# Key Ideas from #hplusroadmap IRC Discussions

• Participants debated cognitive enhancement methods, sharing research on creatine's effects on intelligence and discussing dual n-back training tools, though concerns were raised about the practicality and effort required for cognitive training regimens.

• A detailed technical discussion on synthesizing spider silk proteins (spidroins) explored competing methodologies, including bacterial expression of fragments versus native chemical ligation of oligopeptides, with analysis of the protein's modular structure.

• The concept of a "PlasmidPrinter" was proposed as a desktop gene synthesis device that would combine oligo synthesis, Gibson assembly, PCR, and ligation techniques in a USB-connected lab-on-a-chip system, with participants identifying affordable genome synthesis as a critical enabling technology for synthetic biology.

• Computational protein folding was identified as a transformative challenge that would "solve 90% of biology" if achieved, though participants debated whether it's fundamentally solvable given the complexity of n-body problems in physics.

• DIY nuclear experimentation was discussed, including plans to build an ultra-miniature dense plasma focus device for thermonuclear fusion experiments, alongside conversations about DIY atomic batteries using radioisotopes like tritium with phosphors.

• Participants debated the definition and historical examples of "technological singularity," with some arguing that past developments like steel production followed singularity-like patterns, while others contended this misuses the term which should specifically refer to exponential accelerating returns.