# Key Points from Transhumanist IRC Discussions

• Developers were building an "apt-get for hardware projects" called SKDB, implementing YAML-based package management for open source hardware that would include metadata, assembly instructions, and dependency resolution for physical components.

• The team solved technical challenges in YAML implementation, creating a "tag_hack" feature to handle unknown tags through exception handling, allowing the system to continue processing even with incomplete package definitions.

• Brain mapping technologies were discussed, including stereotactic coordinate systems (Talairach, MNI) and high-resolution mouse brain atlases, though participants noted current resolution (17.9 microns) remains insufficient for neural circuit mapping since dendrites are only 0.1-0.3 microns in diameter.

• Participants shared resources on brain imaging, including the International Consortium for Brain Mapping database and visualization tools like BrainLinks3D, while discussing proprioception and its relationship to the primary motor cortex.

• The group discussed cryonics accessibility, noting that student rates are significantly cheaper than the standard $30,000 for neuro/head preservation, with some participants mentioning it can be funded through life insurance for approximately $15/month.

• Makers in the channel were working on various DIY projects including a RepRap 3D printer, printable bearings for stepper motors, wearable heat exchangers, and microfluidic chemical factories, sharing resources like paper archives on microfluidics.