Prof. Troy Hornberger from the University of Wisconsin–Madison gave the 18th HyperMet lecture entitled ‘Visualising the Sites of Mechanically Induced Growth in Skeletal Muscle’. His research focuses on how mechanical stimuli, triggered, for example, by strength training, stimulate muscle hypertrophy. The focus of his research is the mTORC1 signaling pathway and the visualization of muscle growth sites using new microscopy methods. An important point that was discussed was the difference between pulse activation and chronic activation: while temporary, pulse-like stimulation of mTORC1 promotes muscle growth, chronic activation reduces lifespan.