This Week in Science: A World Record, a World First and Much More

This week in science brings a world record, a world first and plenty more.

First up is a scorpion you certainly wouldn't want to encounter.

Fortunately, you're unlikely to meet this creature: it lived 415 million years ago. And it was big – frighteningly big.

We also have news of a world-first gene therapy that could reverse some symptoms of ageing.

Although the technique holds considerable promise, it also carries substantial risks. We explain why.

And what happens when scientists recreate a nuclear fireball in a laboratory?

Researchers found an unexpected result when they did just that. Their discovery sheds light on the mysterious phenomena that occur during a nuclear event.

Watch the video below for the details, then read on for more science news.

Scientists identify the world's largest known scorpion, which was the size of a dog

The largest scorpion known to science has been identified. The dog-sized creature was among the first apex predators on land, 415 million years ago.

"Praearcturus lived when life on land was just starting out and the ancestors of reptiles, mammals and birds were yet to leave the water," says lead author Richie Howard, a palaeontologist at the Natural History Museum in the UK.

"It suggests that this species might have grown so big because there weren't any other large predators, allowing it to dominate its environment."

Read the full story here.

World first: patient receives high-risk therapy intended to make cells young again

A world-first gene therapy has begun human trials, with the aim of reversing age-related vision loss. However, it may be 'high risk'.

The trial is among the most eagerly awaited of the year, and some believe it could mark a pivotal moment for longevity research.

Other scientists describe it as "extraordinarily high-risk" and doubt whether it will work at all.

Read the full story here.

Scientists simulate nuclear fallout in the lab and get a surprise

Laboratory experiments simulating nuclear fallout have shown that caesium cools and mixes in an unexpected way.

"By studying these processes in a controlled system, we can replace assumptions with measurements, improve the models used to interpret nuclear debris, and support decision-making when it matters most," says chemist Rakia Dhaoui.

Read the full story here.

Huge psilocybin dose has remarkable effect on elderly dementia patient

A case study reports that an 80-year-old patient with dementia temporarily recovered some cognitive function following a huge dose of psilocybin.

Before receiving the experimental treatment, she spoke only in monosyllables, seldom started conversations and relied heavily on help with basic daily activities.

Around 19 hours after taking the oral dose, the woman abruptly began talking to herself and continued for several hours.

In the days that followed, the elderly patient was reportedly able to control her bladder, dress and walk independently, and take part in conversation while maintaining eye contact and smiling back.

Read the full story here.

Giant whale graveyard found in the ocean resembles a drowned city of the dead

A giant 'whale graveyard' has been found 7,000 m beneath the ocean's surface. It holds the remains of almost 500 whales, dating back as far as 5.3 million years.

"These findings," writes a team led by deep-sea scientist Xiaotong Peng of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, "reshape the understanding of the limits and biogeography of whale-fall ecosystems and establish some deep-sea floors as a fossil archive for tracing cetacean evolution over geological time."

Read the full story here.

Commonly used sleep aid may have a dangerous side effect

Quetiapine, a drug commonly used as a sleep aid, has been found to significantly slow users' reaction times the following day.

Participants reacted more slowly on a 10-minute psychomotor vigilance test after taking quetiapine than after taking a placebo. Their attention lapses during the test also increased from a median of 2 after the placebo to 10 after quetiapine.

In a driving simulation, those given quetiapine drifted an average of 33 per cent farther from the centre of their lane than they did after receiving a placebo.

Read the full story here.