Neuroscientists Are Unraveling the Mystery of Why Flickering Lights Cause Hallucinations
Neuroscientists are shedding new light on the phenomenon of geometric pattern hallucinations caused by flickering lights.
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.
New Evidence Suggests Something Unexpected Happened on the Moon 120 Million Years Ago
New evidence collected by China's Chang'e-5 rover has found evidence that something unexpected happened on the Moon 120 million years ago.
New Research Shows Dungeons & Dragons Can Help People with Autism “Conquer” Social Situations and Find Their “Inner Hero”
A new study found that playing Dungeons and Dragons can have significant social benefits for people with autism.
Life in the Abyss: Arctic Scientists Detect Photosynthesis in Near Complete Darkness
Research in the Arctic Sea has found that deep-sea ice algae and phytoplankton can perform photosynthesis using only a few photons of light
Don’t Let Your Ears Deceive You! Competition Challenges Magicians to Make Illusions for the Blind
A first of its kind contest called the Auditory Magic Challenge is asking the magic community to create immersive illusions for the blind.
Scientists Demonstrate Key Technologies Behind Holy Grail of Timekeeping: The World’s First Nuclear Clock
A team of scientists have successfully demonstrated all of the technologies required to build the world's first nuclear clock.
Space Observatories From Around the Globe Join Forces to Create One Massive “Earth-Sized” Telescope
An Earth-sized telescope that combines numerous arrays captures the highest-ever resolution observations for a ground-based telescope.
Astronomers Scan Over 2,800 Distant Galaxies for Signs of “Super Civilizations”
SETI researchers have announced an unprecedented search for "super civilizations" across over 2,800 distant galaxies.
Scientists Now Have a Way to Protect Future Martian Colonists from These Interstellar Killers
Scientists have discovered the simplest and most effective materials for protecting future Martian colonists from deadly cosmic rays.
Breakthrough “Smart” Window Generates Electricity from Raindrops
This newly invented smart window can reflect incoming heat, defrost itself, and generate electricity from falling raindrops.
DARPA-Funded Research Aims to Place Humans in “Suspended Animation”
DARPA-funded researchers from Harvard University have identified an Alzheimer's drug that could place patients in suspended animation.
NASA to Launch EXCITE Mission from Antarctica to Study Exoplanets from the Edge of Space
NASA is preparing to launch the EXCITE mission, which will travel to the edge of space to collect data on other worlds.
4,000 Years before Euclid, Neolithic Builders Likely Understood Geometry and other “Early Science” Concepts
A new analysis of the ancient Neolithic site Menga reveals its builders likely understood early science concepts like geometry.
50,000-Year-Old Tree Resin Revealing ‘Sophisticated Technological Processes’ Could Rewrite History of Ancient Human Expansion
A 50-thousand-year-old tree resin sample reveals ancient humans colonized the Pacific Ocean thousands of years earlier than previously shown.
47-Year-Old ‘Wow! Signal’ Mystery Solved? Arecibo Observatory Scientists Think They Have an Answer
Researchers from the famous Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico say they may have finally solved the 47-year-old mystery of the 'Wow! Signal.'
5,000 Years Ago, ‘Advanced Transport Methods’ Were Used to Move Massive Altar Stone at the Center of Stonehenge
New research suggests that the Altar Stone at the Center of the Stonehenge monument likely came from hundreds of kilometers away.
Belief in God Has Been Overwhelmingly Linked with This Specific Behavior
Researchers from the University of California, Merced, have found a significant link between a belief in God and this particular behavior.
Look: NASA Releases 3D Multiwavelength Movie of the “Pillars of Creation”
Watch NASA's nearly five-minute 3D multiwavelength movie of the stunning "Pillars of Creation" compiled from numerous space observatories.
Terraforming Mars with Metal Nanorods Could Be 5,000 Times Faster Than Greenhouse Gas Proposals
New research into terraforming Mars says using metal nanorods to trap the sun's heat could be 5,000 times faster than greenhouse gas concepts.
Compelling Theory Suggests Ancient Egyptian Pyramid Builders Used This Technology to Lift Massive Stones
Ancient Egyptian pyramid builders may have used hydraulic technology to move the massive stones used in the monuments' construction.
Quantum Tunneling Mysteries to be Unraveled Under New NSF Funded Effort
New research into quantum tunneling aims to unravel the central mystery behind the seemingly impossible quantum physics phenomenon.
42,000 Years Ago, Ancient Humans Used ‘Advanced Technology’ to Traverse Oceans and Colonize Remote Islands
New discoveries on the remote Tanimbar Islands reveal ancient seafaring humans used advanced maritime technologies over 42,000 years ago.
This Cannabis Extract Showed Reductions in Anxiety and “Statistically Significant” Improvements in Memory
Researchers studying this lesser-known cannabis extract report reduced feelings of anxiety and stress along with improvements in memory.
Scientists Explore Expanded Wavelength Single-Photon Emitters for the Quantum Internet of the Future
New research explores the possibility of using improved single-photon emitters to power the quantum internet of the future.
First-Ever Grid-Scale Wave Energy Device Funded by the US Department of Energy Installed by the Navy
The world's first-ever grid-scale wave energy harvesting device has been installed on a US Naval Base off the coast of Oahu, Hawaii.
