- NIPS 2015 proceedings were highlighted as a dense source of machine-learning research; participants shared the full conference book PDF (https://media.nips.cc/Conferences/2015/NIPS-2015-Conference-Book.pdf) and the browsable paper list (https://nips.cc/Conferences/2015/AcceptedPapers).  
- A 2015 review paper on “Memory engram storage and retrieval” was circulated, explaining how immediate-early-gene (IEG) labeling combined with optogenetics (e.g., c-fos-driven ChR2 expression plus doxycycline temporal control) enables optical re-activation of hippocampal engram cells to recall contextual fear memories in mice.  
- “Optogenetic mutagenesis in Caenorhabditis elegans” (Nature Communications 2015) was noted as a new technique for light-induced genetic manipulation in vivo.  
- Discussion of open-access literature turned to sci-hub.io (now commonly reached via Tor to circumvent IP blocks) as the successor to earlier paper-bots for retrieving pay-walled research.  
- A practical CAD-to-G-code workflow debate covered the trade-offs of rasterizing BRL-CAD solid models into PNG/SVG before vector conversion versus direct CSG/B-rep tool-path generation; it was observed that most hobby firmware (Grbl, Marlin, Redeem) still prefer straight-line G01 moves over G02/G03 arcs.  
- Lumosity’s $2 million FTC fine for deceptive “brain-training” claims was shared as a cautionary tale for cognitive-enhancement marketing.  
- A side thread on human genetic ancestry clarified that while mitochondrial Eve and Y-chromosome Adam represent single maternal and paternal lineages, the bulk of autosomal DNA derives from a broad ancestral population, preserving far more diversity than mtDNA or Y-DNA alone.