# Key Technical and Conceptual Points from #hplusroadmap IRC Logs

• Researchers collaborated on microfluidic device designs for biological applications, specifically discussing NURBS surfaces for creating parabolic curved channels for tobacco mesophyll protoplast fusion, with code and designs shared via GitHub.

• Several channel members are working on kinematic self-replicating machines with potential applications in off-world resource extraction, particularly for lunar and asteroid mining where such technology could create infrastructure by sintering regolith.

• A technical debate highlighted philosophical differences regarding file formats, with arguments against transferring large STL files (compared to transferring compiled binaries) versus defending STL's long-term accessibility and stability.

• Participants discussed biological heat pump mechanisms in social wasps, noting their natural thermoelectric properties with semiconductor-like exoskeleton layers that function as both photovoltaic material (generating 100mV from UV light) and thermoelectric cooling systems.

• The conversation covered cold thermogenesis research, including the Wim Hof method's ability to voluntarily activate the sympathetic nervous system to attenuate immune responses, and the metabolic differences between brown adipose tissue thermogenesis and shivering.

• Time-series database performance was critically evaluated, with researchers sharing disappointing experiences with InfluxDB (3.2 million data points taking 4 hours to insert with linear query time increases) while others were implementing monitoring systems with InfluxDB and Grafana.

• The group analyzed iGEM competition projects on metabolic engineering, particularly fatty acid synthesis in microorganisms, while expressing frustration with poor documentation despite the innovative work being done.