NASA’s DART Spacecraft Is On Its Way Toward a Collision With an Asteroid Moon
This week's Intelligence Brief examines NASA's plans to smash its DART spacecraft into an asteroiod moonlet millions of miles away from Earth later this month.
Micah Hanks
Micah Hanks is a writer, podcaster, and creator/co-founder of The Debrief. He covers science, technology and futurism, and you can find him at micahhanks.com and on Twitter @MicahHanks.
Infodynamics: Discovery of a New Law of Physics Could Help Scientists Predict Genetic Mutations
Researchers say a new law of physics could help predict the occurrence of genetic mutations, in a remarkable development in the research field known as infodynamics.
Ghostly “Einstein Crosses” Spotted in Deep Space Could Help Resolve Dark Energy Mystery
Despite their striking appearance, Einstein Crosses aren't evidence of distant alien megastructures. However, they could help solve the lingering mystery of dark energy.
As Hydrogen Leak Sets Back Artemis I Launch, Here’s What’s Next for NASA’s Moon Mission
NASA’s Artemis mission saw significant setbacks on Saturday, after engineers were unable to resolve a hydrogen leak in an interface connecting the liquid hydrogen fuel feed line with the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket.
Was Einstein Wrong? Dark Energy Study Yields Surprising Discoveries About Nature’s Most Mysterious Forces
A new study on dark energy examines whether our understanding of gravity and its influence throughout the universe is incomplete.
Traveling at 8% of the Speed of Light, the Strange Celestial Object S62 is the Fastest Ever Seen
In this week's Intelligence Brief, we look at a mysterious object traveling at 8% of the speed of light, the fastest object ever observed by astronomers.
Turbulence, the “Greatest Unsolved Problem in All of Science,” Could Soon be Decoded
Physicists with the Georgia Institute of Technology say they have demonstrated how the phenomenon of turbulence can be better understood with a bit of help from fluid dynamics.
Enigmatic “Phantom Galaxy” is Revealed in Stunning Images From Space Telescope Collaboration
Images of the "Phantom Galaxy" M74 are among the latest stunning efforts that combine data collected by Webb and Hubble Space Telescopes.
“Cosmics” and “Phantoms”: Ukrainian Independent Study Reveals Observations of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena
Ukrainian researchers say an independent study of unidentified aerial phenomena has produced images of objects that defy simple explanation.
Artemis Mission Has NASA Searching the Lunar South Pole for Landing Sites
This week, we examine several landing sites NASA recently proposed on the Moon's south pole for its ambitious Artemis mission.
Researchers Untangle “Arrow of Time” Mystery in Groundbreaking New Physics Study
Researchers are closing in on the mystery of the arrow of time, and how cells and particles could be the source for various phenomena that gives rise to the human concept of time.
Solving the Hard Problem of Consciousness: Physicist Nir Lahav Ph.D. on a Relativistic Theory of Consciousness
Dr. Nir Lahav explains how a relativistic approach to the hard problem of consciousness may help us unravel some of the perplexing questions we have about the brain, and other mysteries of the mind.
NASA Prepares For the First Moonshot of Its Artemis Program
As NASA gears up for its Artemis mission, we look at what NASA plans to accomplish during its first test flight with its SLS rocket and the Orion capsule.
Hidden Beyond the Edge of a Black Hole, a Curious Ring of Light Has Been Detected in a Supergiant Galaxy
Astrophysicists have revealed a once-hidden ring of light in “remastered” versions of the historic first images of a black hole.
Resurrecting the Thylacine: Colossal Announces Plans to “De-Extinct” the Tasmanian Tiger
Colossal Biosciences has announced its new effort to ressurrect the Thylacine using innovative de-extinction technologies.
We Have Ignition: Remarkable Breakthrough in Nuclear Fusion Represents a New Physics Milestone
For the first time, scientists have confirmed a major breakthrough in nuclear fusion involving the first successful instance of ignition.
Consciousness Mystery Could Be Solved By This Compelling New Physics Theory
A new physics theory proposes novel solutions to a longstanding mystery, which philosophers call the hard problem of consciousness.
Rare and Unexplained, Scientists May Soon Solve the Mystery of Lightning “Superbolts”
For decades, scientists have been aware of the existence of a rare and mysterious form of lightning known as superbolts.
As the Length of Days on Earth Changes, Scientists Search for Answers
This week we examine what atomic clocks are revealing about changes to the length of days on Earth, and why it has some scientists worried.
New Species Discovery Reveals a Mysterious Deep-Sea Giant in the Gulf of Mexico
A monstrous new variety of deep-sea isopod has been discovered deep below the waters of the southern Gulf of Mexico, according to new research published by an international team.
Free-Flying Robots and Sample Returns Are the Focus For Expedition 67 Crew Aboard the ISS
The Expedition 67 crew is currently working with free-flying robots aboard the ISS in its efforts to improve future science missions in orbit.
Earendel: The Most Distant Star in the Universe Seen Through the Eye of Webb
The James Webb Space Telescope managed to capture images of the most distant star in the universe... this week, we take a look at that star, and the origins of its unique name.
Dark Matter Mystery Comes Into Focus With New Mapping of Distant Galaxies
For the first time, scientists have mapped the dark matter around distant galaxies in a cosmological analysis that studies high redshift galaxies, according to new research.
MIT Scientists Just Did Something Remarkable With Holograms and 19th Century Technology
Employing holograms and an odd phenomenon in physics used in color photography, an MIT team has produced an all-new color printing technique.
