# Summary of IRC Log from #hplusroadmap (June 21, 2011)

• MIT Technology Review published "The Measured Life" special issue, focusing on self-tracking and quantified self technologies (link shared by Utopiah).

• Discussion about the effects of light exposure before sleep, with research indicating that blue light (prevalent in monitors and fluorescent bulbs) disproportionately affects circadian phase shifts compared to natural sunset light.

• Conversation about ultrasonic brain stimulation technology with 2mm resolution that can non-invasively manipulate motor cortex activity in rats, working through cellular membrane deformation and possibly microbubble cavitation.

• A patent application was discussed regarding ultrasound devices for modulating brain activity, including potential military applications for reinforcing beneficial behaviors in combat personnel.

• Reference to a DIY synthetic biology project involving psychedelic compounds produced by engineered E. coli, with discussion about the advantages of yeast pathways over ergot for producing cleaner compounds.

• Concern raised about the high cost of academic publishing, with a reference to papers costing approximately $50,000 each to produce.

• Brief mention of sleep cycle tracking applications for Android, with a question about whether the iPhone version used an armband for monitoring.