# Key Insights from #hplusroadmap IRC Discussions

• Research on wild howler monkeys revealed they consume significantly higher levels of essential minerals (calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, manganese) than human RDAs, with specific interest in magnesium threonate's potential cognitive benefits due to its connection to vitamin C metabolism.

• Participants critiqued CAD software APIs for being unnecessarily complex, advocating for more intuitive approaches like SolidPython's CSG operator overloading that uses simple syntax (e.g., `c = cylinder(r=10, h=5) + cylinder(r=2, h=30)`) and proposed using bitwise operators for 3D modeling operations.

• Low-cost 3D printing innovations were discussed, including the potential to create phone-based 3D printers using cellphone screens, fresnel lenses, and UV-curing resins, with DLP projectors now available for $50-200 used.

• A significant breakthrough in titanium production was highlighted, involving a direct electrolysis process from rutile to titanium dust that bypasses the traditional complex TiCl sponge process, potentially making titanium much more accessible.

• The economics of semiconductor fabrication were critically examined, with participants suggesting that the multi-billion dollar costs for new fabs might reflect knowledge arbitration, price markup, and market incentives rather than technical necessity.

• DIY alternatives to expensive lab equipment were proposed, including a homemade thermocycler using glass capillary tubes, a light bulb, a fan, and a temperature sensor that reportedly outperformed commercial PCR machines.

• The conversation included criticism of the transhumanist community for focusing on prediction rather than practical technology development, with one participant noting that many transhumanists have been "predicting things, but they haven't done squat in 50 years."