it, with no flattening of the cost-reduction trend expected soon.