Broken AARO: The Mellon Report, UAP, and Area 51
This week on The Micah Hanks Program, we analyze Christopher Mellon's response to the recent AARO historical report, along with several intriguing revelations it contains.
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.
NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Spotted the Moon’s Shadow on Earth During Recent 2024 Eclipse
From its position in orbit around the Moon, NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter was treated to a unique view of the recent 2024 full eclipse.
Department of Energy Fusion Discovery Could Allow Physicists to Tame Volatile Plasmas
A new strategy toward using fusion to produce electricity combines two methods of managing plasma to allow greater overall flexibility.
NASA Has Concluded Its Investigation of a Mystery Object That Crashed Into a Florida Home Last Month
An object that struck a home in Florida last month has been confirmed by NASA to have been released from the International Space Station.
James Webb Space Telescope Discovery Reveals a Dark Matter Anomaly Related to Ghostly ‘Einstein Ring’
A remnant of the early universe discovered last year by the James Webb Space Telescope has yielded a few astronomical surprises, including an Einstein ring and other properties that are now helping astrophysicists unveil new insights into the mysterious nature of dark matter.
Novel Material Capable of 190% Quantum Efficiency Could Revolutionize Solar Power Systems
A potentially revolutionary new material raises the quantum efficiency of solar panels to an unprecedented 190%
FBI Warns of Potential ‘Coordinated Attack’ in Wake of Russian Massacre
In this week’s analysis, we look at why the FBI's concerns have been elevated since a tragic attack that occurred in Moscow last month.
The DoD’s Dark UAP Secret
This week on The Micah Hanks Program, we analyze the ongoing problem that may very well represent the DoD’s darkest UAP secret of all: what it doesn’t know about mysterious aerial phenomena.
Novel Method of Producing Human Cartilage from Stem Cells Developed by Montana Researchers
Researchers report the discovery of a novel means of artificially generating human cartilage for the human head and neck.
CERN Experiment Measures Key Component of Standard Model, Shedding New Light on an Old Mystery
A recent CERN experiment has resulted in new high-precision measurements involving a key component of the Standard Model of physics.
Look: New Images Unveil DARPA’s ‘Manta Ray’ Extra-Large Glider for Non-Crewed Undersea Missions
The first full-size prototype of Manta Ray, an advanced uncrewed underwater vehicle (UUV) produced by DARPA, has been revealed in new photos.
Lord of the Rings: Rare Display of Vortex Rings Over Italy’s Mount Etna Dazzles Observers
A rare spectacle appeared in the sky over Sicily’s Mount Etna recently, as huge smoky vortex rings were spotted rising above the massive volcano.
Data Delivery Rates 4.5 Million Times Faster Than Average Broadband Achieved in Major Fiber Optic Breakthrough
A new breakthrough in fiber optic technology has succeeded in sending data at an astonishing 4.5 million times faster than home broadband.
Look at What NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Just Caught Speeding in Orbit Around the Moon
The identity of a strange-looking, speeding object captured in images by NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter last month has now been revealed.
DARPA’s Devastating New Stealth Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) Just Completed a Historic U.S. Navy Test
The U.S. Navy has completed a successful flight test of its new AGM-158C stealth air launch Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM).
The Pentagon Has Just Unveiled Its New Commercial Space Integration Strategy
The DoD reveals its goals for strengthening its efforts in space with the official release of its new Commercial Space Integration Strategy.
The UFO Deception Game
This week, we examine connections between the U.S. government's involvement with UAP investigations and human deception.
Army Launches New ‘All-Domain Sensing Cross-Functional Team’ in Effort to Achieve Multi-Sensor Dominance
The Army Futures Command has initiated a new all-domain sensing effort, which officials say will help propel the U.S. Army's transformation over the next decade by achieving dominance across multiple domains.
Mystery Object That Crashed Through Roof of Florida Home Prompts NASA Investigation
An object that tore through the roof of a family home near Naples, Florida, last month is currently being investigated by NASA to determine its origins.
The U.S. Army Has Officially Begun Equipping Soldiers with its Next Generation Squad Weapon Systems
The U.S. military is equipping its Army units with Next Generation Squad Weapon (NGSW) systems in advance of spring training exercises that will begin this month.
NASA’s Curiosity Rover Moves Closer to Solving the Mysterious Disappearance of Water on Mars
NASA’s Curiosity Rover has begun investigations of an area that could offer significant insights into the disappearance of liquid water on Mars.
Innovative New High-Boost DC Power Converter Could be a Game-Changer for Electronics
Researchers report the development of an innovative new concept for a new DC power converter with greater efficiency at lower cost.
U.S. Army Moves Closer to Unleashing ‘Dark Eagle’ Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon in Major Test with U.S. Navy
The U.S. Navy is preparing for a test that will bring the Army one step closer to unleashing its Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon capabilities.
Quantum Mechanics Hack Could Lead to “Unbreakable” Metals by Leveraging Weird Distortion of Atoms
Scientists say they have created a new method of testing materials that allows predictions to be made about their strength, which may eventually lead to virtually “unbreakable” metals.
Speeding Space Object Spotted by NASA-Funded Sungrazer Project Marks a Major New Milestone
The NASA-funded Sungrazer Project has detected its 5,000th comet, the latest milestone in what has become one of the most successful programs of its kind.
