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.
Something Odd is Happening to the World’s Largest Iceberg, and It’s Making Experts Dizzy
The world’s largest iceberg has been engaged in unusual behavior in recent months that has left some glaciologists dizzy.
James Webb Space Telescope Discovers Evidence That Could Finally Resolve Cosmology’s Most Contentious Debate
New data from the James Webb Space Telescope have renewed debate over the Hubble Tension, one of the most controversial issues in astrophysics.
Rule-Breaking “Alien” Bacteria Creates Free-Floating Genes, Upending Ideas on How Cells Use Chromosomes
Evidence of genetic behavior in organisms that researchers liken to “alien biology” has reportedly left them in “disbelief” and suggests similar strange genes may even exist in humans.
Department of Energy Neutrino Breakthrough Using Prototype Detector Moves Scientists Closer to Solving a Cosmic Mystery
Scientists with the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) have successfully detected the first neutrinos using a novel prototype particle detector.
CERN Experiment Achieves Groundbreaking First Observations of High-Energy Neutrino Interactions in a Particle Collider
High-energy neutrino interactions have been observed within a particle collider for the first time, according to findings detailed in a new study that marks an important new milestone in particle physics.
Boeing Starliner Astronauts Could Remain in Space Until 2025, NASA Says
Welcome to this week’s Intelligence Brief… Houston, we’ve got a problem, and it has now kept two astronauts...
Unit 731 and the Roswell Controversy
This week we look at the tragic history of the Japanese 'Unit 731' and its war crimes, and its possible connection to one of the most controversial alleged UFO incidents of all time.
Consciousness Could be Driven by “Eureka” Moments, Challenging Past Ideas About the Mind’s Greatest Mysteries
A promising new method of studying consciousness and its phases of cognitive processes focuses on learning curves and behavioral observations.
37-Million Electron-Volt Discovery Reveals New Insights Into the Most Powerful Gamma-Ray Burst Ever Detected
Scientists have discovered the highest energy spectral line features ever associated with a gamma-ray burst, according to newly published findings.
NASA Thinks We’re Closer Than Ever to Discovering Evidence of Life on Mars. Here Are Three Reasons Why.
NASA scientists are becoming more confident about the prospects for finding evidence for the existence of ancient life on Mars.
James Webb Space Telescope Makes a Jaw-Dropping Discovery That Leaves Astronomers Seeing Double
A team of astronomers say they have made a jaw-dropping new discovery with help from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope.
Pyramid Power: Technology Resembling World’s Most Famous Ancient Structure Leads to Game Changer in Optical Communication
A potentially revolutionary new pyramid-shaped technology could greatly advance optical communications.
Russia Releases Wrongfully Accused Americans in Historic Prisoner Swap
A multi-nation prisoner swap has led to the release of reporter Evan Gershkovich and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, who were freed by Russia on Thursday.
Operation Paperclip
This week we explore Operation Paperclip, a shocking secret program undertaken to bring former Nazi scientists to the United States.
Mysterious Gigantic Features Discovered Beneath Antarctica’s Dotson Ice Shelf by Underwater Robotic Survey
New imagery from beneath Antarctica's Dotson Ice Shelf has revealed the existence of previously unknown features.
Academics Unite to Bring Humanities to the Study of Aerial Mysteries at Society for UAP Studies Event
Academics with the Society for UAP Studies are calling for deeper involvement from professionals in the study of UAP.
Scientists Propose Clever New Strategy for Spotting Alien Warp Drives That May Be Lurking in the Cosmos
An international team of researchers has devised a new method of detecting gravitational waves that might be produced by alien warp drives.
Chimpanzees Are Capable of Speech, According to New Analysis of Decades-Old Footage
A new study suggests chimpanzees are able to learn human words and exhibit limited speech capabilities, upending previously accepted views.
Life on Venus? New Discovery Deepens Controversy Over Possible Signs of Life in Planet’s Atmosphere
Recent observations of Venus could lend weight to controversial past claims involving possible signs of life detected in its atmosphere.
51,200-Year-Old Cave Art, Likely the World’s Oldest, May Not Have Been Made by Modern Humans
New evidence suggests cave art on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, believed to be the world’s oldest, dates to an astonishing 51,200 years ago.
Hunt for Element 120 Underway as Team Confirms First Creation of Element 116 Using Titanium Beam
Element 116 has officially been created for the first time using a titanium beam. Will the long-sought element 120 be next?
America’s Moment of Uncertainty Continues Amid Unprecedented Exits and Odd Questions
This week, U.S. President Joe Biden exits the 2024 race for the White House, the Secret Service Director resigns, and the FBI has questions about a recent assassination attempt.
The Operators
This week on The Micah Hanks Program, we look at a series of strange secrets about UAP-related happenings in the American southwest in post-war America.
NASA’s Curiosity Rover Just Smashed Open a Martian Stone, Revealing an Unusual Red Planet Discovery
NASA's Curiosity rover has made a colorful discovery on the Red Planet: a stone filled with sulfur crystals.
‘Dark Oxygen’ Discovered on the Ocean Floor, Challenging Ideas on Life’s Origins
Scientists have discovered metallic minerals on the deep ocean floor that produce "dark oxygen," according to findings presented in a new study.
