Alien Oceans, Reversing Aging, and Recreating the Early Universe—The Latest from The Debrief
This week, The Debrief is tracking the search for alien life on Saturn's moon Enceladus, age-reversal technologies, and much more.
Micah Hanks
Micah Hanks is creator, co-founder, and Editor-in-Chief of The Debrief. He covers science, defense, and technology in his writing and podcasts, and you can find him at micahhanks.com and on X @MicahHanks.
Scientists Demonstrate First Evidence of “Helicon Current Drive,” Bringing Continuous Fusion Power Closer to Reality
Scientists demonstrate a new method of sustaining electrical currents in nuclear fusion experiments with the successful use of a “helicon current drive.”
A New Breakthrough in Cellular Reprogramming Reverses 60 Years of Molecular Aging
In a breakthrough that could signal new advances in age reversal technologies, scientists in Germany report successful experiments...
Psilocybin Can Rewire the Brain Even Without Triggering Hallucinations, New Research Reveals
Recent research reveals how psilocybin can help reestablish connections in the brain, offering new possibilities for treating depression.
Scientists Create Mysterious Ball Lightning-Like Phenomenon in Laboratory Breakthrough
Scientists have produced electrical phenomena in the lab that could offer clues to how mysterious ball lightning forms in nature.
Scientists Are Racing to Detect a Potentially Dangerous Form of Synthetic Life Before It Exists
This week, scientists have proposed the first method for detecting “mirror life,” a hypothetical form of synthetic biology that could pose serious environmental and biosecurity risks if ever created.
“We Don’t Know What We Don’t Know”: New Study Uncovers a Concerning “Blind Spot” in Modern Scientific Research
Some of the most important phenomena in the natural world remain unexplored, according to new research revealing a scientific "blind spot."
Living Brain Computers, a Ghostly Green Star, and Neanderthal Violence—The Latest from The Debrief
This week, we're looking at living human brain cells used to create a computer, an extraordinary green stellar object, and much more in The Latest from The Debrief.
Scientists Are Preparing for a Tunguska-Sized Asteroid Threat in a New Planetary Defense Exercise
What would happen if an asteroid struck the Earth? We spoke with a NASA planetary scientist who is working to find out.
Israeli Military Continues the Search for an Unidentified Aerial Object Detected Near Lebanese Border
This week, we examine an incident involving an unidentified object detected near Israel's northern border that triggered a military response.
Scientists Are Turning to A.I. in an Ambitious New Effort to Resurrect the Dodo from Extinction
Scientists say they are one step closer to reviving the long-extinct dodo, thanks to new advancements in artificial intelligence.
Nuclear Clocks, a Lost Wonder, and a Real-Life Lightsaber—The Latest from The Debrief
This week, we're exploring breakthroughs in nuclear timekeeping, surprising insights into artificial intelligence, and a real-life “lightsaber.”
Scientists Create a Real-Life “Lightsaber” That Can Transmit Radio Waves
Researchers have created a laser that uses concentrated beams of plasma to generate a glowing “lightsaber” that can transmit radio signals.
Strange Electronic Patterns Caused by These Unusual Superconductors Could Lead to Better Quantum Computers
An unusual class of superconducting materials is helping shed light on the links between magnetic vortices and "exotic" electronic states.
Mysterious Death at Russian Plague Lab Sparks International Alarm as U.S. Officials Seek Answers
A mysterious death at a Russian facility specializing in dangerous infectious diseases has sparked international concern.
“We Can Finally Observe Schrödinger’s Cat in Real Life”: Breakthrough Uses Quantum Spin to Move a Levitating Diamond
Scientists use quantum spin to move a levitating diamond, offering new insights into the boundary between quantum mechanics and classical physics.
Scientists Report First Direct Observation of Electrons’ Strange Quantum Geometry
Scientists have observed a strange quantum property of electrons for the first time, according to recently published research.
Strange Signals, Ancient Glyphs, and Rogue DNA—The Latest from The Debrief
Welcome to The Latest from The Debrief, where this week we're exploring signals from alien worlds, mysterious ancient writing systems, and more.
In the Quest for Life Beyond Earth, a Nanotech Breakthrough Could Supercharge the Search Using Electrical Sensing
Scientists may soon have a formidable new tool to help spot any potential signs of alien biology on distant worlds.
Physicists Have Made a Microscopic Discovery That May Hold the Key to Building Better Quantum Computers
New research is revealing the tiny problems that could be limiting the development of reliable and scalable quantum computers.
Three-Dimensional Light Breakthrough Unlocks Previously “Impossible” Quantum States, Physicists Say
A new way to produce three-dimensional light fields allowa researchers to manipulate electrons into quantum states once thought impossible.
NASA Officials Reveal New PRIMA Space Telescope Will Peer into the Unknown by Exploring Mysteries of the Electromagnetic Spectrum
NASA's new PRIMA Space Telescope will search for clues to some of the most perplexing mysteries of the cosmos.
Strange Signals Were Just Detected Coming from an Alien World—and They Reveal Something Astronomers Have Never Seen Before
Scientists have traced a series of mysterious radio signals to a gigantic alien world 63 light-years from Earth.
Hidden for Centuries Near Machu Picchu, an Ancient System of Unknown Inca Roadways Has Resurfaced
More than a mile of ancient Inca roadways, long hidden beneath dense tropical vegetation, have been discovered near famous Machu Picchu.
This Unusual “Rogue DNA” Allows Some Cancers to Thrive—and Scientists Just Found Its Achilles’ Heel
New insights into "rogue DNA" that drives tumor growth has revealed a potential “Achilles heel” in the battle against cancer.
