Virtual library of LSD-like drugs could reveal new antidepressants

In this episode:00:46 A virtual chemical library uncovers potential antidepressantsCertain psychedelic drugs are of interest to researchers due to their promising antidepressant effects. To help speed up the discovery of molecules with useful properties, researchers have built a virtual library of 75 million compounds related to these drugs. This approach yielded two molecules that showed antidepressant properties in mice, but without the hallucinogenic activity of psychedelic drugs.Research article: Kaplan et al.Research Briefing: Bespoke library docking for 5-HT2A receptor agonists with antidepressant activity08:25 Research HighlightsResearch suggests that ancient artificial island settlements were hubs of activity for society’s elite, and astronomers spot possibly the most luminous star ever observed.Research Highlight: Ancient DNA suggests that artificial islands were party spots for the eliteResearch Highlight: Scientists face down ‘Godzilla’, the most luminous star known10:42 Nobel NewsFlora Graham from the Nature Briefing joins us to talk about the winners of this year’s Nobel Prizes.Nature News: Geneticist who unmasked lives of ancient humans wins medicine NobelNature News: ‘Spooky’ quantum-entanglement experiments win physics NobelNature News: Chemists who invented revolutionary 'click' reactions win NobelEnter Nature’s ‘Scientist at Work’ photo competition, full details hereSubscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.