# Key Points from IRC Log

• A discussion about "basement semiconductors" revealed that silicon wafers are cheaper than expected, with users sharing links to Jeri Ellsworth's work on DIY electronics and discussing the possibility of small-scale semiconductor fabrication.

• Users shared information about DIY biohacking, mentioning Meredith L. Patterson as a figure in the "biopunk movement" who conducts amateur genetic experiments in her home, with links to related news articles and diybio.org.

• A mechanical design compiler project called "mechpy" was discussed, with GitHub links shared to repositories by aresnick/nublabs that aim to make designing constrained mechanical systems easier through Python.

• Users exchanged information about accessing academic textbooks online, discussing various sources and "scene" groups like ELOHiM that release educational materials, along with methods for finding and sharing such content.

• DARPA's Energetically Autonomous Tactical Robot (EATR) project was mentioned, featuring a biomass engine system that could potentially power robots using organic material from their environment.

• The channel discussed longevity milestones, noting when various advanced ages (108-122) were first documented in human history, showing the progression of maximum human lifespan records.

• Links were shared to resources on mechanical linkage simulation, Boolean satisfiability problems, and formal equivalence checking in electronic design automation.