Hypersonics and Unidentified Aviation Hazards
This week, we examine hypersonics in Russia, the Pentagon's own renewed hypersonic efforts, and what NASA reports tell us about UFOs.
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.
Newly Uncovered NASA Reports Reveal Pilot Encounters with UFOs
An investigation by The Debrief has revealed reports filed with NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System detailing pilot encounters with UFOs.
Bacteria Strains Recovered From ISS Are New to Science, Study Says
Scientists have found that bacteria recovered from the International Space Station were previously unrecognized by science.
Remote Identification and Other New FAA Drone Rules Take Effect This April
According to the new guidelines, the FAA will now require Remote Identification, as well as new rules for Operations Over People, which will take effect on April 21, 2021.
Asteroid 2001 FO32 Will Pass the Earth Later This Month Without Incident
The near approach of asteroid 2001 FO32 follows on the coattails of a recent close encounter Earth had with 99942 Apophis.
The Epidemic of Forgotten Ideas: Science and the “Virus” of Innovation
Among the most significant scientific discoveries are forgotten ideas that reemerged, and saw widespread acceptance and implementation.
Gliese 486b, a Newly-Discovered “Super Earth,” Heats Up Exoplanet Studies
A gigantic, stony Earth-like world with rivers of lava and almost no atmosphere, Gliese 486b is lighting a fire under current exoplanet studies.
“Unmistakably of Extraterrestrial Origin,” IceCube Detects Rare Particle Event
A rare event predicted by a Nobel Laureate has been confirmed by scientists with the IceCube South Pole Neutrino Observatory.
Winchcombe Meteorite That Lit Up UK Skies May Contain Building Blocks of Life
A brilliant fireball that lit up the UK skies last month has been recovered on UK soil, and its chemical makeup makes it one of the rarest of its kind.
Vislink: The Pentagon’s New Eyes
In this week’s edition of The Intelligence Brief, we look at The Pentagon’s new $4 million deal with Vislink and other news related to surveillance.
Russia and China Plan to Build a Moon Base, Russian Space Agency Says
Russia and China have announced plans to collaborate on building a moon base for future lunar research, according to the Russian space agency Roscosmos.
Betelgeuse Mystery May Be Solved with Help from a Stellar “Monster”
The mysterious dimming of Betelgeuse, observed since 2019, may have been solved with new data from Hubble's Space Telescope.
iMac Pro is Discontinued as Apple Sets Pace for Designs of the Next Decade
The iMac Pro, a computer once hailed by Apple as the strongest and most formidable in its entire inventory will no longer be made, the company has confirmed.
Mobile Device Use Impacts Attention, Cognition in Preschoolers, Study Says
A team of Hungarian researchers found that mobile device use by preschoolers may negatively impact their attention and social cognition development.
Is Our Universe a Neural Network? This Scientist Thinks So.
University of Minnesota Duluth scientist Vitaly Vanchurin thinks the universe may be a neural network, and suggests a "theory of everything."
Robotic Dog “Zeus” Spotted At Recent SpaceX Crash Site
A robotic dog made a surprise appearance as it was seen lurking around the crash site of SpaceX's SN10 prototype.
Fireball Over the Northeast Produced a Loud Sonic Boom, Witnesses Say
A brilliant fireball lit up the northeastern sky on Sunday afternoon, producing a sonic boom heard by residents in the U.S. and Canada.
Superior Mirage Appearances Explain “Phantom Ships” Seen for Centuries
A superior mirage photographed off the English coast helps explain tales of "ghost ships" that shaped maritime folklore for centuries.
Apophis, a Feared Future Earth Impactor, Just Flew Past Us
Apophis, a near-earth asteroid as large as the Eifel Tower, has kept some astronomers on edge about its future flybys.
With the Help of a Dead Insect, Israeli Researchers Created an “Ear-Bot”
A group of biotechnology researchers have succeeded in using the auditory organ from a dead locust to animate a one-of-a-kind "Ear-Bot."
Drones: Flight of the Force Multipliers
In this installment of the Intelligence Brief, we look at the use of autonomous drones by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, and resulting issues in Silicon Valley and industry.
Experts Baffled by Strange Stripes in Siberia
Satellite photos of Russia’s Markha River in Arctic Siberia have provided clues to an odd geological riddle.
Space Hurricanes Confirmed by Scientists Studying Mysterious Plasma Phenomena
Scientists have confirmed the existence of "space hurricanes" that produce showers of electrons instead of water and wind.
New Study Says Atlantic Ocean Circulation is Weakest in 1600 Years
A recent study suggests that the Atlantic Ocean circulation that affects climate conditions is moving more slowly than it has since 400 AD.
Perseverance Brought a “Family Portrait” to Mars, Continuing a NASA Tradition
Perseverance arrived on Mars with a "family portrait," continuing a long NASA tradition of sending images to space detailing life on Earth.
