James Webb Space Telescope Spots Source of ‘Extreme’ Redshift 7 Ultraviolet Light Powering Cosmic Reionization
The James Webb Space Telescope has spotted extreme galaxy clusters generating enough ultraviolet light to account for cosmic reionization.
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.
Scientists Are ‘Playing with God’s Dice’ by Using Quantum Entanglement for this Game-Changing Random Number Generator
Scientists have built the first ever traceable and certifiable random number generator that uses quantum entanglement.
“People Thought This Couldn’t Be Done”: Ground-Based Telescopes Detect Echoes of “Cosmic Dawn” by Peering 13 Billion Years Back in Time
Astronomers have used Earth-based telescopes to look over 13 billion years back in time to the Cosmic Dawn just after the Big Bang.
A Rabbi, a Minister, a Monk, and a Priest Took Magic Mushrooms. Here’s What Happened
When a team of scientists asked over 30 leaders of the world's four major religions to take magic mushrooms, this is what happened.
Scientists Using LIDAR to ‘See’ Through the Dense Forest Canopy Make a Surprising 1,000-Year-Old Discovery
Dartmouth scientists using LIDAR-equipped drones to peer through Michigan's dense forest canopy have made a shocking 1,000-year-old discovery.
Scientists Successfully Simulate Bizarre Phenomenon Where “Light Appears to be Generated from Darkness”
Physicists have successfully simulated a bizarre phenomenon where three intersecting lasers create a third, resulting in light from darkness.
First-Ever “Metalenses” Turn Invisible Light Visible and Are Dramatically Thinner Than Glass Lenses
Breakthrough ultrathin metalenses not only focus light like traditional lenses but also turn invisible light into visible light.
“A Glimpse of the Future”: Scientists Suggest ‘Supermassive’ Alternative to Next Generation Supercolliders
Scientists say supermassive black holes that smash together particles at near light speeds could potentially replace high-cost supercolliders.
5,000-Year-Old Missing Formula for ‘Egyptian Blue’ Reveals Unusual Optical, Magnetic, and Biological Properties
Scientists recreating the lost formula for 5,000-year-old Egyptian Blue affirm its unusual optical, magnetic, and biological properties.
Satellite Scanning the World’s Oceans Detects Elusive Phenomena Scientists Say Had “Been Hiding in Plain Sight”
Scientists using satellite data to analyze the behavior of the world's oceans have spotted unusual forces operating on and below the surface.
Scientists Reveal New Clues About Ancient Lost World Hidden Beneath the Ice of Antarctica
A chemical analysis of rocks from an ancient lost world hidden beneath the ice sheets of Antarctica has yielded several new insights.
Scientists Invent a 2D Material with Exotic Properties Called ‘Glaphene’ that “Nature Does Not Make on its Own”
Scientists have invented a new two-dimensional (2D) material called 'glaphene' that combines the exotic properties of other materials.
Astronomers Detect Repeating Signals From Space Object That’s “Unlike Anything We Have Seen Before”
Astronomers have reported the discovery of a mysterious object in deep space that emits radio signals and X-rays in a repeating pattern.
Scientists Find “Up to a 40% Chance” Theoretical ‘Planet Nine’ Exists Given the Correct Conditions
A new analysis of planet formation models estimates the odds of a theoretical Planet Nine orbiting our sun at 40% given proper conditions.
Lunar Magnetism Mystery “Still Unexplained” as Material Detected on Far Side of the Moon Stumps Scientists
MIT scientists propose a radical new theory to explain why some rocks on the far side of the moon are highly magnetic.
“We’ve Got a New Mystery on Our Hands”: Scientists Stumped by Unexplained Motion in Titan’s Atmosphere
Scientists studying the atmosphere of Saturn's moon Titan have discovered a mysterious, gyroscopic motion they can't quite explain.
Scientists Studying High-Energy Gamma Ray Bursts During Lightning Storms Witness a “Shocking” Event
Scientists were trying to unravel the mystery of gamma ray bursts detected during lightning storms when they witnessed something shocking.
Optical Breakthrough: Tunable ‘Metalenses’ Could Enable Realistic Holograms and Invisibility
An optical breakthrough in plastic metalenses designed to offer ultrafine control of light could enable realistic holograms and invisibility.
DARPA Shatters Optical Power Beaming Record with Latest High-Energy Laser Demonstrations
New DARPA optical power beaming demonstrations using a high-energy laser and a new receiver shatter previous records for distance and power.
Scientists Studying Life Forms at the Base of a Glacier in Antarctica Make a Shocking Discovery
Scientists studying extreme life forms living at the base of a glacier in Antarctica made a shocking discovery.
World’s Most Powerful Laser, ‘ZEUS,’ Equips U.S. With Beam Surpassing 100x Global Electric Power Output
University of Michigan scientists say the most powerful laser ever built, called ZEUS, just achieved two petawatts of power.
Astronomers Detect Mysterious, Perfectly Spherical Object in Deep Space Emitting Radio Signals
An international team of astronomers have detected an invisible, mysterious, nearly perfectly spherical object emitting radio signals.
Scientists Reveal Clever Trick to Detect Explosive Munitions on the Seafloor Using Sound Waves
A new approach for detecting unexploded munitions on the seafloor using sound waves could save lives and prevent serious injury.
“No One Knows How to Explain This Behavior,” Says Scientist Stumped by Odd Pulses Coming From Sun-Like Stars
A NASA veteran’s multi-year survey of over 1,300 Sun-like stars has discovered several mysterious fast pulses of light that defy traditional cosmological explanations.
Ingenious Method for Logging Into Your Computer May be the Biggest “Little” Idea of All Time
Scientists have created an entirely new method for logging in to a computer by storing and retrieving data in a whole new way.
NASA Mission Reveals “Ground Shaking” New Insights into Mysterious Structures on Venus
A fresh look at data from NASA's Magellan mission has revealed potentially ground-shaking insights into mysterious structures on Venus.
“It Can Kill Anything You Throw at It.” ‘Skinwalker’ Parasite Kills Human Cells and Wears Their Remains as a Disguise to Escape Death
Scientists unmask a 'Skinwalker' parasite that kills human cells and then wears their skin as a disguise to avoid detection.
Does ‘Minecraft’ Have Free Will? Expert Says Game’s Voyager Agent Meets All Three Conditions
A Finnish philosophy professor says the generative AI 'Voyager' agent in Minecraft meets the three primary criteria for free will.
Quasars May Help Detect Gravitational Waves from Ancient Black Hole Collisions, This Astrophysicist Says
An astrophysicist has proposed a new method for detecting slow-moving gravitational waves using light from distant quasars.
A Centuries-Old “Impossible” Equation, Once Considered Unsolvable, Finally Has a Solution
A mathematician and a computer scientist have just solved an "impossible" equation that has been considered unsolvable for centuries.
Infrasound Technology Proves Critical for Planetary Defense Against Threats from Outer Space
A Sandia National Laboratories scientist has demonstrated how infrasound technology can improve planetary defense against threats from space.
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.
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.