• A bundle of micro- and nano-fluidic DNA-handling papers was shared, covering wafer-scale 20 nm sacrificial nanochannels for single-molecule imaging, elastomeric micro-valves for autonomous flow switching, and IBM’s “DNA Transistor” concept that uses nanopores for positional control of DNA strands.

• Participants revisited the 2012-era Oxford Nanopore MinION (~US $1 k device) and debated its still-high per-run reagent cost and error rate versus the goal of privacy-preserving personal whole-genome sequencing, comparing it with FullGenomes, 23andMe, and speculative $200 services.

• Elon Musk’s AGI-safety proposal—creating high-bandwidth brain–AGI links and distributing augmented cognition widely to prevent power concentration—was summarized; the channel argued whether raw bandwidth or the “correct” type of interface is the decisive factor.

• Biohack the Planet 2017 issued a call for talks (Oakland, July 21–22), and a live-streamed seminar on the epigenetic clock with Steve Horvath and James P. Watson was advertised (corrected Google Hangouts link provided).

• Germany’s draft law threatening hobbyist biohackers with prison was flagged, prompting dark humor about “biohacker-threatened prisons.”

• Recent pre-prints circulated include fluorescent nanosensor arrays for real-time dopamine imaging, CRISPR-ON (dox-inducible dCas9-VPR) for reversible gene activation in human pluripotent stem cells, barcoded “synseq” strategies for high-throughput connectome mapping, and engineered bacterial microcompartment shell proteins to improve metabolic pathway encapsulation.

• Black-hole power and propulsion concepts—Hawking-radiation engines and black-hole starships—were introduced via physics StackExchange and Wikipedia links, with an additional curated reading list on DIYHPL.

• Sleep genetics discussion highlighted the DEC2 mutation that allows shorter natural sleep, a fatal familial insomnia mouse model, and potential doxycycline prophylaxis against prion-based insomnia.