DOE-Funded Experiments that ‘Squeeze’ Infrared Light by 90% Establish a Whole New Class of Optical Materials
Experiments funded by the U.S. Department of Energy show the uncanny ability to squeeze infrared light by 90%.
Christopher Plain
Christopher Plain is Lead Science Writer at The Debrief. A science fiction and fantasy novelist of many years, you can follow and connect with him on X @plain_fiction, learn about his books at plainfiction.com, or email him directly at christopher@thedebrief.org.
Astrobiologist Makes ‘Improbable’ Find atop Massive Martian Volcanoes
An international research team led by a Brown astrobiologist says they've discovered something 'improbable' atop these Martian volcanoes.
Large Lake of Liquid Water underneath Mars’ Polar Ice Caps May Just be a Mirage
New research says the previous discovery of large lakes of liquid water underneath mars' polar ice caps may just be an optical illusion.
Artificial “Phantom Sensations” Without Physical Contact Could Lead to Immersive Virtual Reality
Researchers show how to create phantom sensations, or the feeling of being touched someplace on the body where there is no physical contact
Optical Engineers Invent Ultra-Thin Coating That Turns Ordinary Glasses into High-Efficiency Night Vision Goggles
Cutting-edge night vision coating is thinner than plastic wrap and can turn ordinary glasses into high-efficiency night vision goggles.
First-Of-Its-Kind Master’s Degree in Psychedelics and Consciousness Will Analyze Link Between Science and Spirituality
The University of Ottawa is offering a first-of-its-kind Master's degree program studying the medical and spiritual aspects of psychedelics. as well as their links to human consciousness.
Analysis of 4,000-Year-Old Egyptian Skull Reveals Something ‘Extraordinary’ That Leaves Researchers ‘Stunned’
Scientists studying a 4,000-year-old Egyptian skull say they were left 'stunned' when they found something 'extraordinary.'
Discovery of Supercapacitors ‘Missing Link’ Moves Laptops That Charge in 1 Minute Closer to Reality
A breakthrough in the understanding of ion movement within supercapacitors could pave the way for laptops that charge in one minute.
New Study Supports Theory a Liquid Water Ocean Lies Beneath the Icy Surface of Pluto
New models of Pluto support the idea that a liquid water ocean lies beneath the dwarf planet's frozen surface.
Engineers Invent Strings That Can (Almost) Vibrate Forever
A team of engineers reports they have invented strings that can almost vibrate forever, which could revolutionize nanotechnology.
Earth-Sized Planet Orbiting the Most Common Star in the Galaxy Found Hanging Out in Our Cosmic Back Yard
Researchers operating a worldwide network of telescopes say they have spotted an Earth-sized planet hanging out in our cosmic backyard.
The Search for Alien Technology May Have Actually Found Something
A team of astronomers searching the cosmos for signs of alien technology think they may have actually found something.
MIT Astronomers Say They Have Discovered a Planet Current Theories Can’t Explain
Astronomers from MIT say they have discovered a distant planet so unusual that they cannot explain how it exists.
Parabolic Flight Experiments Test Boiling in Partial Gravity to Prepare Future Off-World Colonists
Southwest Research Institute scientists are studying boiling in partial gravity to help future off-world colonists survive in space.
DARPA Funding Military-Grade Quantum Laser Prototype
DARPA is funding the development of a military-grade quantum laser prototype that can penetrate dense fog and operate over long distances.
Researchers Studying Proxima Centauri b Tout ‘Significant Leap Forward’ in Understanding Habitable Earth-Like Planets
A new analysis of exoplanet Proxima Centauri b marks a significant leap forward in understanding habitable Earth-like planets.
Star Wars Tatooine-Style Planet with Two Suns Found Orbiting in the Habitable Zone
A Tatooine-style planet with two suns like Luke Skywalker's home in 'Star Wars' has been spotted in its host star's habitable zone.
UK Space Agency Testing Extremely Low Orbit Propulsion System That Runs on Solar Power and Thin Air
UK's new extremely low orbit propulsion system that could keep satellites aloft for years at a time will run on solar power and thin air
James Webb Space Telescope Finds ‘Best Evidence to Date’ for Rocky Exoplanet Atmosphere
NASA researchers using the James Webb Space Telescope have detected the ‘best evidence to date’ for a rocky exoplanet atmosphere.
Stanford Researchers Create First-Ever Augmented Reality 3D Holographic Headset Using Ordinary Glasses
A team of Stanford researchers has created the world's first augmented reality 3D holographic headset using ordinary glasses.
Players of Immersive “FathomVerse” Will Help Science Solve Deep Sea Mysteries and Identify New Life Forms
The Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute has released a game called FathomVerse to help science solve the mysteries of deep-sea life.
Energy Scientists Say They Have Solved the Centuries-Old Mystery of Why Ultra-Thin Sheets of Gold Glow
An international team of energy scientists and theoretical physicists say they've solved the centuries-old mystery of why ultra-thin sheets of gold glow.
James Webb Space Telescope Maps Weather on Planet 280 Light Years Away, Raising Hopes For Biosignature Detection
Scientists using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope say they have successfully mapped the weather of a planet 280 light years away.
From 186,000 Miles Per Second to Zero: Scientists Use Photonic Crystal to Stop Light in its Tracks
Researchers in the Netherlands report the successful use of a photonic crystal to stop light in its tracks.
Company Claims Its ‘Directed Evolution’ Microbiome-Enhanced Plants Literally Eat Pollution for Breakfast
Scientists from Neoplants say their 'directed evolution' microbiome plant filtration system cleans the air as well as 30 ordinary plants.
