# Key Points from IRC Discussion

• Participants discussed synthetic biology (synbio) challenges, noting definitional inconsistencies in the field and speculating about future centralized facilities, while also mentioning updates to the Pink Army project (pinkarmy.org) which had received significant funding.

• The group explored DIY scientific instrumentation, sharing a paper titled "Print Your Atomic Force Microscope" and collaborating on Python code using cairo to generate and visualize cycloidal gear profiles for RepRap stepper motor applications.

• Technical discussions included iClicker classroom response systems operating at 915MHz, with ideas about tracking student performance patterns to predict correct responses.

• Medical technology was highlighted through mentions of the "Reclaim Deep Brain Stimulation Therapy" brain implant that received FDA humanitarian device exemption for treating severe OCD, and Ramachandran's mirror, a neurological phenomenon related to phantom limb sensations.

• The conversation included skeptical analysis of cognitive enhancement claims, such as reports of dramatically reduced sleep needs and IQ increases through EEG and TMS, alongside practical discussions about nootropics pricing (comparing adrafinil at $30.20/month to modafinil at ~$350/month without insurance).

• DIY projects were shared through the Alpha One Labs wiki (alphaonelabs.com/wiki/index.php/Projects), which included references to creative food projects like carbonated fruit.