A Mysterious Life-Sized Carving in Sudan Has Long Baffled Researchers—Now Its Secret History Could Finally Be Revealed
A mysterious giant has long stood watch from a hilltop overlooking the rocky landscape of Miseeda in northern Sudan, where locals have been said to know of its existence for centuries.
James Webb Telescope Uncovers New Evidence of Cosmic Collisions—and One of Them May Have Created Our Moon
NASA's Webb Telescope has uncovered new evidence of planetary-scale collisions around distant stars, revealing clues to the origins of the Moon.
U.S. Spy Chief Warns That “Super Intelligence” is a National Security Concern
The Director of National Intelligence says AI, which the White House now calls “super intelligence," is a concern for U.S. national security.
Mystery Surrounds Destruction of U.S. Spy Satellite in Orbit as Officials Assess Possible Danger to Existing Spacecraft
A decades-old U.S. intelligence satellite has reportedly broken apart in low-Earth orbit, the U.S. Space Force (USSF) recently confirmed.
Strange Waves, Alien Oceans, and a Major Discovery at Göbekli Tepe—The Latest from The Debrief
Welcome to The Latest from The Debrief, where we take a look at the latest stories in science, tech, strange physics, ancient mysteries, the search for life beyond Earth, and more.
Could a Black Hole Be Used as a Power Plant? We Asked An Expert—Here’s the Surprising Answer
Could an advanced civilization use black holes as power plants? The short answer is yes... but figuring out how is where things get weird.
Scientists Just Discovered Strange New Materials That Force Chaotic Waves Into Order
Researchers have discovered a novel way of making chaotic light, sound, and other kinds of waves follow stable pathways.
Göbekli Tepe Remains an 11,600-Year-Old Enigma—and a New Discovery is Challenging Past Views on Its Mysterious Purpose
A recent discovery at Turkey’s famous Göbekli Tepe is offering new clues about the enigmatic ancient site’s purpose.
Hidden in Ice for Millennia, a 6,000-Year-Old Discovery Has Emerged from Western Scandinavia’s Once-Frozen Landscape
Deep in Norway’s Jotunheimen mountains, archaeologists have unearthed a discovery that remained hidden in ice for thousands of years.
A Metal Detectorist Kept Finding Ancient Coins in a German Field—Then He Hit a 1,900-Year-Old Jackpot
A surprise discovery in a German field has led to the discovery of one of the largest ancient Roman coin hoards of its kind.
Story of Former Pentagon Official Who Led U.S Government’s UAP Investigations Is Coming to Television
Terence Winter is teaming up with filmmaker Dan Farah on a new television series based on the former U.S. intelligence official who led government investigations into UAP.
Hackers Claim Major FBI Data Breach in Apparent Retaliation Against the Bureau
This week, the FBI is investigating an alleged breach of its networks, following claims by a cybercriminal group that it successfully hacked the agency.
Mysterious 1,000-Year-Old Artifacts in Florida Are Challenging What We Know About One of America’s Most Enigmatic Ancient Cultures
Mysterious artifacts unearthed in Florida are forcing archaeologists to rethink past views on America’s ancient Mississippian Culture.
Quantum Leap: Stanford Team Reports Breakthrough First Observation of Quantum Jumps in Sound
Researchers at Stanford University report the first direct observation of quantum jumps in sound, achieving a milestone in the century-long study of quantum phenomena.
1,000-Year-Old Artifact Bearing Unusual 11th Century “Medusa” Unearthed by Russian Archaeologists
An uncommon discovery by Russian archaeologists has revealed an artifact with a snake-haired figure resembling the Medusa of Greek mythology.
James Webb Space Telescope Reveals an Unexpected Discovery About the Rings of a Strange Celestial Centaur
Astronomers observing the rings of a strange celestial "centaur" using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope have made an unexpected discovery.
Striking New Evidence of Hidden Chambers Near Tutankhamun’s Tomb Could Help Solve a Longstanding Archaeological Mystery
Mounting evidence points to the existence of hidden rooms and passageways near the burial chamber of Tutankhamun, new research reveals.
Future Wars Could Stretch From the Seabed to Cislunar Space, America’s Top General Warns
America’s top military officials are warning that future conflicts could unfold across an increasingly “hyper-transparent” battlefield.
New Self-Healing Material “Activates” as Damage Occurs, Offering a Game-Changing Defense Against Rust Formation
A new “smart” self-healing coating can prolong the life of structures, automobiles, and infrastructure by preventing the formation of rust.
SpaceX Just Launched a Mysterious Classified Mission for the U.S. Space Force—Here’s What We Know
This week, SpaceX launched USSF-153, a classified U.S. Space Force mission carrying a mysterious payload into orbit aboard a Falcon 9 rocket.
A New Organism’s “Alien” Reproduction, Levitation and Dark Matter, and Genetic Evidence of an Ancient Killer
This week, scientists report the discovery of a microorganism resembling something from sci-fi, levitation tech in the search for dark matter, genetic clues to a medieval mystery, and more.
Astronomers Detected Three Mysterious “Glitches” in a Pulsar That Had Gone Silent for Years
Astronomers monitoring an unusual young neutron star report a stellar surprise after years of apparent silence.
Physicists Report Levitation Experiment That May Signal a Breakthrough in the Search for Mysterious Dark Matter
Scientists have used levitation to transform a tiny magnet into a detector that can sense some of nature’s faintest forces.
15,000-Year-Old Cave Discovery in Ireland Could Push Back Earliest Evidence of Humans on the Island by 5,000 Years
New archaeological discoveries in Ireland could push back the earliest human presence on the island by as much as 5,000 years.
Hidden in a Museum Collection for More Than a Century, Researchers Have Just Made a Bizarre New Discovery
Researchers reveal several new species of a bizarre ocean creature that were uncovered after being hidden for decades in museum collections.