# Key Points from Transhumanist and AI Discussions

- NASA and the Methuselah Foundation launched the Vascular Tissue Challenge, offering $500,000 to teams that can create functional vascularized human organ tissue in laboratory settings, representing a significant advancement in bioengineering.

- Researchers are exploring hybrid fabrication methods that combine traditional MEMS/semiconductor processes with bottom-up approaches, potentially creating new pathways for transhumanist technology development.

- A proposal to the Molecular Foundry aims to achieve atomic precision in orienting and annealing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) using automated AFM techniques, addressing key challenges in nanofabrication.

- Boston Dynamics introduced "SpotMini," a smaller robotic platform, demonstrating continued progress in advanced robotics development.

- The Brain Forum 2016 at EPFL Lausanne attracted 1,400 visitors and featured prominent neuroscientists, including Ming-ming Poo from the China Brain Science Project and Christof Koch from the Allen Brain Institute.

- Global coordination in neuroscience research is increasing, as documented in a Science article about international brain projects, with the Kavli Foundation emerging as a significant funding source.

- A philosophical discussion on mind uploading explored the distinction between "existence" (constitutive preconditions for reality) and "essence" (necessary preconditions for identity), addressing fundamental questions in consciousness transfer.