2033 Will Mark a New Milestone as NASA Delivers First Samples From Mars
NASA has outlined its latest plans for its ambitious Mars Sample Return Program, now expected to deliver samples collected by the Perseverance rover back to Earth by 2033.
Evidence of an Ancient Sea Monster Just Turned Up in an Unlikely Place, but it Wasn’t Loch Ness
New fossil evidence is changing what we thought we knew about plesiosaurs... and here's why it has some people talking about Loch Ness.
The Aristarchus Anomaly: What China Found on the Moon Could Help Solve a Centuries-Old Mystery
Astronomers have long reported sightings of mysterious flashes of light from within the Aristarchus crater, and new data could help scientists understand their source.
The Pentagon Just Revealed the New Name of Its UAP Investigative Office
The DoD says the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), the newest iteration of its UAP investigations, will continue the efforts of the UAP Task Force.
Climate Change Concerns Prompt Executive Action From the White House
This week we turn our focus toward the Biden Administration's recent executive steps toward curbing the effects of climate change.
“Impossible” Neutron Breakthrough is Made, Building on Famous Double-Slit Experiment
A physics first in neutron interferometry that builds on the famous “double slit” experiment has led to a surprising breakthrough.
The James Webb Space Telescope is Already Changing How We See the Universe
This week in our analysis we’ll be looking at what the James Webb Space Telescope is already revealing about our universe.
Missing X-Rays in Black Hole Mystery May Be Explained in New Study of “Spaghettified” Star
Astronomers witnessed the shredding of a star by a supermassive black hole that “spaghettified” it in an event 215 million light-years away.
Stunning First Images From James Webb Space Telescope Mark “Dawn of a New Era” for NASA
The first complete set of images captured by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, “the world’s largest and most powerful space telescope,” was just revealed by NASA.
James Webb Space Telescope First Image Unveiled in Early Preview at the White House
President Joe Biden has unveiled one of the first images captured by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope in an early debut at the White House.
Famous Roswell UFO Incident Celebrates 75th Anniversary
75 Years Ago, an incident in the New Mexico desert gave rise to one of America's most iconic UFO controversies.
75 Years Ago, an incident in the New Mexico desert gave rise to one of America's most iconic UFO controversies.
75 Years Ago, an incident in the New Mexico desert gave rise to one of America's most iconic UFO controversies.
The Sun Causes An Odd Phenomenon to Occur Every July at This “Perfect Moment”, Research Reveals
The sun causes this fascinating phenomenon to occur on Earth every July 8, which most people have been completely unaware of until now.
Webb First Look: NASA Drops a Teaser in Advance of Revealing Telescope’s First Images
As NASA gears up for the release of the first images captured by the James Webb Space Telescope, we look at a stunning "teaser" dropped in advance of the July 12 release.
Mysterious Georgia Guidestones, “America’s Stonehenge,” Vandalized in Early Morning Explosion
The curious monument has long been a source of intrigue and speculation due to the content of messages that appear on the monument's large stone columns.
Planetary Defense: How to Protect Earth from Deadly Asteroid Impacts
In this International Asteroid Day edition of the Intelligence Brief, we look at what NASA and others are doing to mitigate the threats of potential asteroid impacts in the future.
International Asteroid Day: How the Puzzling 1908 Tunguska Event Prompted a UN Resolution
June 30th is International Asteroid Day, a date recognized by the adoption of a UN resolution commemorating the 1908 Tunguska event over Siberia.
Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Becomes Focus of Recent Brazilian Senate Hearings
A recent Brazilian Senate hearing was organized to address the country's history of military involvement with unusual aerial objects.
Evidence of Non-Terrestrial Objects Surveilling Earth Could Be Revealed in New Research Effort
Evidence of non-terrestrial objects of intelligent origin could turn up in a place many wouldn't expect: images of the sky that predate the dawn of the Space Race.
Mysterious Transient Object Detected by Astronomers Packs a Powerful Pulsar Punch
Astronomers have spotted a transient object they say is unique—and potentially a lot more energetic—than past examples they have witnessed, according to new research.
Gravity Mystery Could Soon be Solved with Help From This Mind-Bending New Theoretical Model
Gravity remains one of the great mysteries of modern physics, and this Toronto-based researcher thinks a new theoretical model may finally help to resolve it.
Voyager Spacecraft Will Soon Power Down for Their Final Mission Into the Beyond
This week, we look at two of the most iconic spacecraft ever to leave Earth and go into space in search of the unknown, and what NASA has said about the final phase of their historic mission.
Summer Solstice 2022 Continues an Ancient and Mysterious Astronomical Tradition
Today marks the arrival of summer solstice 2022, resulting in the longest day of the year and heralding the arrival of summer.
An Anomaly Detected Deep Underground Could Point to New Fundamental Physics
A recent experiment deep below Russia's Caucasus mountains points to the existence of a new elementary particle: the sterile neutrino.
Climate Change: A Challenge for U.S. National Security
This week, we examine the DOD's concerns about climate change, and what the U.S. military and its allies are doing to combat it.
Did China’s “Sky Eye” Radio Telescope Detect Alien Signals? Not So “FAST”
China's Sky Eye telescope recently detected a series of "suspicious" signals, but are they signs of intelligent life, or something else?
China’s Chang’E-5 Lunar Lander Just Made a Surprising Discovery on the Moon
New evidence of water located on the lunar surface has been discovered in samples being studied by the Chang'E-5 lunar lander.