# Key Points from #hplusroadmap IRC Discussions

• Participants debated genomic data compression techniques, comparing standard formats (7zip, gzip, bzip2) against specialized algorithms like "quip" that leverage assembly techniques and the inherent redundancy in genomic data, while discussing the economics of long-term storage versus re-sequencing.

• The economics of genomic data management was analyzed, with participants noting that while storage costs are relatively low ($5/month for 50GB on EC2), the field remains divided on whether storing raw sequencing reads long-term is cost-effective compared to re-sequencing when needed.

• Biofuel production challenges were discussed, particularly the difficulty of extracting compounds from algae cells, with companies like Amyris and LS9 highlighted for their work engineering cyanobacteria that can directly excrete hydrocarbon fuels rather than requiring cell lysis.

• A neuroscience paper on ultrasonic neuromodulation was shared, with participants noting that recent DARPA funding in this area may have limited new publications due to national security concerns, suggesting significant military interest in this brain stimulation technology.

• The channel discussed a controversial case involving UC Davis neurosurgeons accused of creating brain infections in terminal glioblastoma patients, reflecting the ethical complexities of experimental treatments for otherwise fatal conditions.

• Web security topics included hotel keycard vulnerabilities and technical discussions about form security mechanisms including hidden fields, SID values, and authentication cookies.