Scientists Report First Spectrographic Analysis of “Ghosts” in New Study of Rare Atmospheric Phenomenon
Astronomers have successfully obtained spectroscopic data on a rare atmospheric phenomenon known as “ghosts,” according to new research.
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.
New Plasma Instability Discovery Could Revolutionize Our Understanding of Cosmic Rays
Scientists in Germany report the discovery of a new plasma instability could potentially upend our current understanding of cosmic rays and their origins.
Has Dark Matter’s Identity Been Revealed? Scientists Searching for Mysterious Hypothetical Particle May Soon Have an Answer
Scientists may be closing in on the mystery of dark matter, in new research that may link it to the existence of a hypothetical particle.
DOE Backs New Inertial Fusion Energy Research Initiative at New York’s Laboratory for Laser Energetics
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded $10 million to the Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE) at the University of Rochester as part of an initiative to stimulate research into inertial fusion energy (IFE).
1000-Year-Old Artifact Unearthed in Odd Location 1600 Miles from Its Place of Origin
The discovery of an unusual artifact in Norway’s mountainous Vestre Slidre municipality is prompting investigations by archaeologists.
Entanglement On-Demand Achieved in Breakthrough Study Pointing to “New Frontier” in Quantum Science
Physicists at Princeton University have reported the successful on-demand entanglement of individual molecules, according to new research.
Unknown Mission of Pentagon’s Mysterious X-37B Spacecraft to Resume, Amidst Setbacks and Speculations
The X-37B spaceplane is set to resume one of the U.S. military’s most mysterious space missions, amidst setbacks over the weekend that pushed the spacecraft’s launch forward another day to Monday.
These Strange Fossils, Once Believed to be Plants, Were Finally Identified. They Aren’t What Experts Thought They Were.
A curiosity found within a trove of ancient plant fossils from the Cretaceous period has been revealed to be something else entirely.
The Pentagon Rises to New Indo-Pacific Challenges
This week's newsletter examines how the U.S. has worked to advance its posture in the Indo-Pacific amidst international challenges in 2023.
The Minot Air Force Base UFO Incident
This week on The Micah Hanks Program, we take a deep dive into the Minot Air Force Base UFO incident of 1968.
A Celestial Object “Too Large to Exist” Has Been Detected by Astronomers, Upending Past Theories on Planetary Formation
Researchers say the discovery of a planet too large for its nearest star is challenging existing theories about planetary and solar system formation.
Breakthrough Reveals Flaws in Diamonds Could Lead to Nanoscale Magnetic and Thermal Sensors
A breakthrough that could lead to sensitive new quantum sensors has been achieved by exploiting tiny flaws in diamond fragments.
Compact Particle Accelerator Can Produce 10 Billion Electron Volt Beam in “Major Energy Milestone”
An international collaboration has successfully demonstrated a compact particle accelerator capable of generating a 10 billion electron volt (10GeV) beam.
Rare Transient Luminous Event Captured in Imagery During International Space Station Experiment
A rare transient luminous event was captured in imagery obtained during a recent experiment aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
7000-Year-Old Perishable Artifacts Preserved by Ice Are Revealed in Ancient Volcanic Landscape
Archaeologists say an undiscovered trove of ancient artifacts has been revealed by the thawing of ice in northern British Columbia, Canada.
James Webb Space Telescope Rediscovers Mysterious Vanishing Ghost Galaxy Astronomers Are Calling a “Monster”
The James Webb Space Telescope has relocated a ghostly dusty galaxy originally detected by ground telescopes before it mysteriously vanished.
The World’s Largest, Most Advanced Experimental Fusion Reactor is Now Operational, Officials Announce
The largest and most advanced fusion reactor of its kind has commenced operations in Japan in a new cooperative effort between nations in the development of fusion energy.
250-Mile-High View of Mars Catches Glimpse of a Mystery Lurking in Orbit Above the Red Planet (Images)
An uncommon view of the Martian horizon was recently obtained by NASA’s Odyssey orbiter, in new images that offer a glimpse at one of the most mysterious objects orbiting the Red Planet.
The Battle for UAP Disclosure in Washington
This week, we examine the battle that rages on in Washington over whether legislation that could help to ensure UAP disclosure will pass into law.
The Fight for UFO Transparency
There’s trouble brewing on Capitol Hill, as a group of top lawmakers are banding together to attempt to block the UAP Disclosure Act of 2023.
Breakthrough in Quantum Storage of Entangled Photons May Usher Age of Solid State-based Quantum Networks
Scientists report a breakthrough in the quantum storage of entangled photons at telecom wavelengths within a crystal, new research shows.
James Webb Space Telescope Has Spotted Something Hiding Behind a Luminous Object in the Perseus Dark Nebula
New imagery captured by the James Webb Space Telescope shows a glowing region around a young star and reveals a hidden surprise.
Rogue Star Encounter Could Spell Certain Doom for Earth and the Solar System, Scientists Warn
The future of planet Earth could be threatened if it were ever to have a close encounter with a rogue star, according to new research.
NASA to Launch Stadium-Sized Craft Over Antarctica in New Mission to Explore Cosmic Phenomena
A long-duration aerial mission soon to be carried out by NASA over Antarctica will launch stadium-sized craft in support of a series of record-breaking science missions, the agency announced this week.
UAP Disclosure Act Receives Pushback From Lawmakers on Capitol Hill, as Bipartisan Fight for Transparency Continues
A bipartisan measure aiming for disclosure of U.S. government records related to UFOs now hangs in the balance, according to sources who say it has come under fire by top politicians in Washington.
