- Microsoft introduced the 3MF 3-D printing format (3mf.io), which participants criticized for including DRM and for being technically inferior; the open AMF format (amf.wikispaces.com) was recommended instead.  
- A 1979 NASA ion-mass-spectrometer setup—occupying a 20 ft × 35 ft lab and documented at pearton.mse.ufl.edu/rgw/IV/IV-2/—was shared as a detailed example of vintage open hardware, including both technical specs and “philosophical discussion” of its components.  
- A blog post titled “Taking control of a 36-year-old NASA spacecraft using GNU Radio” (dodgycoder.net) was circulated, illustrating how open-source SDR tools can resurrect and command legacy space hardware.  
- Ongoing confusion was voiced about CRISPR mechanics: how the guide-RNA-selected DNA target differs from the donor DNA sequence that is actually inserted, and whether CRISPR-induced deletions are functionally similar to RNA-interference knockdowns.  
- A miniature pyroelectric X-ray generator from Amptek (amptek.com/products/cool-x-pyroelectric-x-ray-generator/) was highlighted as a compact source for low-power X-ray experiments.