# Key Points from IRC Log

• Scientists have created metallic hydrogen by using a diamond anvil cell with reactive ion etching to smooth diamond, coating with alumina, and compressing frozen hydrogen to extreme pressures, as documented with photographs in a recent publication (https://phys.org/news/2017-01-metallic-hydrogen-theory-reality.html).

• A paper on the crystal structure of an LSD-bound human serotonin receptor was shared, highlighting "functional selectivity" or "biased agonism" where compounds can stabilize distinct receptor conformations to preferentially activate specific signal transduction pathways, which has implications for drug development.

• Research on senolytics (compounds that selectively destroy senescent cells) was discussed, including a paper on piperlongumine as a potential senolytic agent and earlier research showing that clearance of p16Ink4a-positive senescent cells delays aging-associated disorders.

• A discussion about scanning electron microscopes (SEMs) covered their applications beyond IC reverse engineering, including a used ISI SX-30E model with 60 angstrom resolution available on eBay, and technical considerations like vacuum quality, diffusion pump maintenance, and cooling systems.

• A participant shared progress on reverse engineering a spectrometer's communication protocol by using oscilloscope RS232 decoding and finding documentation of the command set, while another discussed magnetic field visualization technology using Bi:YIG thin film that transforms magnetic fields into optical effects via the Faraday effect.