Space Planes and Mystery Missiles
The Pentagon's latest solar experiments aboard the X-37B, as well as a mysterious object observed by pilots recently over New Mexico, are covered in this week's Intelligence Brief.
Perseverance Makes Historic Touchdown on Mars
Perseverance has successfully landed on Mars, and begins its mission to help scientists learn more than ever before about our rocky red neighbor.
Touchdown: Perseverance Lands on Mars
This week's Intelligence Brief covers NASA's ambitious plans to land the Perseverance rover on Mars, its most dangerous landing mission yet.
Humanity’s Enduring Fascination With Mars
Our fascination with Mars has endured for centuries, and recent days have shown that we are closer than ever to unlocking the many mysteries of the Red Planet.
The Great Mars Invasion of 2021
An "invasion" of Mars is currently underway... we look at this, the difficulty many past nations have had getting to Mars, and the latest US Navy activities which have led to UFO sightings.
The Latest From The Debrief
Here are the top stories we’re covering right now… Lockheed’s SR-72 Spy Plane May Be Autonomous and Reach...
The Latest SpaceX Starship Crash Highlights Musk’s Issues With the FAA
This week, we look at the recent crash landing of the SpaceX SN9 prototype, and why the FAA's response illustrates ongoing issues Elon Musk has with the agency.
The Search for Extraterrestrial Life
This week, the search for extraterrestrial life takes center stage as we examine how scientists are looking for answers to one of life's greatest questions.
The Latest From The Debrief
Here are the top stories we’re covering right now… Hubble Spies a Stellar “Ghost” Last Seen at the...
Inauguration Day: Biden’s New DoD and Aerial Threats
This week's newsletter covers the inauguration of President Biden, his cabinet picks and defense strategy, and what the new administration's attitudes toward the UAP issue may be.
Hubble Spies a Stellar “Ghost” Last Seen at the End of the Roman Empire
The Hubble Space Telescope is helping astronomers study the remains of a star that exploded nearly 1700 years ago.
The Latest From The Debrief
Here are the top stories we’re covering right now… Are the New Chinese Aircraft Carriers a Threat? China...
The Final Frontier
Nuclear energy in space, a global space alliance proposal by the EU and the Space Force’s current public relations issues are all topics in this week's Intelligence Brief.
The Latest From The Debrief
Here are the top stories we’re covering right now… Sandia Labs Will Begin Developing Novel Alloys Using Machine...
Siege at the U.S. Capitol
An unprecedented breach of the U.S. Capitol Building on Wednesday was among many factors this week that raise questions about our of state of preparedness.
Police, FAA Notified After Sightings of Unidentified Aerial Object Over Hawaii
An unidentified aerial object that recently appeared in the night sky over Honolulu resulted in 911 calls to local law enforcement, as well as inquiries with the Federal Aviation Administration.
The Latest From The Debrief
Here are the top stories we’re covering right now… Farewell 2020: Five Cosmic Stories We Didn’t Cover But...
UFOs Are Still a Mystery, and 2020 Showed Us the DoD is Paying Attention
2020 has seen many advances related to UFOs, but the subject remains a historical mystery and a challenge to science.
2020 has seen many advances related to UFOs, but the subject remains a historical mystery and a challenge to science.
2020 has seen many advances related to unidentified aerial phenomena, or UFOs, but the subject remains a historical mystery and a challenge to science.
Year in Review: The Nashville Bombing, and UFOs in 2020
New details about the Christmas Day Nashville Bombing, UFO developments related to the military in 2020, and COVID stimulus checks for the deceased are all topics in this week's Intelligence Brief.
Gravitational Waves Could Solve A Great Cosmic Mystery
New research suggests that gravitational waves may help unravel questions about the current rate of expansion of our universe.
New research suggests that gravitational waves may help unravel questions about the current rate of expansion of our universe.
New research suggests that gravitational waves may help unravel questions about the current rate of expansion of our universe.
The Latest From The Debrief
Here are the top stories we’re covering right now… Germany joined its European allies this month in the...
The Holiday Edition: Yuletide with the DoD
Welcome to this festive holiday 2020 edition of THE INTELLIGENCE BRIEF newsletter.
NASA Reached New Heights in 2020, While Aiding the Fight Against COVID-19
Overcoming all obstacles, NASA made waves in 2020, setting the stage for future missions to Mars, while managing to aid in pandemic relief.
Declassified Cold War-Era Spy Satellite Photos Reveal the Impact of Environmental Change
A team of scientists using formerly classified spy satellite photos released through an Executive Order have revealed the hidden changes warfare brings to landscapes.
A team of scientists using formerly classified spy satellite photos released through an Executive Order have revealed the hidden changes warfare brings to landscapes.
A team of scientists using formerly classified spy satellite photos released through an Executive Order have revealed the hidden changes warfare brings to landscapes.
The Latest From The Debrief
Here are the top stories we’re covering right now… Espionage Campaign Against U.S. Agencies Involved Known Russian Hackers...