Microgravity Environment Can Disturb Sleep Rhythms of Astronauts, New Study Says
New research suggests astronauts may have a hard time getting a good night's sleep while in a microgravity environment.
NASA Veteran’s Propellantless Propulsion Drive That Physics Says Shouldn’t Work Just Produced Enough Thrust to Overcome Earth’s Gravity
A veteran NASA scientist says his company has tested a propellantless propulsion drive technology that produced one Earth gravity of thrust.
Experiments with Bilayer Graphene Reveal ‘Massless’ Movement of Electrons, Similar to Light
New experiments confirm that electrons travel through naturally occurring bilayer graphene much like light, without mass.
Study of Genetic ‘Copy-and-Paste’ Errors Reveals How Evolution “Cooked Up” the Animal Kingdom
A team of researchers has figured out how a series of genetic copy-and-paste errors "cooked up" the various species in the animal kingdom.
First-Ever 2D Single-Atom Layer of Gold Created Using 100-Year-Old Japanese Etching Technique
Swedish scientists report the first ever successful creation of a two dimensional single-atom layer of gold they are calling goldene.
‘Warp Factory’ Simulator from Physics Think Tank to Aid Creation of Star Trek-Style Warp Drives
Applied Physics has released its Warp Factory simulator and toolkit designed to help scientists create a Star Trek-style warp drive.
Astronomers Detect Unusual Radio Signals From Nearby Magnetar That Are ‘Behaving in Complex Ways’
Astronomers say they have detected unusual radio signals behaving in complex ways coming from Earth's closest magnetar.
RocketStar Successfully Demonstrates FireStar™ Nuclear Fusion-Enhanced Pulsed Plasma Propulsion Drive
RocketStar Inc. says they have successfully demonstrated their FireStar™ nuclear fusion-enhanced pulsed plasma electric propulsion drive.
DOE’s SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory Completes World’s Largest Digital Astronomy Camera Ever
Designers Say Camera Will “Soon Start Producing the Greatest Movie of All Time”
Designers Say Camera Will “Soon Start Producing the Greatest Movie of All Time”
After 20 years of hard work, engineers at the DOE's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory have finally finished the world's largest digital astronomy camera ever.
Thousands of Meteorites Are Vanishing in Antarctica. Now Scientists have Revealed Why.
A new study says that as many as 12,200 extraterrestrial meteorites sitting on the surface of Antarctica are disappearing every year.
“Disturbing” Light Asymmetry Spotted on Exoplanet WASP-76b May Finally Have an Explanation
Astronomers say they may have finally unraveled the mystery of a disturbing light asymmetry observed on exoplanet WASP-76b.
‘Blue Energy’ Hack Dramatically Increases Power That Can Be Harvested from Ocean Waves
Scientists find a simple hack to greatly increase the output of blue energy generators that harvest the power of ocean waves.
“Intelligent Liquid” Created by Harvard Scientists Represents Strange “New Class of Fluid”
Harvard scientists create a first-of-its-kind programmable metafluid, a.k.a. an "intelligent liquid" with seemingly magical properties.
DARPA Unveils New GARD Program to Combat Adversaries Who Try to ‘Trick’ Advanced U.S. Tech
DARPA has pulled back the curtain on the GARD program, which counteracts adversary efforts to trick America's AI defense systems.
Holographic Breakthrough: Scientists Create Full-Color 3D Holographic Displays with Ordinary Smartphone Screen
Scientists say they have created realistic-looking 3D holographic displays using custom software algorithms and an iPhone 14 screen.
Incredible High-Tech Window Coating Allows Visible Light Through but Blocks Heat
Scientists have developed a new high-tech window coating that blocks unwanted heat but allows all visible light through.
Evidence of Quantum Gravity Remains Elusive in South Pole Experiments. An Odd Particle Could Hold the Answer.
Quantum Gravity experiments at the South Pole failed to discover elusive effects on the quantum coherence of neutrinos.
Controversial Solution to 70,000-Year-Old Mystery Challenges Previous Understandings of Ancient Human Expansion
A new solution to the 70,000-year-old mystery is challenging previous understandings of ancient human expansion across the globe.
Eating an Avocado a Day Had This Totally Unexpected Result
New research shows that study subjects who ate an avocado a day experience this totally unexpected health benefit.
Space Snowman: Astronomers Try to Unravel a Mysterious Object at the Edge of the Solar System
A team of researchers say they may have finally unraveled the mysteries of a distant space object known affectionately as "Space Snowman."
Astronomers Using the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope Spot Tiniest ‘Starquake’ Ever
An international team of astronomers studying orange dwarf stars has recorded the tiniest starquake, or stellar oscillation ever.
Natural Alternatives to Weight Loss Drugs Ozempic and Wegovy Identified by AI to Remain Secret For Now
A team of computer scientists say they have identified two natural alternatives to weight loss medications like Ozempic, Wegovy and Zepbound.
Sunlight Powers This New Self-Cleaning White Paint That Also Cleans the Air
Potentially revolutionary self-cleaning white paint that never fades and also cleans the air uses the power of ordinary sunlight.
NASA’s Europa Clipper Mission May Soon Discover Alien Life. Here’s What’s Making Experts So Confident.
Laboratory experiments show a NASA mission planned for launch as soon as this October could be the first ever to detect alien lifeforms.
Archaeologists Discover 1,000-Year-Old Ice Skate Made of Animal Bone
Czech archaeologists performing a rescue dig in the basement of a local house say they have discovered a 1,000-year-old ice skate.