- New prebiotic chemistry result: researchers co-polymerized glycol nucleic acid (GNA) monomers with dicarboxylic acids under simple “dry-down” conditions, yielding both linear and branched polymers that may illuminate early steps toward an alternative genetic system (paper: RSC Chem. Commun. 2023, DOI: 10.1039/D2CC06818D; news summary at phys.org).

- Discussion of competing origin-of-life models: hydrothermal-vent (undersea) vs. surface “warm little ponds,” with the suggestion that universal biochemical pathways can be used as a phylogenetic clock to test which environment could realistically generate them.

- Plant-derived biomaterials for nerve repair were highlighted: Spiderwort Bio is developing cellulose scaffolds from plant sources to guide axonal regrowth after peripheral nerve injury.

- Rapid survey of emerging surgical-robotics startups: links provided for Titan Medical, Moon Surgical, Revolve Surgical, Virtual Incision, Zeta Surgical, Distal Motion, Rob Surgical, Vicarious Surgical, Microsure (NL), and Flux Robotics (NL), indicating a crowded and maturing field.

- Brief aside on feasibility of longevity interventions (“seems doable today”) paired with the investment advice to allocate resources to Bitcoin and longevity research.