# Key Points from IRC Discussion

• Participants discussed eusocial spiders (Anelosimus eximius) as models for understanding evolutionary biology, emphasizing the importance of learning "the rules to the survival game" before humans replace evolutionary forces with "logic and memes."

• The conversation highlighted growing concerns about increasing government regulation of DIY chemistry, biohacking, and lab equipment, with specific mention of DNA synthesis regulation and the potential for future restrictions on DIY biotech and nanotechnology.

• Technical advancements in DNA technology were shared, including current capabilities to "produce oligos at 100 kbp/dollar and sequence DNA at 1 Mbp/dollar," alongside resources for DNA synthesis and the GDB-13 database of small organic molecules.

• The group discussed brain-computer interfaces, specifically the Emotiv EEG headset, noting the availability of both official SDK and an open-source reverse-engineered alternative (emokit) for accessing the device's data.

• Participants shared experiences with nootropics, particularly piracetam (with dosing from 1-15g and effects potentially taking up to 6 weeks) and rhodiola (described as having stronger and more universal effects), while discussing dual n-back tests as a potential method to measure cognitive enhancement.

• MIT's new online learning initiative "MITx" was announced, with registration open for the pilot course "6.002x Circuits and Electronics," representing a significant development in open education.