• Google is reportedly shopping Boston Dynamics to buyers because internal PR teams fear the “terrifying” optics of humanoid robots and the narrative that such machines will steal jobs.  
• New deep-learning work combines CNNs and RNNs to predict whole-brain connectomes from time-series neuronal activation data, while companion algorithms convert sparse morphological reconstructions into dense statistical wiring diagrams and micro-scale circuit maps.  
• Randall O’Reilly’s open-source “emergent” / Leabra framework—and its commercial offshoot e-cortex—was presented as a scalable alternative to PyNN and Nengo for large-scale brain simulations, though participants noted that current simulators still require tens of CPU-hours to emulate only tens of microseconds of biological time.  
• Participants explored self-replicating machinery as a route to post-scarcity, discussing vacuum-tube or laser-powered electronics manufacturable on the Moon and arguing that slow, low-energy components are acceptable if the system can copy itself and thereby end capital accumulation.  
• The Medvedik open-source enzymatic DNA-synthesis project is moving from heat-labile to UV-labile protecting groups in TdT-mediated oligo synthesis to shorten cycle times and cut error rates, while others propose nanofluidic single-nucleotide addition schemes as a next step.  
• A safety debate pitted the view that “friendliness” concerns vanish if we simply avoid building autonomous super-robots or deny them effectors against the counter-argument that even a text-only AI could persuade humans to act as its physical agents.  
• South Korea announced an US $860 million national AI R&D fund in direct response to the cultural impact of AlphaGo, with participants expecting that although much money will be wasted, some will reach genuinely useful research.  
• Turmeric and fenugreek were proposed as ultralight backpacking deodorants that replace body-odor volatiles with cumin-like scents; caution was raised that curcumin exhibits a U-shaped hormetic dose-response curve and requires cooking plus fat for optimal bioavailability.