34-Million-Year-Old Remains Unearthed in Wyoming Challenge Our Ideas on Reptile Evolution
The recent discovery of 34-million-year-old reptile remains in Wyoming are presenting new insights into the evolution of one of nature’s most fascinating slithering species.
Pentagon Chief Speaks Out on President Joe Biden’s Unprecedented Exit from 2024 Election
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin praised President Joe Biden following his announcement that he would not seek reelection.
Real Life Tractor Beams? Game-Changing New Technology Could Lead to Non-Invasive Medical Procedures
Tractor beams, a technology once relegated to science fiction, could soon become a practical reality with the help of recent advancements in metasurface research.
How Would Humans React to Contact with Extraterrestrials? UK Researchers Seek Answers in New Survey
A new survey looks at how humans might react to eventual contact with extraterrestrials, or whether some form of contact might have already occurred.
Officials Search for Answers in Wake of Recent Presidential Assassination Attempt
This week we examine the recent assassination attempt on the life of a former U.S. President, as intelligence officials continue to search for clues about the would-be assassin.
10-Billion-Year-Old View of Mysterious Glowing ‘Einstein Ring’ Reveals Rare Discovery, Challenging Current Theories
Astronomers have observed a hyper-luminous infrared galaxy (HyLIRG) displaying a highly organized rotation, which is revealed in new observations as it would have appeared close to 10 billion years ago.
NASA Radar Data Confirms Existence of Subsurface “Tunnel” Near Famous Apollo-Era Lunar Landing Site
Scientists have confirmed the existence of a subsurface tunnel-like feature near the landing site of the first crewed mission to the Moon.
Evidence of Ancient Human Interactions with Intelligent “Lost” Species Offers Clues to Their Mysterious Disappearance
New research is revealing insights into the genetics of modern humans, while offering clues to the mysterious disappearance of the Neanderthals.
Bizarre Tachyons That May Be Able to Send Data Back in Time Could be Reconciled with Special Relativity
New insights into mysterious tachyons could help shed light on questions involving our understanding of the quantum world.
‘Time Traveling’ Quantum Sensor Breakthrough Allows Scientists to Gather Data from the Past
A breakthrough that leverages "spooky action at a distance" could lead to practical time-traveling quantum sensors.
CERN Physicists Report First Direct Detection of Electron Neutrinos in Groundbreaking Experiment
Electron neutrinos have been experimentally observed for the first time during recent experiments by physicists at CERN.
NASA Has Little to Say About UFOs as Anniversary of Study Team Report’s Release Nears
NASA officials seem reluctant to discuss the agency’s status regarding UAP as the anniversary of the release of an official agency report looms near.
China Pushes Back as NATO Calls It an “Enabler of Russia’s War Against Ukraine”
This week, China pushes back after NATO characterized the country as an enabler of Russia's war against Ukraine.
An AARO Audit?
New draft language has revealed a possible effort by present-day U.S. lawmakers to have the GAO conduct an audit of the Pentagon’s All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO).
Future Moon Bases Could be Built Using This Game-Changing Technology Derived from Off-Planet Material
Scientists have proposed a novel method of allocating materials for the future construction of Moon bases using resources already present on the lunar surface.
Webb Telescope Reveals “Best Habitable Zone Exoplanet Currently Known,” and It Could Be Home to Alien Life
The James Webb Space Telescope has helped identify “one of the most promising habitable zone exoplanet candidates” ever discovered.
James Webb Space Telescope is Revealing Surprising Secrets About a Massive and Extremely Remote Space Object
The James Webb Space Telescope is obtaining significant new insights into the early universe with detailed new imagery of the quasar PJ308–21.
Mysterious ‘Scars’ of Mars Unveiled in Images of Massive Feature Captured by Mars Express Spacecraft
Striking new images obtained by the Mars Express spacecraft have revealed a massive scar on the surface of Mars.
The Roswell Material: Case Closed?
This week, we look at AARO and Oak Ridge National Lab's revealing findings involving material allegedly collected from the Roswell UFO incident in 1947.
NASA Tracked Two Near-Earth Objects During Their Recent Close Approaches. One Wasn’t Traveling Alone.
New images reveal stunning images of a pair of near-Earth objects recently tracked by NASA. But that's not all they found.
Authorities Baffled After Legendary Sword in Stone Mysteriously Vanishes from Seemingly Inaccessible Location
The Durandal sword, a famous weapon protruding from stone and a cherished artifact of Rocamadour in southern France, has mysteriously vanished, according to recent reports.
Independence Day 2024: America Has Issues, but Science and Technology Remain Promising
In this Independence Day edition of The Intelligence Brief we look at how science and technology are poised to improve the lives of Americans.
The UAP Singularity
This week on The Micah Hanks Program, we explore how recent advancements with AI relate to the UAP question.
Scientists Devise a New Strategy for Solving the Mystery of Dark Matter: They Want to Trap It
Scientists have proposed a novel method of potentially detecting dark matter: by using a 3D-printed vacuum system to “trap” it with ultra-cold lithium atoms.
