Emory University researchers found that psilocin, a byproduct of consuming psilocybin, or the active ingredient in psychedelic mushrooms, extends the lifespan of human cells by more than 50%. Within the same study, researchers also found that mice that received an initial low dose of psilocybin of 5 mg, followed by a monthly high dose of 15 mg for 10 months, had a 30% increase in survival compared to mice that did not receive any. These mice also displayed healthier physical features, such as improved fur quality, fewer white hairs and hair regrowth. 

After 20 years of transformative leadership, Mary Beckerle steps down as CEO and Brad Cairns is named successor to continue advancing cancer research and care across the Mountain West.

If measured from beginning to end, the DNA in our cells is too long to fit into the cell’s nucleus, explaining why it must be constantly folded and packaged. When it is time for cell division, and the genetic information needs to be passed on to the next generation, DNA must be packed particularly tightly, else serious consequences for a cell’s viability might ensue. In a trans-European team effort, researchers from the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology in Dortmund (MPI), the Netherlands Cancer Institute, and the Human Technopole in Milan have now discovered a molecular switch that regulates DNA packing into the typical sausage-shaped chromosomes observed during cell division. The discovery of this central mechanism for cell division has many potential applications in medicine and biotechnology.