- Bitcoin scalability debate: kanzure circulated the Borromean-ring-signature paper (https://github.com/Blockstream/borromean_paper/raw/master/borromean_draft_0.01_58a5cbc.pdf) and Gavin Andresen’s 2013 talk “Why the blocksize limit keeps Bitcoin free and decentralized” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZp7UGgBR0I), while maaku’s dynamic block-size adjustment proposal (https://www.mail-archive.com/bitcoin-development@lists.sourceforge.net/msg07599.html) was praised as a key reference.

- Brain-computer-interface extension: archels highlighted a Frontiers paper (http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fnsys.2015.00053/full) arguing that BCI components can be re-arranged to create “brain-brain interfaces” or ectopic neural modules, potentially breaking phylogenetic cognitive limits.

- Discovery of CNS lymphatic vessels: kanzure summarized the new Nature study (http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature14432.html) revealing functional lymphatic vessels in the mouse brain meninges, offering a novel immune-communication vector for neuroscience interventions.

- Hard-drive platter swapping: jrayhawk confirmed that physically transplanting drive platters for data recovery is a common, if increasingly unreliable, procedure; archels expressed surprise that modern tolerances still permit it.

- FDA over-regulation discussion: kanzure linked a wiki page (http://diyhpl.us/wiki/fda/) listing FDA prohibitions on DIY medical devices, including wheelchairs; fenn cited a Washington Post exposé on Medicare wheelchair scams and the discontinued iBot as examples of regulatory failure.

- Carbon-nanotube NRAM entering fabs: kanzure posted a Computerworld article (http://www.computerworld.com/article/2929471/emerging-technology/fab-plants-are-now-making-superfast-carbon-nanotube-memory.html) noting that commercial nanotube non-volatile RAM is now being fabricated, promising faster, denser storage.

- Augmented-reality skepticism: after watching Magic Leap demo videos (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPMHcanq0xM), kanzure dismissed current AR hype, asserting that useful machine-vision applications still require extensive custom coding.

- Open-source hardware meetup: abetusk and neals discussed attending the 2015 Open Hardware Summit in Philadelphia, with tentative plans to participate.