# Key Points from IRC Log

• A Nature article was discussed showing sophisticated brain structures in early Cambrian arthropods (Fuxianhuia protensa) from 520 million years ago, demonstrating that complex neural organization evolved earlier than previously thought.

• Electrical impedance tomography was highlighted as a technique for gesture recognition through the "Tomo" research project by Chris Harrison, representing an advancement in human-computer interaction.

• The Brain Preservation Foundation shared research on neural tissue preservation protocols by Shawn Mikula, contributing to ongoing efforts to develop methods for long-term brain preservation.

• A Nature Communications paper described innovative targeted drug delivery using genetically engineered diatom biosilica with antibodies that can target specific cells, representing a novel approach to precision medicine.

• Multiple papers on connectomics were shared, covering techniques for large-scale neural circuit reconstruction including ultrastructural partitioning, multibeam scanning electron microscopy, and array tomography.

• A discussion of Matrioshka brains (nested computational megastructures around stars) included theoretical approaches to planetary disassembly for constructing such advanced computational systems.

• Research was mentioned correlating prehistoric giant insect sizes with higher atmospheric oxygen levels (35% vs. today's 21%), with some labs testing this hypothesis by breeding fruit flies in oxygen-rich environments.

• A counterintuitive point about animal biomechanics was shared, explaining that jumping height relates more to muscle efficiency than body size, challenging the common assumption that larger animals could jump proportionally higher.