- OpenBCI is releasing a $99 EEG board (Ultracortex Mark 3) that pairs with open-source Bioera software and dry electrodes, making neurofeedback and BCI experimentation dramatically more accessible.  
- Participants compared pharmacological cognitive enhancers—7,8-dihydroxyflavone (TrkB agonist), berberine, curcumin + piperine, amfonelic acid, and low-dose methylene blue (15–60 µg)—for effects on sleep reduction, memory, and motivation.  
- Near-infrared laser therapy (LLLT) was discussed as a mitochondrial hormetic stimulus that increases ROS and could serve as a technological substitute for exercise, with supporting PubMed papers and a SelfHacked review shared.  
- DIY grinder projects debated included RFID sub-dermal implants vs. wearable rings/bracelets, fingertip magnet implants for EM-field sensing, vasectomy as a bio-mod, and MRI-compatibility concerns for implanted magnets.  
- A career and funding strategy emerged: master deep technical skills, build portfolio projects, target a 5-year startup exit or high-paying tech salary, live frugally, invest surplus (including Bitcoin) toward FI/RE, then self-fund research.  
- SceneNet synthetic-data project (arXiv:1511.07041) was highlighted as a way to train vision systems without real-world capture, while negative-stiffness metamaterials and topology-optimization algorithms were explored for discovering novel mechanical structures.  
- Open-source CAD and fabrication tools were showcased, including Jacques Mattheij’s parametric PHP scripts for CNC plasma-cut windmill parts, an interactive Python blade-design tool, and ImplicitCAD extensions for multi-purpose CNC/laser/3-D-printer mounts.  
- The group surveyed DIY 3-D scanning methods—structured light, photogrammetry, SfM, touch-probe scanners—and pointed to the RepRap wiki “3D scanning” page for build guides.  
- Recent open-access papers were shared covering CRISPR editing in human zygotes, naturally transgenic sweet potatoes, psychology reproducibility issues, global tree-density mapping, and the “continuous liquid interface” 3-D-printing method in Science.