I Think, Therefore I Am: Study Pitting Top Theories of Consciousness Against Each Other Reveals Its Findings
A team of scientists in an 'adversarial collaboration' put two of the top theories of consciousness to the test and this is what they found.
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.
Fusion Breakthrough: Magnet Powerful Enough to Levitate an Aircraft Carrier Marks Final Step Before ITER Reactor Assembly
In a nuclear fusion breakthrough, ITER scientists have announced the completion of a magnet powerful enough to levitate an aircraft carrier.
Robot Powered by Infrared Light Climbs Wire While Carrying 12 Times its Weight
Engineers reveal a soft ring robot powered by infrared light that can climb a wire like a cable car but without any wheels.
Astronomers Spot Previously Invisible Object Near Our Solar System After Realizing It Was Glowing
Astronomers finally spotted a previously 'invisible' object near our solar system when they realized it was actually glowing in the dark.
James Webb Space Telescope Eyes Mysterious Objects at the Edge of the Solar System
Researchers studying mysterious objects at the edge of the solar system with the James Webb Space Telescope find origin of life clues.
Newly Analyzed Satellite Scans of the Deepest Lunar Craters Reveal ‘Chilling’ Results
Scientists taking a new look at the deepest lunar craters have found 'chilling' results that could dramatically affect future moon colonies.
Experimental Phoenix-1 Spacecraft Makes Successful Maiden Spaceflight
Commercial space carrier Atmos Space Cargo has announced the successful launch, orbit and reentry of its PHOENIX 1 spacecraft.
Discovery of Electrically Conductive Organism Could Usher in New Era of ‘Bioelectronics’
A newly discovered electrically conductive organism that transports electrical current like a wire could usher in an era of bioelectronics.
Forget “Mood” Rings, This Invention Just Identified Human Emotions with Nearly 90% Accuracy
This incredible new invention can interpret human emotions with nearly 90% accuracy by analyzing facial expressions and biometric data.
The NRO and the U.S. Space Force Just Conducted Another Secret Launch
On Sunday, the U.S. Space Force and the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) conducted another secret launch of a classified payload.
Skiing the Red Planet? New Evidence Suggests Ancient Mars Experienced Snow and Rain
A new analysis by UC Boulder geologists suggests the ancient Mars landscape was formed by falling precipitation, including rain and snow.
International Space Station to Receive “Rock Star” Tool That Could Aid in Search for Extraterrestrial Life
The International Space Station is preparing for the launch of ELVIS, a tool that could aid the search for extraterrestrial life
James Webb Space Telescope Spots the First Potential Signs of Life Outside our Solar System
Cambridge astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have detected the first potential sign of life on another planet.
New High-Energy Microwave Weapon Neutralizes ‘Attacking’ Vessels in a Military First
The first-ever high-powered microwave weapon designed to stop marine attacks just passed several critical tests against aquatic vessels.
Video: Interactive 3D Hologram Allows Users to Manipulate Virtual Objects with Their Hands
Researchers unveil the first-ever interactive 3D hologram that lets users manipulate objects projected into thin air with their hands.
When it Comes to Optical Illusions, Experts in This Profession Show a ‘Superpower’ for Perception
People trained in this particular profession appear to have a 'superpower' that lets them decipher optical illusions better than others.
Threat of War in Space Rises as U.S. General Outlines Plans to “Militarize” Low Earth Orbit
The possibility of the world's first war in space appears to be increasing after recent comments by the Chief of the U.S. Space Force.
James Webb Space Telescope Spots the “Dawn” of the Universe Becoming Transparent
Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope to look back in time have found the earliest evidence of the universe becoming transparent.
Warp Drive Think Tank Adds Harvard Astrophysicist and Warp Theorist to Advance Planetary Defense
International warp drive think tank Applied Physics has announced a planetary defense project helmed by Dr. Avi Loeb and Dr. Shaun Fell.
Transparent Wood? Scientists Invent Biodegradable Material That Could Replace Plastics
Scientist have invented a new type of transparent wood that could one day replace harmful plastics in several applications.
‘Impossible’ Device Physicists Said Wouldn’t Work Just Generated Electricity from the Earth’s Rotation
A controversial device that most scientists said was impossible has successfully generated electricity from the Earth's rotation.
Astronomers Spot Supermassive Black Hole in a Distant Galaxy Firing ‘Death Rays’ Across the Cosmos
Astronomers studying a supermassive black hole at the center of a galaxy similar to our Milky Way may have just witnessed how Earth will end.
Lightsails That Can Travel 20% of The Speed of Light Move Closer to Reality
A new method for manufacturing lightsails that can reach up 20% of the speed of light is making the technology look more viable than ever.
Powerful Combat Laser Could Be Latest Game Changer in Ukraine-Russia Conflict
Claims by Ukraine military official of a newly deployed combat laser joins a larger trend in directed energy weapons on the battlefield.
Radian Aerospace Reveals Next-Generation Spacecraft Material “Dur-E-Therm” Designed to Withstand Single-Stage-to-Orbit Flight
Company behind the Radian One experimental single stage to orbit spaceplane has announced its advanced Dur-E-Therm spacecraft material.
