diff --git a/src/lib/components/VerticalHelix.svelte b/src/lib/components/VerticalHelix.svelte
index 0636175..dcacefd 100644
--- a/src/lib/components/VerticalHelix.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/components/VerticalHelix.svelte
@@ -39,12 +39,15 @@
   // Geometry (user-space units inside the SVG)
   const W = 1000;
   const CX = W / 2;
-  const AMP = 140;
-  const TOP_PAD = 120;
-  const BOTTOM_PAD = 120;
-  const SLOT_HEIGHT = 240;
+  const AMP = 130;
+  const TOP_PAD = 80;
+  const BOTTOM_PAD = 80;
+  const SLOT_HEIGHT = 180;
 
-  const PERIOD = SLOT_HEIGHT * 2;
+  // Wave period decoupled from slot spacing — nodes are at rung centers, so
+  // they don't need to line up with strand extremes. Pick a period that
+  // gives the helix a pleasant twist density.
+  const PERIOD = 320;
   const k = (2 * Math.PI) / PERIOD;
 
   type Rung = { y: number; x1: number; x2: number; depth: number; aFront: boolean };
@@ -52,6 +55,11 @@
     project: StrandProject;
     index: number;
     y: number;
+    /** strand A x at the slot's y (where the node's rung meets strand A) */
+    strandAx: number;
+    /** strand B x at the slot's y (where the node's rung meets strand B) */
+    strandBx: number;
+    /** node always sits at the rung centre (x = CX) */
     nodeX: number;
     side: 'left' | 'right';
   };
@@ -98,15 +106,21 @@
 
   const slots = $derived<Slot[]>(
     projects.map((p, i) => {
-      const y = TOP_PAD + i * SLOT_HEIGHT;
-      const sign = p.strand === 'A' ? 1 : -1;
-      const nodeX = CX + sign * AMP * Math.sin(k * y);
+      // Y positions are slot-based but no longer constrained by the wave
+      // period — nodes sit on rungs (x = CX) at any Y. Tighten the spacing
+      // to let cards pack dynamically.
+      const y = TOP_PAD + i * SLOT_HEIGHT + SLOT_HEIGHT / 2;
+      const sA = Math.sin(k * y);
       return {
         project: p,
         index: i,
         y,
-        nodeX,
-        side: nodeX > CX ? 'right' : 'left'
+        strandAx: CX + AMP * sA,
+        strandBx: CX - AMP * sA,
+        nodeX: CX,
+        // Side is determined by strand identity, not geometry.
+        // Strand A (Projects) → left, Strand B (Innovations) → right.
+        side: p.strand === 'A' ? 'left' : 'right'
       };
     })
   );
@@ -211,7 +225,37 @@
       filter="url(#vhelix-glow)"
     />
 
-    <!-- Project nodes -->
+    <!-- Per-project base-pair rungs: strand-to-strand line at the node's Y,
+         drawn in the project's strand colour. This is the "line in between"
+         the strands that each node sits on. -->
+    {#each slots as s}
+      <line
+        x1={s.strandAx}
+        y1={s.y}
+        x2={s.strandBx}
+        y2={s.y}
+        stroke={s.project.strand === 'A' ? '#1fa0db' : '#bed137'}
+        stroke-opacity="0.75"
+        stroke-width="2.4"
+        stroke-linecap="round"
+      />
+    {/each}
+
+    <!-- Connector lines: from the node (rung centre) outward to the card edge -->
+    {#each slots as s}
+      <line
+        x1={s.nodeX}
+        y1={s.y}
+        x2={s.side === 'right' ? W - 70 : 70}
+        y2={s.y}
+        stroke={s.project.strand === 'A' ? '#1fa0db' : '#bed137'}
+        stroke-opacity="0.35"
+        stroke-width="1"
+        stroke-dasharray="2 4"
+      />
+    {/each}
+
+    <!-- Project nodes — always at rung centre (x = CX) -->
     {#each slots as s}
       <g class="vnode" data-strand={s.project.strand}>
         <circle
@@ -238,20 +282,6 @@
         />
       </g>
     {/each}
-
-    <!-- Connector dash lines from node to card -->
-    {#each slots as s}
-      <line
-        x1={s.nodeX}
-        y1={s.y}
-        x2={s.side === 'right' ? W - 80 : 80}
-        y2={s.y}
-        stroke={s.project.strand === 'A' ? '#1fa0db' : '#bed137'}
-        stroke-opacity="0.32"
-        stroke-width="1"
-        stroke-dasharray="2 4"
-      />
-    {/each}
   </svg>
 
   <!-- HTML lab-slide cards layered over the SVG -->
@@ -331,8 +361,8 @@
   .slide {
     position: absolute;
     width: 300px;
-    max-width: calc(50% - 90px);
-    padding: 1.1rem 1.25rem 0.95rem;
+    max-width: calc(50% - 60px);
+    padding: 0.95rem 1.15rem 0.85rem;
     border-radius: 12px;
     background: color-mix(in oklab, var(--color-helix-bg-2) 88%, transparent);
     border: 1px solid var(--color-helix-border);
@@ -455,12 +485,12 @@
 
   .summary {
     color: var(--color-helix-ink-dim);
-    font-size: 0.9rem;
-    line-height: 1.5;
-    margin: 0 0 0.7rem;
+    font-size: 0.88rem;
+    line-height: 1.45;
+    margin: 0 0 0.55rem;
     display: -webkit-box;
-    -webkit-line-clamp: 3;
-    line-clamp: 3;
+    -webkit-line-clamp: 2;
+    line-clamp: 2;
     -webkit-box-orient: vertical;
     overflow: hidden;
   }