- A Reddit AMA and Gizmag article were circulated featuring Dr. Josiah Zayner’s DIY CRISPR gene-editing kit for home use, highlighting the growing accessibility of genome-editing tools outside traditional labs.  
- CaptHindsight floated the idea of an Indiegogo campaign for a <$3 k kit that combines an inkjet oligo printer, Gibson assembly automation, and CRISPR reagents, aiming for 100+ units; kanzure offered independent funding regardless of crowd interest.  
- Technical discussion on inkjet-based gene synthesis focused on the bottleneck of ~100 000 micro-pipetting steps for post-synthesis assembly; fenn estimated ~1 s per move, totaling “a couple of days,” while kanzure explored depth-based flooding and inline error checking to shorten the process.  
- Debate over the “master learning algorithm” of the brain: John Clark’s claim that the 750 MB human genome limits algorithmic complexity was challenged—participants noted the genome’s indirect, noisy, and highly parallel execution model, comparing it to “bitcoin but a billion times worse.”  
- maaku argued that 750 MB of compressed machine code is enormous, yet structural evidence (uniform neocortical grid at birth) suggests the core algorithm may still be simple; comparative neuroanatomy and dense connectome data were identified as critical next steps.  
- Two connectome-reconstruction papers were shared: Egger 2014 on generating dense statistical connectomes from sparse morphological data, and Markram 2015 on predicting micro-circuit connectivity, underscoring the need for more high-resolution mammalian brain scans.  
- maaku teased an “open-source Google Now” concept to be discussed later, indicating ongoing interest in privacy-preserving, decentralized AI assistants.  
- kanzure posted a James Webb Space Telescope mirror-rollover timelapse, noting visible blurring of proprietary hardware and NASA’s IP restrictions.  
- Links to a CBS report and YouTube interview on systematic steroid use by Russian Olympic athletes were shared, framing enhancement ethics in competitive sports.