# Summary of IRC Log from September 2, 2015

• Kanzure shared information about focused ultrasound technology for treating tremors, noting the ExAblate Neuro system developed by Insightec and funded by the Michael J. Fox Foundation, which achieved significant improvements in hand tremor scores (from 20.4 to 5.2) and quality-of-life scores (from 37% to 11%).

• A discussion of Charles Stross's science fiction novel "Accelerando" took place, with kanzure explaining that in the story, lobsters have evolved into "hyperdimensional beings of unlimited cognitive power" (referenced in the channel's topic).

• FourFire mentioned finishing reading "Permutation City," prompting a brief philosophical discussion about simulated universes and consciousness.

• Heath shared research papers on water treatment innovations using nanotechnology, specifically "Water desalination using nanoporous single-layer graphene" from Nature Nanotechnology and "Innovations in nanotechnology for water treatment."

• Kanzure discussed genetic research related to intelligence, including Project Einstein (funded by sequencing pioneer Jonathan Rothberg), which aims to identify the genetic basis for mathematical genius by sequencing 400 leading mathematicians and theoretical physicists.

• A GWAS study of 126,559 individuals was mentioned that identified genetic variants associated with educational attainment, finding SNPs that correlate with years of schooling and college completion, though with very small effect sizes.