Thanksgiving in Space
In this holliday edition of The Intelligence Brief, we’ll be taking a look at the history of astronauts celebrating Thanksgiving in space.
The Sol Foundation: Academia’s Cutting-Edge UAP Think Tank
This week on The Micah Hanks Program, Micah reports on the Sol Foundation’s first annual event that was recently held at Stanford University.
Biology on the Moon? NASA Announces Ambitious Plans for a New Space Biology Research Initiative
NASA is gearing up for a new space biology research program, which the space agency says will advance its understanding of several areas of focus, including the ways lunar dust can affect animals and plants.
Middle Stone Age Discovery May Extend Earliest Use of This Ancient Wearable Technology as Far Back as 150,000 Years
Archaeologists report a remarkable discovery on South Africa’s Cape Coast that could upend our thinking about the earliest use of one of humankind’s oldest forms of wearable technology.
‘Vampire Star’ Discovery Reveals Triple Stellar Secret That Could Upend Our Theories of Star Evolution
New research has revealed an unusual “vampire star” discovery that could have a significant impact on our understanding of stellar formation.
Exotic Nitrogen-9 Isotope May Have Been Detected by Researchers in a Potential Physics Breakthrough
An international team of scientists reports a breakthrough discovery pointing to the existence of a mysterious nitrogen-9 nucleus.
James Webb Space Telescope Spots Features in the Heart of Our Galaxy Astronomers Can’t Yet Explain
The newest image produced by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope showcases features that NASA says astronomers “have yet to explain.”
Chinese Rocket Carrying a Secret Payload Left an Odd Double Crater as It Smashed into the Moon. Now Scientists Want Answers.
A team of Arizona astronomers says they know the identity of a mysterious object that collided with the Moon last year, and that it was carrying an unknown payload.
Pentagon Confirms U.S. Forces Have Been Attacked 55 Times in Recent Weeks
This week, Pentagon officials addressed a second round of strikes in Syria following ongoing attacks against U.S. forces.
New Details on Secretive U.S. Military X-37B Spaceplane’s Next Mission Are Revealed, Along with a Surprise
Details about the seventh mission of the U.S. military’s mysterious X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle have been revealed, along with surprising news about the secretive spaceplane’s upcoming launch.
uNHIdden: The Non-Human Intelligence Initiative
This week on The Micah Hanks Program, we are joined by an international panel addressing advancement of the discussion about non-human intelligence (NHI).
Something “Peculiar” Was Tracked Over a Sunspot by Scientists for Several Days. Now They Have Revealed What It Was.
For more than a week, a team of astronomers watched something unusual after it appeared nearly 25,000 miles above a dark patch on the surface of the Sun.
NASA Just Lost Communication with Its Robot Scientists on Mars. This Phenomenon is to Blame.
NASA has temporarily lost the ability to communicate with its Mars fleet, thanks to a phenomenon that occurs every two years.
Look: Stunning First Euclid Telescope Images Unveil Stark Cosmic Beauty, as the ESA Embarks on Investigations of the Dark Universe
The ESA's stunning first Euclid telescope images offer an unprecedented glimpse at our universe, and clues to the nature of its dark side.
James Webb Space Telescope Spots Strangely Familiar Looking Celestial Object That May Upend Theories of Galactic Formation
An ancient spiral galaxy spotted by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope could upset existing theories about galactic formation.
‘Dark Big Bang’ Theory Argues a Second Cosmological Origin Event Could Help Resolve Dark Matter Mystery
New research has proposed the idea of a “Dark Big Bang” to help account for one of cosmology’s greatest lingering mysteries.
4000-Year-Old Markings on Stone Hailed as ‘Europe’s Oldest Map’ May Lead Researchers to a Remarkable Discovery
An ancient stone covered in markings believed to represent the oldest map in Europe is revealing new secrets, according to findings that archaeologists believe could lead them to new ancient discoveries.
Eerie Glows and Electron Beams: What Were NASA’s ‘DISSIPATION’ and ‘BEAM-PIE’ Missions Investigating Over Remote Alaska?
NASA's DISSIPATION and BEAM-PIE missions recently launched a pair of rockets to investigate auroras and other phenomena over Alaska.
The U.S. Carries Out a “Self-Defense Strike” in Syria: Here’s What We Know
This week, the Department of Defense announced that the United States carried out a “self-defense strike” in Eastern Syria.
Clues to the Riddle of Planet Formation Are Revealed in Latest James Webb Space Telescope Breakthrough
A major discovery is offering clues to the mysterious formation of planets, thanks to new observations by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope.
Pentagon Confirms Retirement of AARO Director Sean Kirkpatrick, as New Deputy Director is Named
The Pentagon has confirmed Sean Kirkpatrick, current Director of the DoD's All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office, will be retiring before the end of the year.
Aliens: A Scientist’s Search for ET
This week we are joined by astrophysicist Adam Frank, an expert on star formation and author of the new book "The Little Book of Aliens."
Sky Watchers Around the World Report Unusual Phenomenon During Recent Colorful Aurora Borealis Display
During Sunday’s aurora borealis display, sky watchers logged several reports of an even more unusual phenomenon.
A NASA Spacecraft Just Had Its First Close Encounter with an Asteroid. Then It Spotted Something Else.
As NASA’s Lucy spacecraft recently made its approach toward the asteroid Dinkinesh, NASA technicians got a surprise: it wasn’t alone.
Researchers Uncover ‘Hidden Mechanism’ Behind Previously Unknown Human Sense Capability
A hidden mechanism that allows us to feel touch without direct contact with the skin has unveiled a previously unknown human sense capability.