The JEDI Contract Gets Canceled
With the DoD’s recent cancelation of its JEDI contract with Microsoft, we look at the controversies that impeded the program’s progress.
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.
Rise of the Supercentenarians: Record-Breaking Ages May Occur This Century
Are supercentenarians on the rise? A new study examines the likelihood that medical advances and other developments in the sciences could contribute to longer lifespans by the year 2100.
The UAP Report: Knowns and Unknowns
Welcome to this week’s Intelligence Brief… on the heels of last week’s big release of the UAP Task...
Government Releases Highly Anticipated Report on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena
A highly anticipated report detailing the U.S. government's assessments of military encounters with unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) has just been released.
SETI and UAP: An Uneasy Alliance?
This week we look at SETI and UAP, and why some scientists think common ground exists between these very different areas of study.
Scientists Detect Signs of Life at a Distance Using Remote Sensing
Scientists say they have successfully detected signs of life using remote sensing techniques, in a research study that could be a breakthrough in the search for life on other planets.
The Fate of the Moon: Could Earth’s Satellite Ever Escape Its Orbit?
Could the Moon ever manage to escape Earth’s gravity? If this happened at some point in the future, where might the Moon go from there?
House Intelligence Committee Members Just Received a Classified Briefing on UFO Findings
A Congressional hearing could soon follow; it would be a political event decades in the making.
A Congressional hearing could soon follow; it would be a political event decades in the making.
On Wednesday, members of the House Intelligence Committee received a classified briefing with U.S. Navy and FBI officials on unidentified aerial phenomena.
The Pentagon’s New Plans for Military Operations in the Pacific
The Pentagon is planning for extended military operations in the Pacific, in response to growing concerns about military threats from China.
A “Day Without Space”: GPS Concerns May be Overblown, New Study Finds
A recent RAND study says that the risks associated with a hypothetical "Day Without Space" may be exaggerated, and even impossible in some instances.
NASA Awards Prize for Lab-Grown Tissue Made with 3D Printing Technology
NASA has announced a pair of winners in its Vascular Tissue Challenge, both of whom succeeded in creating functional human liver tissue using 3D printing technologies.
This Bizarre 24,000-Year-Old Siberian Organism Was Just Revived by Scientists
An ancient life form has been revived after remaining dormant in Siberian permafrost for close to 24,000 years.
From Allegation to Legislation: The HAVANA Act of 2021
This week we examine the recent passage of a bipartisan bill, the HAVANA Act of 2021, to aid victims of purported directed energy attacks.
Amazon Wants to Welcome You to Its Massive New Data Sharing Program
This week's Intelligence Brief looks at Amazon Sidewalk, the retail giant's new data sharing program, and issues it has raised with relation to data privacy and transparency.
Space Junk Causes Minor Damage to the ISS’s Robotic Canadarm2
An object identified as orbital debris or "space junk" recently struck the Canadian-operated robotic arm on the International Space Station, according to officials with the Canadian Space Agency.
“Extinct” Giant Galápagos Tortoise Species Rediscovered by Scientists
The rediscovery of a giant tortoise belonging to a species thought to have been extinct now for more than a century has been confirmed, according to Ecuador’s Ministry of Environment and Water.
Intelligence Community Will Probe Possible Lab Origins of COVID-19
The U.S. Intelligence Community has been tasked with probing deeper into whether COVID-19 might have origins in a laboratory.
White House Says President Biden Supports the Pentagon’s UAP Investigations
The ODNI's report is underway, but Psaki says "in terms of disclosure, that would be up to them."
The ODNI's report is underway, but Psaki says "in terms of disclosure, that would be up to them."
The White House acknowledged current efforts by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) to produce a report on unidentified aerial phenomenon, more commonly known as UFOs, during a press briefing on Tuesday.
Russia Announces Plans to Send Nuclear-Powered Spacecraft to Jupiter
Russia has announced ambitious plans to launch a new nuclear-powered spacecraft called Zeus on a 50-month-long mission.
Hubble Telescope Aids Astronomers in Tracking Mysterious Fast Radio Bursts
New clues about the mysterious fast radio bursts (FRBs) have emerged, as the locations of five of the strange signals have been located within a group of distant galaxies.
NASA’s OSIRIS-REx is Headed Back to Earth With Samples From an Asteroid
After several years in space, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is on its way back home with a trove of samples it collected during its historic retrieval mission.
Mystery Booms: Multiple Theories Exist Behind Booms Reported for Decades
In modern times, many reports of strange sounds frequently described as “mystery booms” have been logged, particularly in parts of the eastern United States.
UFOs: Officials On Record, and Media Responses
This week, The Intelligence Brief examines media coverage of recent statements by former government officials, and even a former US President, on Unidentified Flying Objects.
China’s Zhurong Rover Makes History with Successful Landing on Mars
The arrival of China's Zhurong rover on Mars moves the country forward as an increasingly formidable player in the future of space exploration.
Possible Third Case of “Havana Syndrome” Reported on U.S. Soil
A third suspected case of “Havana Syndrome” may have occurred on U.S. soil, igniting concerns that more attacks could occur.
