This Week in Science: Prehistoric Giants, Gene Therapy, and Ocean Discoveries

A new study has identified a prehistoric scorpion as the largest known specimen to have existed. Separately, a gene therapy trial for age-related vision loss has begun, and a laboratory simulation of nuclear fallout has produced unexpected results. Other research published this week includes a case study on psilocybin and dementia, a deep-ocean whale graveyard discovery, and a study on the effects of a common sleep aid.

Paleontology: Largest Known Scorpion Identified

Researchers have identified Praearcturus, a species of scorpion that lived approximately 415 million years ago, as the largest known scorpion. Based on fossil evidence, the scorpion is estimated to have been roughly the size of a dog.

Lead author Richie Howard of the Natural History Museum in the UK stated that the scorpion is considered one of the first apex land predators.

He suggested its large size may have been due to the absence of other large competing predators at the time.

Medicine: Gene Therapy for Aging Enters Human Trials

A gene therapy designed to address age-related vision loss has entered human trials. According to reports, this is the first such trial of its kind.

The trial has been described as high-risk, and some scientists have expressed skepticism about its potential efficacy.

Nuclear Science: Fallout Simulated in Laboratory

Researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory simulated nuclear fallout under controlled conditions. Experiments revealed that cesium cools and mixes in a manner that was not previously expected.

Chemist Rakia Dhaoui stated that studying these processes in a controlled system helps replace assumptions with direct measurements, thereby improving models for interpreting nuclear debris.

Neurology: Psilocybin and Dementia Patient

An 80-year-old patient with dementia experienced temporary cognitive improvement following a large dose of psilocybin.

Within 19 hours the patient began speaking, controlling bladder function, dressing, walking, and engaging in conversation.

The reported effects lasted for several days before subsiding.

Oceanography: Whale Graveyard Discovered at Depth

A graveyard containing the remains of nearly 500 whales, estimated to be up to 5.3 million years old, was discovered at a depth of approximately 7,000 meters in the deep ocean.

The finding was documented by a team led by Xiaotong Peng of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Researchers noted that the discovery reshapes the understanding of whale-fall ecosystems and provides a fossil archive for cetacean evolution.

Pharmacology: Sleep Aid Found to Impair Reaction Time

A study has reported that quetiapine, a drug commonly used as a sleep aid, significantly impairs reaction times the following day. Participants in the study demonstrated slower reactions and increased attention lapses on psychomotor tests.

In a driving simulation, participants taking quetiapine drifted an average of 33% farther from the lane center compared to those on a placebo.