Can the mental health benefits of exercise be bottled?
Peer-Reviewed Publication
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 13-Jun-2026 00:16 ET (13-Jun-2026 04:16 GMT/UTC)
uOttawa researchers are exploring “exercise mimetics”: compounds that could mimic the mental health benefits of exercise for people unable to work out due to functional limitations or symptoms of depression.
These treatments could trigger muscle-to-brain signals that lower inflammation and boost brain health, aiding seniors, stroke survivors, and others who can’t exercise conventionally.The American Academy of Microbiology has elected Paul Plummer, dean of the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, to its 2026 Class of Fellows. Plummer joins an international cohort of 63 distinguished scientists to the honorific leadership group within the American Society for Microbiology. The Fellows are elected annually through a highly selective, peer-review process, based on their records of scientific achievement and original contributions that have advanced microbiology. The Academy received 145 international nominations for the 2026 Fellowship Class.
The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) can cause certain types of cancer or autoimmune diseases, but how the body controls this common viral infection is largely unknown. Researchers at the University Hospital Bonn (UKB) and the University of Bonn have now identified genetic and non-genetic factors that help the body fight EBV. To do this, they evaluated genome sequencing data, which is actually intended for characterizing the human genome, in a new way. Using the new technique, they were able to estimate the amount of EBV in the blood and find correlations in large health data sets – for example, an increased viral load in people with HIV infections, but also in smokers. There were also indications of new genes that play key roles in EBV immunity. Their findings have now been published in the renowned journal Nature.
Centromeres play virtually the same central role across the entire tree of life: They ensure the faithful segregation of chromosomes during cell division. Yet the striking diversity in centromere architecture – from large, repeat-rich DNA arrays to the minimalistic “point” centromeres in yeast – combined with their rapid evolution has puzzled scientists for decades. A research team led by Andrea Musacchio, Director at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology in Dortmund, and Jef Boeke from the NYU Grossmann School of Medicine have now solved the enduring mystery about the yeast centromere’s origin and evolution. They have identified a “proto-point” centromere that bridges the gap between the actual tiny “point” centromere and its more elaborate ancestor that incorporated fragments of parasitic DNA. This discovery reveals one of the most dramatic evolutionary transitions at DNA level