Micah Hanks, Author at The Debrief

NASA Scientists Say Hidden Planets Lurking Around Tiny Stars Could be Revealed Using Gravitational Waves

Micah Hanks·November 11, 2026

A new space-based observatory developed to detect gravitational waves might also help astronomers detect hidden objects around distant stars, paving the way toward the discovery of an entirely new population of exoplanets.

A Cosmological Controversy, Time Travel Shakeups, and a Giant Prehistoric Discovery—The Latest from The Debrief

Micah Hanks·November 10, 2026

This week, we look at a controversial new theory that could mean our universe is nearly twice as old as scientists currently believe, robotics milestones in space, and more.

A Controversial New Theory Claims the Universe Could Be Twice as Old as Once Thought—and It Just Passed Several Key Tests

Micah Hanks·November 10, 2026

A controversial new theory that suggests our universe could be vastly older than once thought has just passed the first round of observational testing.

This Unusual Fossil Sat Unstudied for Years—Now Scientists Say It Was a Giant That Lived Alongside the “Hobbits” of Flores

Micah Hanks·November 10, 2026

A mysterious fossil retrieved from the former home of Indonesia’s "Hobbits" reveals that a giant once inhabited the same region as much as 190,000 years ago.

Time Travel into the Past May Be Impossible—and This Simple Mathematical Discovery Reveals Why

Micah Hanks·November 9, 2026

New research has identified a mathematical condition that could reveal why traveling backward in time is impossible.

Stonehenge Discovery Deepens the Mystery of Its Enigmatic “Altar Stone,” Raising New Questions About Its Origins

Micah Hanks·November 9, 2026

The mystery of Stonehenge and its enigmatic Altar Stone has deepened, according to findings that raise new questions about the massive stone slab's origins.

Scientists Have Achieved the Coldest Temperature Ever Recorded in Space Aboard China’s Tiangong Station

Micah Hanks·November 7, 2026

Scientists have achieved the lowest equivalent temperature ever recorded in space aboard China’s Tiangong space station.

“No Link to a Known Artificial Object Has Been Found”: Astronomers Confirm Earth Has Captured a Tiny New Moon

Micah Hanks·November 6, 2026

Astronomers say Earth has captured a tiny new natural satellite, confiming that “no link to a known artificial object has been found."

Scientists Just Transformed a 2,000-Year-Old Invention into a Molecule-Sized Motor

Micah Hanks·November 6, 2026

"Archimedes screw" has now been scaled down to create a remarkable molecular motor that converts electrical current into controlled rotation.

NASA Just Revealed Its Mysterious New Experimental Aircraft, the X-70 Fractal

Micah Hanks·November 5, 2026

NASA just unveiled the X-70 Fractal, an experimental aircraft that aims to revolutionize flight testing and development of next-gen aviation.

In a Surprising Mystery, NASA’s Hubble Reveals Something is Missing from These Nearby Galaxies

Micah Hanks·November 5, 2026

In an unexpected discovery, astronomers using NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope say that something appears to be missing from more than three dozen nearby dwarf galaxies.

Prehistoric “Giant” Previously Unknown to Science Revealed from Fossil Discovery in Thailand

Micah Hanks·November 5, 2026

Paleontologists have discovered new evidence of a previously unknown species of giant that once roamed southern Thailand.

A Mysterious New Type of Magnetism Has Just Been Confirmed by Scientists

Micah Hanks·November 4, 2026

A mysterious new variety of magnetism known as "altermagnetism" has been experimentally confirmed for the first time.

Into the “Zeptoverse”: CERN Experiments Detect Evidence of Something So Rare It Could Potentially Reveal New Forces of Nature

Micah Hanks·November 4, 2026

An extraordinarily rare form of particle decay could help to reveal as-yet unknown particles and other forces of nature.

NASA’s Voyager 1 Experiences “Unexpected” Problems Engineers Have Never Seen Before as New Historic Milestone Approaches

Micah Hanks·November 4, 2026

NASA’s Voyager 1 spacecraft has experienced mysterious interruptions in its communication systems as its next major milestone approaches.

Einstein’s Hidden Secret, Ancient Cave Art, and a Strange Cloud on Mars—The Latest from The Debrief

Micah Hanks·November 3, 2026

This week in news from The Debrief, we look at a strange new phenomenon physicists have discovered hidden in Einstein's equations, and much more.

An “Invisible” Discovery in France’s Chauvet Cave Reveals the 37,000-Year-Old Secret to How Its Ancient Art Has Survived

Micah Hanks·November 2, 2026

Recent studies at France's famous Chauvet Cave reveal the remarkable secret behind how its ancient paintings have stood the test of time.

A Strange Cloud on Mars Has Puzzled Scientists for Decades—Now They May Know Why It Forms

Micah Hanks·November 2, 2026

A mysterious 900-mile-long cloud on Mars known as "AMEC" is challenging what scientists know about cloud formation.

NASA’s Simulated Mars Crew Emerges After 378 Days of Isolation in 3D-Printed Habitat

Micah Hanks·November 2, 2026

A team of four volunteers participating in a NASA simulation of life on Mars have finally emerged from more than a year of living in an isolated habitat.

New Defense Intelligence Report Reveals Growing Threats in Space—and China’s Secretive Spaceplane

Micah Hanks·October 29, 2026

A newly released DIA report warns that U.S. adversaries are rapidly expanding their military capabilities in space.

Alien Oceans, Reversing Aging, and Recreating the Early Universe—The Latest from The Debrief

Micah Hanks·October 27, 2026

This week, The Debrief is tracking the search for alien life on Saturn's moon Enceladus, age-reversal technologies, and much more.

Scientists Demonstrate First Evidence of “Helicon Current Drive,” Bringing Continuous Fusion Power Closer to Reality

Micah Hanks·October 27, 2026

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

Micah Hanks·October 26, 2026

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

Micah Hanks·October 26, 2026

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

Micah Hanks·October 24, 2026

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

Micah Hanks·October 22, 2026

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

Micah Hanks·October 20, 2026

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

Micah Hanks·October 20, 2026

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

Micah Hanks·October 19, 2026

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

Micah Hanks·October 15, 2026

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

Micah Hanks·October 15, 2026

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

Micah Hanks·October 13, 2026

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

Micah Hanks·October 9, 2026

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

Micah Hanks·October 9, 2026

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

Micah Hanks·October 8, 2026

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

Micah Hanks·October 8, 2026

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

Micah Hanks·October 6, 2026

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

Micah Hanks·October 6, 2026

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

Micah Hanks·October 6, 2026

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

Micah Hanks·October 5, 2026

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

Micah Hanks·October 5, 2026

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

Micah Hanks·October 5, 2026

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

Micah Hanks·October 4, 2026

Scientists have traced a series of mysterious radio signals to a gigantic alien world 63 light-years from Earth.