• Chinese researchers are reportedly harvesting DNA from high-IQ individuals with the stated aim of “engineering genius babies,” according to an article circulated in the channel.  
• A community member proposed an iterative enzyme-evolution scheme to cut DNA-synthesis error rates: synthesize DNA that encodes its own assisting enzymes, measure error rates, mutate the enzymes, and immobilize them on the synthesis surface (ink-jet or tethered).  
• Oxford Nanopore MinION was discussed as a home-accessible sequencer: ~450 nt/s per active pore, 512 pores per flow-cell (≈70 % functional), ~US $1,000 purchase price, with several users already running the device outside traditional labs.  
• Participants debated replacing DMD micromirror arrays in photolithography with dense LED or OLED matrices plus integrated waveguides to reach higher pixel densities without MEMS or free-space optics.  
• A 24/7 audio recording & transcription app for the upcoming Apple Watch Series 3 was announced, leveraging newly exposed APIs that should allow continuous operation without excessive battery drain.  
• Open-hardware EEG links were shared, including the OpenBCI Ultracortex headset, alongside tongue-in-cheek speculation about wiring it to a fossilized dinosaur brain to hunt for preserved connectomic data.  
• EFF’s resignation from the W3C over Encrypted Media Extensions (DRM) was noted, with channel members favoring IETF governance for open web standards.  
• Two biology papers were circulated: a PLOS Genetics study on DNA-damage repair via Mre11-Rad50 in the polyploid archaeon Haloferax volcanii, and a ScienceDirect article on inhibiting the Warburg effect in cancer cells by targeting GAPDH with a natural product.  
• A patent image (US20160310927A1, Fig. 10A) sparked discussion on whether piezo-actuated ink-jet heads already represent the fastest possible microfluidic switching mechanism, or if a faster alternative can be invented.