- **World-first CRISPR human trial underway in China** – A Chinese team has begun the first-in-human CRISPR gene-editing trial, marking a historic milestone for therapeutic genome engineering.  
- **Rotovators and orbital rings as space-elevator alternatives** – Participants argued that rotating momentum-exchange tethers (“rotovators”) and a proposed orbital-ring system (a geostationary platform supported by a super-orbital pellet stream) could achieve space-elevator performance without exotic materials, while also hosting 1-g orbital settlements.  
- **DNA origami showcased as programmable nanoscale scaffolding** – Multiple papers were shared demonstrating DNA-origami polyhedra used as addressable nanoreactors, voltage-responsive nanopores, and templates for metallic nanostructures, emphasizing its superior predictability over protein folding.  
- **Light-switchable DNA-gold nanoparticle assemblies** – A JACS paper (10.1021/jacs.5b05683) detailed photoreversible cross-linking of DNA-gold nanoparticle dimers/trimers via a cyano-vinyl carbazole nucleoside, enabling programmable superstructures that can be assembled and disassembled on demand.  
- **DNA as a molecular wire** – A Nature Chemistry study (nchem.2545) showed that guanine runs support coherent charge transport over 4–5 bases, with sequence-tunable resistance, pointing toward DNA-based molecular electronics.  
- **Space-based vs. terrestrial solar power trade-offs** – Orbital solar arrays avoid atmospheric losses and night cycles but require ultra-cheap launch or in-situ manufacturing; terrestrial desert solar with mirrors or molten-salt storage was judged nearer-term.  
- **LinuxCNC lowers barrier to open-source robotics** – Confirmed that LinuxCNC handles inverse kinematics for repurposed industrial robot arms, making open-source automation more accessible.