Inside the F-47: America’s Most Advanced Warplane Yet Signals the Future of U.S. Air Dominance
The newly announced F-47 Next Generation Air Dominance fighter intended to replace the F-22 Raptor boasts several technological advancements.
Time Travel? Powerful Atacama Cosmology Telescope Peers Over 99.99% of the Way Back in Time
New data from the Atacama Cosmology Telescope has allowed astronomers to travel back in time to the dawn of the universe.
In Antarctica, an Iceberg the Size of Chicago Suddenly Broke Off, Revealing a Shocking Discovery
Researchers in Antarctica were in the right place at the right time when an iceberg suddenly broke off, revealing a shocking discovery.
Physicists Create Time Quasicrystal that Defies Common Perceptions of Time and Motion
Physicists have just created the first-ever time quasicrystal, a new phase of matter that appears to defy concepts of time and motion.
Virtual Headphones? Audio Engineers Create ‘Audible Enclaves,’ Where Only the Listener Can Hear
Researchers have created customized 'audio enclaves' that work like a virtual headset where only the listener can hear the sound.
Mysterious “Blazar” Directing a Massive Jet of Plasma Toward Earth Has Left Scientists Stumped
Astronomers are stumped by unusual signals coming from a blazar over 900 million light-years away from Earth.
Effort to Map the “Uncharted Expanses” of the Ocean Floor Funded by the Office of Naval Research
A new effort to map the ocean floor funded by the Office of Naval Research uses the magic of mathematics and the power of sound waves.
A Breakthrough in “Twisting” Light Could Revolutionize Electronics like OLEDs and Night Vision
A test of customized organic semiconductors capable of twisting light dramatically improved the efficiency of OLED displays.
Why Belief in Conspiracy Theories May Be Fueled by Poor Sleep Quality
A study evaluating the link between conspiracy theories and sleep found that people were more prone to conspiratorial thinking when they experienced poor sleep quality.
Black Holes May Evolve Into White Holes “Where Time Begins,” Groundbreaking Theory Suggests
A radical new theory suggests that black holes can transition into white holes that eject matter, light, and time back into the universe.
More Than 100 New “Irregular” Moons Orbiting Saturn Have Been Discovered by Astronomers
Harvard astronomers have announced the discovery of over 100 previously undiscovered moons orbiting the planet Saturn.
Breakthrough Radiocarbon Analysis Sheds Light on Mysterious Human-Neanderthal Hybrid Remains
Scientists have successfully dated the remains of the Lapedo Child, which possesses a "mosaic" of Human and Neanderthal features.
NASA Successfully Launches SPHEREx Misson to Search the Cosmos for the Ingredients for Life
NASA has announced the successful launch of the SPHEREx astrophysics observatory to search the cosmos for the ingredients for life.
This is Your Brain on Microplastics: Scientists Warn of Alarming Rise in Brain Microplastic Levels
Alarming levels of microplastics discovered inside the human brain might be directly affecting its proper operation.
Study Yields New Evidence of Advanced Technology Use Over 40,000 Years Ago
An analysis of artifacts from the Islands of Southeast Asia has revealed the use of advanced technology millennia before previously believed.
Star Trek-Style Life Detector Successfully Finds Microbial Life in Mars Rock Analogue
A Star Trek-style life signs detector has successfully detected ancient microbial life in gypsum rocks similar to rocks on Mars.
Unusual New Materials “May Hold the Key” to Unlocking Holy Grail of High-Temperature Superconductivity
Claims of a new family of superconducting materials that can operate at relatively high temperatures have physicists excited.
Breakthrough Solar System Makes Fuel from Thin Air, Transforming Pollution in to Power
A groundbreaking invention that produces fuel from thin air could transform atmospheric carbon dioxide from a threat into a potentially valuable resource.
Haunting European Cave Discovery Suggests Ice Age Hunters Practiced “Violent” Warfare Cannibalism
Evidence from an 18,000-year-old cave in modern day Poland has revealed that Ice Age people may have practiced violent warfare cannibalism.
Could Aliens with Human-Level Technology Detect Us? SETI Scientists Weigh In
SETI scientists try to determine whether aliens at a similar technology level to humans could detect Earth and from how far away.
The Mystery of Water—and Potentially Life—on Ancient Mars May Have Just Been Solved
Harvard scientists studying the mystery of water and life on ancient Mars believe they may have finally found a solution.
Lasers and Space-Time-Separated Atomic Clocks Reveal New Secrets About Dark Matter
An innovative approach in the search for dark matter using space/time-separated atomic clocks and lasers has yielded tantalizing results.
Watch This ‘Intelligent’ Liquid That Magically Solves Mazes Without Any Assistance
An "intelligent" liquid that has baffled scientists due to its ability to "choose" its own path to solve a maze has finally been explained.
NASA Launching ‘Blue Ghost’ Spacecraft to Investigate Mysterious Domes on the Moon
NASA is working with Firefly Aerospace to construct the Blue Ghost 3 mission to investigate mysterious moon domes.
New “Thermogalvanic” Cells Show 70% Increase in Cooling Power, Chinese Scientists Claim
Chinese scientists claim their newly designed "thermogalvanic" cells that use an electrochemical reaction for cooling are 70% more powerful.