- Serial block-face scanning electron microscopy (SBEM) was discussed as a high-resolution 3-D imaging method for brain tissue, but noted to be very slow; the Harvard ATLUM (Automatic Tape-collecting Lathe Ultramicrotome) connectome-project page was shared as a related resource.  
- fenn proposed combining FISSEQ (fluorescent in-situ sequencing) with aptamer-based protein tagging to overcome the color-channel limit in brain imaging, suggesting a hybrid PALM/STORM + FISSEQ approach for single-molecule protein identification.  
- Expansion microscopy and CLARITY (acrylamide-hydrogel tissue clearing) were recommended as complementary techniques for high-resolution brain mapping.  
- kanzure circulated two 2017 iGEM projects: (1) a Lactobacillus plantarum probiotic engineered to overexpress gadB for GABA production to treat anxiety and bowel disorders, modeled in honeybee gut; (2) “dCasentry,” a paper-chip, freeze-dried assay using split dCas9–T7 RNA polymerase pairs to detect low-concentration circulating tumor DNA.  
- A DIY “Broad Host Range Plasmid Kit” for rapid cassette assembly and genetic modification of non-model organisms such as L. plantarum was highlighted from the iGEM work.  
- Discussion of open-source CNC farming turned to FarmBot, described as humanity’s first open-source CNC farming machine.  
- kanzure linked a paper on nano-patterning diffraction gratings directly onto human hair for cosmetic effects.  
- maaku’s ongoing work on 24/7 wearable Bluetooth audio recording devices was mentioned, with catern considering everyday Bluetooth headphones as a ready-made logging platform.  
- Debate on why evolution has not produced plants with faster photoprotection recovery referenced the paper “Improving photosynthesis and crop productivity by accelerating recovery from photoprotection” (Science, 2016), with kanzure arguing that fitness landscapes contain inaccessible peaks without human insight.