- Aubrey de Grey posted a pre-print on arXiv claiming the first major advance since 1950 on the Hadwiger-Nelson problem, proving that the chromatic number of the plane is at least 5 (https://arxiv.org/pdf/1804.02385.pdf).  
- kanzure released a SemiSynBio consortium report on “Future DNA synthesis technologies,” co-authored with norklemcdorkle and the Semiconductor Research Corporation, summarizing workshop findings on low-cost, high-throughput DNA-based storage (https://www.src.org/program/grc/semisynbio/semisynbio-consortium-roadmap/6043-full-report-dna-based-storage-final-twg1-4-18.pdf).  
- Discussion of MEMS ink-jet DNA synthesis hardware: CaptHindsight noted that MHz-rate, few-molecule droplet heads are technically feasible but blocked by patent thickets (especially Kia Silverbrook’s IP on stitching MEMS heads) and lack of commercial ROI rather than thermal limits.  
- nmz787 highlighted linezolid as a fully synthetic antibiotic that inhibits the initiation step of bacterial protein synthesis, contrasting with most elongation-targeting drugs.  
- Wired article on reversing human infertility was circulated, prompting kanzure to contrast 1978 media panic over IVF (“the biggest threat since the atom bomb”) with current acceptance.  
- superkuh shared a simulation video of a metamaterial-based band-pass filter design employing nested open-loop resonators (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50LOCjbyAUQ).  
- Science paper on global nitrogen cycling was linked, showing widespread rock-derived nitrogen sources that contribute to atmospheric concentrations (http://science.sciencemag.org/content/360/6384/58/tab-pdf).