# Summary of ##hplusroadmap IRC Log (Oct 27, 2016)

• DeepMind introduced a "differentiable neural computer (DNC)" that combines neural networks with external memory matrices, allowing it to learn complex reasoning tasks like finding shortest paths in graphs and solving puzzles with changing goals, as published in Nature.

• A user shared information about a low-cost gene synthesis service from General Biosystems (17 cents per bp), reporting better quality assurance data than Genscript at half the price, with free insertion into usable vectors.

• Mozilla announced "Quantum," a project to gradually merge Servo (their Rust-based browser engine) into Gecko by using Rust binding generators for specific browser API subsets.

• Researchers published a study in Current Biology about common swifts spending 10 months annually in continuous flight.

• Discussion of anti-aging biotechnology companies including references to Peter Thiel, Ambrosia (blood transfusions), Oisin Biotechnologies, and Unity Biotechnology (which raised $116 million in funding).

• A multi-party computation protocol for zk-SNARK parameters was shared via GitHub link (github.com/zcash/mpc).

• Nature published articles about challenges faced by young scientists in academia and career development.