Project Convergence: The U.S. Army’s Latest Experiments with the Warfighting Tech of Tomorrow
This week, the U.S. Army is looking ahead to the battlefield environment of tomorrow with the completion of its massive Project Convergence experiments.
The Secret History of Aviation
This week on The Micah Hanks Program, we look at some of the most compelling UFO reports from over the decades that could point to the existence of experimental technologies developed by the U.S. that have never been fully disclosed.
Event Horizon Telescope Captures Rare Glimpse of a Cosmic ‘Monster’ in the Heart of the Milky Way
New imagery obtained by the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) collaboration is offering an unprecedented look at the dynamics of the supermassive black hole Sagittarius A*, revealing its strong and organized magnetic fields.
2024 Total Solar Eclipse Brings NASA New Opportunities to Study the Sun and Earth’s Mysteries
NASA officials said on Tuesday that the space agency is planning to conduct a wide array of science experiments during the full solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, that will focus on gaining insights into a mysterious region of the Sun and how it affects the Earth.
Powerful Geomagnetic Storm Could Lead to Aurora Sightings, Space Weather Experts Say
Appearances of the aurora borealis are expected to be likely in parts of North America on Monday night, following an intense geomagnetic storm that struck the Earth on Sunday.
NASA Launches BurstCube on New Mission to Study Mysterious Short Gamma Ray Bursts
NASA has just sent BurstCube on the first leg of its scientific mission to study the most powerful explosions in the known universe.
U.S. Air Force Confirms Speculations Over Recent AGM-183A Hypersonic Missile Test
We examine the recent USAF test of an AGM-183A hypersonic missile, and why it marks a pivotal moment for U.S. weapons technology.
Darkness in the Desert
This week, we examine an unsettling series of alternative hypotheses about what might have occurred in the New Mexico desert in 1947.
Secret Underground Nuclear Tests May Be Obsolete, Thanks to Breakthrough New Detection Capabilities
Scientists report that secret underground nuclear tests may be a thing of the past, thanks to a breakthrough new method of detecting them.
New Evidence Reveals Humans Arrived on This Caribbean Island Far Earlier Than Previously Thought
Humans may have occupied the Caribbean island of Curaçao as much as 850 years earlier than previous estimates.
Controversial Dark Matter Discovery Could Upend Our Current Understanding of the Universe
A controversial new paper argues that there may not be enough room in the universe for dark matter, after all.
Brain’s Language Secrets Revealed in Groundbreaking New Investigations into Speech Processing
An investigation into how humans process speech is revealing new deep insights into what happens in our brains when we use language in our daily communication with others.
Ancient Cult Site Unearthed by Archaeologists May Have Been Devoted to Persian Water Goddess
Archaeologists say they have located an ancient fortification that was once a possible cult site devoted to a Persian water goddess.
The AARO Historical Report on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena
This week, we examine mainstream media coverage of a controversial new AARO historical report on UAP and fact-check several errors it contains.
James Webb Space Telescope Detects Alcohol and Icy Organic Molecules Around a Protostar Pair
The James Webb Space Telescope has spotted alcohol and other complex organic molecules in icy areas around a pair of young protostars.
Rare Asteroids Showing Strange “Activity” Are Challenging Existing Theories About the Solar System
Fifteen very unusual asteroids showcasing strange “active” properties have been detected as part of a an international volunteer effort.
AARO’s Historical Report: A Tale of Factual Errors and Old Mistakes Repeated
The long-awaited historical report on UAP by the DoD's All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office is finally out... but there are a few problems.
U.S. Naval Research Lab Investigating Unexplained Arctic Phenomena That Evades Conventional Theories
The U.S. Naval Research Lab is investigating unexplained arctic phenomena that can cause intense “polar lows” and hazardous sea conditions.
Giant Volcano on Mars, Hiding in Plain Sight for Decades, is ‘Long-Sought Smoking Gun’ for Scientists
Scientists have discovered a gigantic volcano on Mars near the planet’s equator that remained unnoticed for decades, according to newly published research.
“Previously Unseen” Phenomenon in Liquid Crystal Challenges Conventional Laws of Physics
A previously unknown principle of motion, observed for the first time within liquid crystal, has been discovered by a team of researchers.
Fragmented Facts: AARO Report Unearths Odd Claims Involving U.S. Recovery of Material From 1952 UFO Incident
Was a fragment shot off a UFO near Washington D.C. in 1952? There may be more to this seemingly dubious story than meets the eye... but you wouldn't know that from reading AARO's recent, deeply flawed historical report.
James Webb Space Telescope Spots Triangulum Galaxy’s ‘Tendrils’ Amid a Chaotic Stellar Nursery
The James Webb Space Telescope is offering new perspectives on a chaotic star-forming region in the Triangulum galaxy in stunning new images.
Mutation Helps Team Solve a Meiosis Mystery That Has Baffled Scientists for Close to a Century
Studies involving mutation have revealed the molecular mechanism behind a previously unresolved biological pattern involving chromosomes.
Pentagon UAP Report Says No Evidence U.S. Has Collected Exotic Technology, Kept Programs Hidden from Congress
A new Pentagon UAP report says it found no evidence of extraterrestrial technology or secret programs being kept from Congress.
UAP Incident Over the Gulf of Mexico Revealed by U.S. Congressman Confirmed in Newly Declassified Files and Images
New details involving a military pilot UAP encounter have come to light, following the release of documents in response to a FOIA request.