U.S. and Iran Edge Toward Crisis as Warships and Diplomacy Collide Amid Possible Weekend Strikes
This week, tensions between the United States and Iran have escalated as additional U.S. warships and aircraft deploy across the Middle East.
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.
“That’s Not a Knife”: Pentagon Aims to Unleash ‘HASTE’ Rocket on Mission to Amplify U.S. Hypersonic Tech
A next-generation rocket will soon take flight as part of an ongoing effort to elevate U.S. development of hypersonic capabilities.
Hidden Human Senses, a “Sophisticated” Artifact Challenges Early Timelines, and a New Webb Telescope Discovery
This week, the discovery of "hidden" human senses, an ancient Egyptian artifact discovery that challenges existing timelines, and a Webb Telescope discovery are all in the news.
5,300-Year-Old Egyptian Artifact Confirms Existence of “Mechanically Sophisticated” Drilling Technology Before the Age of the Pharaohs
Researchers have identified the earliest known "mechanically sophisticated" drill found in association with ancient Egyptian archaeology.
“They’re Real, But I Haven’t Seen Them”: Former President Obama Issues Statement After “Alien” Remarks Go Viral
Comments by former President Barack Obama sparked debate online this Valentine’s Day weekend, after a podcast appearance where he said extraterrestrials were real.
Sudden El Paso Flight Restriction Raises Questions About U.S. Aerial Threat Detection
The unexpected closure of airspace above El Paso, Texas, this week abruptly ended on Wednesday, following a mysterious notice issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) just six hours earlier.
Scientists Report “High-Confidence Detections of Artificial Objects” on the Moon—Could They Solve a Cold War-era Mystery?
Researchers report the detection of "artificial objects" on the Moon that could help locate a long-lost Soviet spacecraft.
“This Isn’t Folklore; It’s Pharmacology”: Centuries-Old Traditional Medicine Could Be a Game-Changer for Hair Loss
Scientists say new research shows a centuries-old traditional Chinese herbal medicine could be a game-changer in fighting hair loss.
Pentagon Unveils New Reverse Engineering Effort to Leverage Legacy Technologies for Which “Data No Longer Exists”
The Pentagon has announced a new reverse-engineering initiative to prolong the use of obsolete defense technologies.
Levitation Defying Newton’s Laws, an Octopus-Inspired “Smart Skin,” and a Mysterious Structure Spotted on Venus
This week, science discoveries include a new type of levitating "time crystal," an octopus-inspired "smart skin," and a mysterious structure on Venus.
NASA Images Reveal Odd “Slithering” Impressions Across the Lunar Surface—This is Their Surprising Source
A bizarre-looking series of features on the Moon, captured in NASA imagery, appears to resemble the pathway of an enormous serpent slithering across the lunar surface.
Radar Data Has Revealed a Large “Structure” Beneath the Surface of Venus—Here’s What That Could Mean
A massive subsurface structure has been discovered on Venus, according to astronomers relying on radar data analysis.
These Remarkable New Levitating ‘Time Crystals’ Appear to Defy One of Newton’s Most Famous Laws
Researchers report the first observation of a new type of time crystal that seemingly defies Newton's Third Law of Motion.
Physicists Are Seeking a Mysterious Unseen Force That Science Can’t Explain—And These Detectors Could Finally Reveal It
Physicists are building detectors so sensitive that they may succeed in unraveling one of the greatest mysteries in modern physics: the true nature of dark matter.
12,000-Year-Old Discovery in an Oregon Cave Reveals First Evidence of a “Complex” Ancient American Technology
A 12,000-year-old discovery offers a rare look at the emergence of complex technologies employed by America’s early inhabitants.
Russia and Ukraine Hold High-Level Talks in Abu Dhabi as War Grinds On
This week, Russia and Ukraine engaged in U.S.-backed negotiations in Abu Dhabi aimed at ending Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II.