NASA-Funded Hypersonic Breakthrough Can Eliminate Deadly “Shock Train” at the Speed of Light
Optical sensors that rapidly detect a 'shock train' inside a scramjet engine could revolutionize hypersonic flight.
Energy Scientists Invent Device That Draws Electricity Out of Thin Air
Scientists have invented a novel technology that grabs RF signals out of thin air and converts them directly into usable electrical energy.
Apex Predator Dinosaurs like T-Rex Used Iron-Coated Teeth to “Rip Apart” Their Prey, Study Suggests
A new study of Komodo dragons has suggested that ancient dinosaur apex predators like Tyrannosaurs Rex may have had iron-coated teeth.
Effort to Harness Gamma Rays Using Quantum Theory Aims to Create the World’s Most Powerful Laser
Researchers working to control high energy gamma-rays hope their work will help produce the most powerful laser ever built.
Morpheus Space Launching First-Ever Mass Production Facility for Field Emission Electric Propulsion Systems
Morpheus Space has opened its 'Reloaded' production facility to scale up production of its GO-2 field emission electric propulsion system.
Patented ‘Super Battery’ Made from Rocks Could Power Future Electric Vehicles
A patented new form of solid-state battery that researchers are terming a 'super battery' is made out of ordinary rocks.
World’s Most Powerful Supercollider Ever Takes Huge Leap Forward Following Muon Beam Breakthrough
Researchers have announced a major breakthrough in muon-marshalling that could lead to the world's most powerful supercollider ever.
NASA Scientist Says Patented ‘Exodus Effect’ Propellantless Propulsion Drive that Defies Physics is Ready to go to Space
The inventor of a propellantless propulsion drive, which he claims uses an unknown force called the 'Exodus Effect,' is ready to go to space.
Good News, Nerds! Playing Dungeons and Dragons is Probably Good for You
A new study has found that playing the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons and Dragons can improve your overall mental health.
Advanced Propulsion Researchers from GE Aerospace Successfully Test Cutting-Edge Dual-Mode Hypersonic Ramjet
Researchers from GE Aerospace have announced their first-ever successful test of a dual mode hypersonic ramjet engine.
Photon Energy System Allegedly Generates 60 Times More Power than Solar Panels, May Power an Electric Car without a Battery
The company behind a new Photon Energy System claims its futuristic-looking spheres can generate 60 times more power than solar panels.
The Southwest Research Institute’s New High-Speed Propulsion Facility Officially Breaks Ground
The Southwest Research Institute has officially broken ground on their new CAMP high-speed propulsion facility.
Air Force-Funded Ursa Major Successfully Test Fires “Draper” Engine Built to Power Spacecraft of the Future
Ursa Major has announced the first successful test firing of its Draper engine, which will power both hypersonic and in-space flight.
Warp Theorists Say We’ve Entered an Exotic Propulsion Space Race to Build the World’s First Working Warp Drive
The Debrief recently spoke with a team of warp drive researchers about advancements in their field of research and the dawn of the world's next space race.
Was Pi Just Hacked? String Theory Scientists ‘Stumble Upon’ Whole New Way to Represent Famously Irrational Number
String Theory scientists say they have "hacked" Pi, resulting in a whole new way to represent the famously irrational number.
MIT Geologists Say Liquid Lakes on Saturn’s Moon Titan Probably Experience Waves Similar to Earth’s Lakes
Models developed by MIT geologists indicate that the coastlines of the lakes on Saturn's moon Titan were likely formed by waves.
Biomolecular Engineers Create Entirely New Class of Materials with Unique Properties Called ‘Glassy Gels’
NC State researchers say they have created an entirely new class of material called 'glassy gels' with several unique properties.
600,000 Years Ago, A Transfer of Ancient Knowledge Kicked Off a Sudden and Rapid Advance in Technology
An analysis of artifacts from over 57 sites around the world reveals a sudden and rapid advance in technology 600,000 years ago.
Astronomers Say They Just Witnessed a Massive Black Hole Appear Out of Nowhere
An international team of astronomers studying a distant galaxy say they just witnessed a black hole appear out of nowhere.
Scientists Launch Pioneering Experiment to Demonstrate Advanced Zero-Fuel Energy Harvesting in Space
The Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology has launched a program to test an innovative new form of energy harvesting in space.
Planets Orbiting Burnt-Out Stars May Be Ideal Targets in the Search for Alien Life
Researchers studying the dynamics of white dwarfs say that these burnt-out stars are ideal places for astrobiologists to search for life.
Invention Inspired by Superman’s X-ray Vision Will Let Your Mobile Device ‘See’ Through Walls
Scientists have created a scanning chip inspired by Superman's X-ray vision that can let your mobile device see through walls.
Scientists Are Using This Living Organism to Generate Power
Research scientists from Concordia University have designed a cutting-edge fuel cell that uses a living organism to generate power
Two Million Years Ago, an Encounter between the Sun and Something Outside the Solar System Altered All Life on Earth
Two million years ago our Sun collided with something from outside our Solar System, potentially affecting all living things on Earth.
Engineers Studying One-Dimensional Materials Discover the World’s Thinnest Wire
Swiss engineers studying one-dimensional materials say they have stumbled upon what may be the world's thinnest wire.