On October 3, 2018, Salk Professor Gerald Shadel, holder of the Audrey Geisel Chair in Biomedical Science, spoke to the Salkexcellerators group about his work on mitochondria in aging, disease and the immune system. Shadel’s team reports that for mitochondria—the energy factories in your cells—brief exposures to stressors can be beneficial, by prompting the cell to trigger the sustained production of antioxidants. Salkexcellerators are the next generation of community members who commit to supporting scientific discoveries and engage with Salk science through a year-round calendar of special events.