- DNA Script and Nuclera both announced progress in enzymatic DNA synthesis: DNA Script achieved 50-nt strand synthesis using engineered enzymes, while Nuclera highlighted its use of engineered terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferases (TdT) with reversible terminator nucleotides for sequence-specific oligo production.  
- A compact spherical-tokamak fusion reactor design was shared, pointing to a 2018 paper in Nuclear Fusion that explores smaller-scale fusion energy systems.  
- The “omnigenic” model of complex traits was discussed via a Quanta article and a Cell paper, arguing that essentially all genes influence every complex trait, expanding the polygenic view.  
- A Science paper on sex reversal was circulated, showing that deletion of a single distal enhancer of Sox9 is sufficient to switch gonadal fate in mice.  
- A Crick Institute press release and related research on nuclear geometry were linked, highlighting how 3-D chromatin organization affects gene expression.  
- The upcoming Undoing Aging 2019 conference in Berlin (March) was announced, with links to prior-year videos.  
- Concern was raised about impending EU copyright legislation that could force takedowns of user-uploaded content, prompting calls to scrape and archive open resources before they disappear.  
- A request went out for a “blocks-world” physics simulator (like Minecraft but with realistic gears and kinematics) suitable for prototyping self-replicating mechanical machines; Blender and Garry’s Mod were suggested.