Pentagon Confirms Leaked Video Showing “Transmedium” UFO is Authentic
The Pentagon has confirmed that recently leaked UAP footage was obtained by the US Navy, and is being examined by the UAP Task Force.
Mars May Still be Volcanically Active, New Research Says
New research has suggested that Mars may still be volcanically active, which could have implications for astrobiology on the Red Planet.
Axiom and NASA Team Up for the First Private Astronaut Mission to the ISS
Texas-based Axiom Space Inc has partnered with NASA in an effort to achieve the first private astronaut mission to the International Space Station in 2022.
Memo Details New DOD Plans to Become a “Data-Centric Organization”
A recent memorandum issued by Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen H. Hicks outlined plans that aim to transform the Defense Department “into a data-centric organization.”
Setting the Rules For Future Space Operations
This week, we look at how the Department of Defense hopes to set the tone for future rules for operation in space, which will be shared by nations around the globe.
The Lost Cosmonauts: A Story of Soviet Secrets and Space Hackers
Did the Soviets really have a secret space program?
Did the Soviets really have a secret space program?
At the height of the Space Race, two Italian brothers claimed they uncovered evidence of a secret Soviet space program, and even lost cosmonauts.
The DoD and Unidentified Aerial Phenomena: A New Evaluation
This week, The Intelligence Brief returns to the ever-timely analysis of the U.S. government’s investigation into unidentified aerial phenomena.
NASA’s Parker Solar Probe is Breaking Records as the Fastest Manmade Object
Faster than a speeding bullet, NASA’s Parker Solar Probe may not be Superman, but it certainly is breaking records for being the fastest object humans have ever sent into space.
Michael Collins Remained Down to Earth About His Role in the Historic Apollo 11 Mission
Michael Collins, who passed away Wednesday at age 90, always maintained a grounded perspective about his historic role with the Apollo 11 mission.
Directed Energy Attacks May Have Occurred Near White House, Officials Say
Directed energy attacks may have occurred in Washington DC and elsewhere on American soil, according to sources familiar with the incidents.
An NRO Spy Satellite Sets Off on its Classified Mission
This week we look at the launch of a classified National Reconnaissance Office spy satellite on Monday, and what it means as the United Launch Alliance kicks off its 2021 launch season.
Is That a UFO? No, it’s Space Junk, and it Poses a Real Threat to Space Missions
A growing concern for astronauts, and for future space operations in general, is the threat posed by space junk in Earth's orbit.
Blast from the Past: Astronomers Detect “Extreme” Event From Proxima Centauri
Astronomers have observed an “extreme” flaring event on Proxima Centauri, which they believe to be the largest the star has ever been seen to produce.
Once an Oceanic Anomaly, Scientists are closing in on Mysterious Megaplumes
Scientists at the University of Leeds are unlocking the mystery of megaplumes, a phenomenon produced as columns of heated water rise from the base of the ocean.
DARPA’s DRACO Program: The Future of Nuclear Propulsion in Space
DARPA has awarded contracts for Phase One of its DRACO program; this week we analyze the heavy-hitting space companies it has chosen to create its future nuclear thermal propulsion systems.
The Richat Structure: The “Eye of the Sahara” is One of Earth’s Strangest Marvels
The Richat Structure is one of the most impressive and unusual natural features visible anywhere on Earth from space.
Technosignatures, Telescopes, and Life on Mars
This week we look at the latest with NASA's ongoing studies of Mars, the search for alien life, and technosignatures on nearby planets.
SpaceX History Repeats Itself… Sooner Than Expected
Recent history repeats itself for SpaceX, whose issues with the FAA and other agencies endure following the latest crash of its Starship prototype.
Historic New Images Show Supermassive Black Hole in Polarized Light
Polarized light seen around galaxy M87's black hole now provides astronomers with clues about the behavior of its magnetic field.
Study Finds Surprising Connections Between Snake Venom and Our Saliva
Humans and other animals have the same genetic basis for the development of venom like some snakes and other poisonous creatures.
New Clues Emerge in the Hunt for Answers to Mysterious Fast Radio Bursts
Scientists may be closing in on the mystery of fast radio bursts, with the help of new time estimates obtained by a team of researchers.
Meteor Shower? Strange Lights Over the Pacific Northwest Had Another Explanation
Stargazers throughout the Pacific Northwest were treated to a striking aerial display on Thursday night, but this bizarre light show was no meteor shower.
Unidentified Aerial Phenomena: What the Government Knows
What does the government know about unidentified aerial phenomena? This week, we look at what the latest statements from government officials suggests about this.
Technosignatures of Intelligent Aliens Could Be “Lurking” Nearby, Study Says
A group of researchers propose searching for "unusual signatures or phenomena" on the Moon, and even around Earth.
A group of researchers propose searching for "unusual signatures or phenomena" on the Moon, and even around Earth.
A new study proposes searching for unusual technosignatures or phenomena on the Moon, and even around Earth.