# Summary of IRC Log from December 5, 2016

* A discussion of mechanical reversible logic was shared through two academic papers: "Helical Logic" by Merkle and Drexler, and "Two Types of Mechanical Reversible Logic" by Merkle, showing continued interest in theoretical nanotechnology foundations.

* A blog post about zk-SNARKs (zero-knowledge proofs) in Ethereum was shared, along with articles discussing the elaborate security ceremony for the Zcash cryptocurrency launch, which involved destroying computers to prevent potential backdoors.

* A Nature Genetics paper was discussed identifying six genomic loci associated with personality traits, showing correlations between extraversion and ADHD, and between openness and schizophrenia/bipolar disorder.

* Nootropic compounds were mentioned, including galantamine (which affects nicotinic receptor binding and acetylcholinesterase inhibition) and huperzine, with notes about their NMDA antagonist properties and potential effects.

* Side-channel attacks were discussed, referencing work by Tromer's team demonstrating how a mobile phone placed near a laptop could be used to steal cryptographic secrets through acoustic or magnetic coupling.

* MIT's decision to stop teaching SICP (Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs) was noted through a Lambda the Ultimate blog post titled "Programming by poking: why MIT stopped teaching SICP."