# Key Points from #hplusroadmap IRC Log

- A discussion of recent mathematical breakthroughs highlighted "The top 10 mathematical achievements of the last 5ish years," showing the community's interest in fundamental scientific progress across disciplines.

- Participants explored the potential of genetically engineering brain-dwelling bacteria with neural growth factors as a novel approach to cognitive enhancement, suggesting selection for strains that improve cognitive performance in mice.

- Research on parasites that affect host behavior was shared, particularly focusing on Toxoplasma gondii's ability to cause neural changes in the nucleus accumbens core and reduce dopamine content and neuronal spine density.

- A technical comparison of virtualization technologies concluded that containers are preferable to KVM (Kernel Virtual Machine) for being "closer to the hardware" and not requiring virtualization overhead.

- Amazon AWS EC2 GPU instances were recommended for GPU-accelerated computing despite data privacy concerns, highlighting the tension between performance needs and security considerations in computational research.

- A Bitcoin space satellite design document from Dunvegan Space (Jeff Garzik's company) was shared, demonstrating efforts to integrate cryptocurrency infrastructure with orbital technology.

- A paper on microfluidic platforms for co-culturing neurons and glia was discussed, indicating interest in neural tissue engineering and advanced biological research methods.

- Personal experimentation with nootropics like TruBrain yielded mixed results among participants, with reports ranging from subtle problem-solving benefits to adverse reactions.