Scientists at the Natural History Museum in Berlin have unveiled what may be the oldest known cannabis plant fossil, dating back 56 million years. This remarkable find has stunned researchers by doubling the previously established timeline for the cannabis genus, casting new light on the plant’s origins and evolution. The fossil, which was uncovered in Germany’s Saxony-Anhalt region, suggests that cannabis plants were thriving long before the timeline originally suggested, drastically shifting our understanding of the plant’s early history.
This newly identified fossil is not just an ordinary plant relic, it’s the potential missing link that could change the narrative about cannabis. The fossil, which contains an imprint of a cannabis leaf, was first discovered nearly 150 years ago but has only now been thoroughly analyzed. The leaf’s structure, which closely resembles that of modern cannabis plants, has astounded researchers.
The fossil comes from a time known as the Lower Eocene period, spanning from roughly 56 to 48 million years ago. This ancient plant imprint was encased in mud, preserving details so precise that it almost seems as if it were a modern leaf. This discovery rewrites the early history of cannabis, showing that it predates the traditional origin stories associated with the Tibetan Plateau and other parts of Asia.
The study also opens the door to future discoveries. While this fossil is a significant step forward, researchers caution that there could be even older fossils waiting to be uncovered. “As the family of Cannabaceae exists since the Cretaceous (approximately 90 million years ago), we might expect even older finds of the genus Cannabis. However, fossil localities are hardly accessible and the research focus on the floras of this age is low,” Luthardt explained. This suggests that further exploration and more focused research on ancient plant fossils could yield even more surprising finds about the early evolution of cannabis and its relatives.
Luthardt’s team is now revisiting collections in museums across Europe to search for additional fossils that might shed more light on the history of cannabis. This discovery serves as a reminder of how much there still is to learn about the ancient world, and how modern technology and scientific inquiry can reveal long-buried truths.
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#AncientCannabis #CannabisFossil #OldestCannabis #CannabisHistory #CannabisOrigins #CannabisEvolution #LandraceCannabis #CannabisHeritage #Landrace #CannabisCommunity #Paleobotany #ReclaimThePlant
@TimesFreePress What’s cool is this church was built before the Civil War… they removed all of the stained glass to prevent damage and then was replaced after…
Researchers at the University of California, Davis have engineered a modified version of LSD—dubbed (+)-JRT—that promotes powerful brain repair by stimulating neuroplasticity, while largely eliminating its hallucinogenic effects.
By making a subtle structural tweak—transposing just two atoms in LSD's molecular framework (a change lead researcher David E. Olson compared to a simple "tire rotation")—the team created a compound that retains the original molecule's ability to act as a psychoplastogen. JRT selectively activates serotonin receptors (particularly 5-HT2A) to drive rapid growth of dendritic spines and new synapses, particularly in the prefrontal cortex, helping reverse damage from chronic stress, depression, and other neuropsychiatric conditions.
Preclinical studies showed JRT's antidepressant effects to be exceptionally potent—roughly 100-fold stronger than ketamine (a leading rapid-acting antidepressant) in relevant animal models. Unlike classic psychedelics, JRT exhibits significantly reduced hallucinogenic potential, as demonstrated by lower head-twitch responses in mice (a proxy for hallucinogenic activity) and improved receptor selectivity.
This breakthrough is especially promising for conditions like schizophrenia, where traditional psychedelics are contraindicated due to psychosis risk. JRT's profile suggests it could safely promote synaptic repair, enhance cognitive flexibility, and address negative/cognitive symptoms without triggering hallucinations or exacerbating psychotic features.
While these results come from lab and animal studies (including neuronal cultures and behavioral assays), human clinical trials are still needed to validate safety and efficacy. The work opens the door to a new class of neurotherapeutics that physically rebuild brain circuitry rather than merely masking symptoms.
[Tuck, J. R. et al. (including Olson, D. E.). "Molecular design of a therapeutic LSD analogue with reduced hallucinogenic potential." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), 122(16): e2416106122 (2025). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2416106122]
Psilocybin made human cells live 50% longer.
A new study has uncovered surprising anti-aging potential in psilocin—the active metabolite produced when the body breaks down psilocybin, the psychoactive compound found in magic mushrooms.
In laboratory experiments, researchers exposed two human cell lines (skin fibroblasts and fetal lung fibroblasts) to a 100 μM concentration of psilocin. The results were striking: lung cells took 57% longer to reach replicative senescence (the point at which cells permanently stop dividing and accumulate damage), while skin fibroblasts extended their replicative lifespan by 51%.
These findings suggest psilocin may slow fundamental cellular aging processes, possibly by lowering oxidative stress, enhancing DNA-repair pathways, supporting mitochondrial health, or dampening chronic inflammation—mechanisms that overlap with those targeted by leading experimental longevity drugs.
The benefits extended beyond cell culture. In aged female mice (19 months old at the start, equivalent to approximately 60–65 human years), a single monthly dose of psilocybin dramatically improved outcomes. After 10 months of treatment, 80% of the psilocybin-treated animals remained alive, compared with only 50% of untreated controls. Treated mice also displayed markedly fewer visible signs of aging, including reduced fur loss and graying.
This research marks the first direct demonstration that psilocybin/psilocin can influence biological aging itself, rather than solely producing psychological effects. The authors emphasize that the study used relatively conservative dosing and are now advocating for follow-up work with higher or more frequent administration, detailed assessments of immune, metabolic, and cognitive function, and investigations into whether the extended lifespan corresponds to genuine improvements in healthspan and quality of life.
["Psilocybin treatment extends cellular lifespan and improves survival of aged mice." npj Aging, 2025]
New software enables detailed brain simulations that not only mimic neural processes but also perform complex cognitive tasks, advancing understanding of brain function and computational neuroscience. @naturemethods https://t.co/PnLvZM4zMC https://t.co/SKFxT8JYBg