Colossal Biosciences Announces World’s First “BioVault” in New Collaboration with UAE to Combat Extinction
The creation of the world's first "biovault" was announced this week, marking a new initiative that experts have likened to a “Noah’s Ark” for the preservation of genetic material from animal species.
Whistleblower Complaint Shakes Intelligence Community Amid Allegations of Wrongdoing
The United States intelligence community is reportedly on edge amid a recent whistleblower complaint, which reportedly alleges wrongdoing by Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard.
Solving the Consciousness Mystery, a Brazilian UAP Controversy, and a “Lost” Ancient Star Map Resurfaces
This week in stories we're tracking at The Debrief, consciousness mysteries, a Brazilian UFO controversy, the rediscovery of an ancient star map, and more are covered.
Hidden for Centuries, “Lost” Portions of a Mysterious Ancient Star Map Have Been Revealed Using X-Rays
SLAC National Accelerator Lab researchers have revealed hidden references to an ancient “star map” in a centuries-old document.
NASA’s Artemis II Mission Will Soon Carry Humans Deeper into Space Than Ever Before—Here Are Five Things You Need to Know
For the first time in more than half a century, NASA will soon be sending an intrepid crew of astronauts toward the Moon with the launch of the Artemis II mission.
Artemis II Nears Launch as NASA Prepares to Send Humans Around the Moon
This week, NASA enters the final stretch of preparations for Artemis II, the first crewed mission to circle the Moon in more than 50 years.
Strange Quantum Effects, Tracking Objects in the Atmosphere, and AI Mimicking the Human Brain
This week, quantum mechanics holds at the macroscopic scale, and scientists develop a novel method using shockwaves from sonic booms to track objects entering Earth's atmosphere.
Officials Are Investigating an Incident That Halted Operations at the World’s Largest Nuclear Plant
Operations at the world’s largest nuclear power plant have taken an unexpected turn, as the restart of Japan’s Kashiwazaki Kariwa-6 nuclear power station was suspended.
50,000-Year-Old Artifacts Unearthed at Controversial Archaeological Site Could Rewrite the Early Prehistory of the Americas
Discoveries at a controversial southeastern archaeological site could potentially push back the timelines for human arrival in the Americas.
Physicists Have Achieved Quantum “Alchemy” by Exciting Electrons to High-Energy States
Researchers have achieved quantum "alchemy" that allows them to alter the properties of materials using high-powered electrons.
A “Master Regulator” in the Brain, Unearthing a Major Archaeological Find, and How the Body Brews its Own Alcohol
This week in stories we're covering at The Debrief, scientists have identified a "master regulator" in the brain, and an ancient Roman factory is unearthed.
America Tests the Boundaries of Power in a Time of Crisis
This week, the United States finds itself grappling with escalating unrest, revealing a deeper shift in how emergency authority and national security are being applied domestically.
A Remarkable 7th-Century Anglo-Saxon Discovery Has Been Unearthed at a Nuclear Site in the UK
Excavations at a nuclear power site in the United Kingdom have revealed evidence of a "high-status" Anglo-Saxon burial.
U.S. Officials Claim They Have Been Testing a Mysterious Device Linked to ‘Havana Syndrome’
Pentagon officials have reportedly spent the last year testing a device linked to unusual health issues commonly known as “Havana Syndrome.”
Secret ‘Sonic Weapon’ Claims, a New Astronomical Mystery, and a 2000-Year-Old Toxic Surprise
This week in recent news from The Debrief, we look at claims of a secret U.S. sonic weapon, an astronomical mystery, and a toxic archaeological discovery.
2000-Year-Old Grave Reveals Mysterious Red Toxic Surprise, Confirming Once Unknown Ancient Burial Practice
The presence of a mysterious red substance has revealed a toxic discovery in a 2,000-year-old grave in southern Ukraine.
NASA Officials to Evacuate International Space Station After Mysterious “Medical Concern” Affects Crew-11 Astronaut
NASA plans to return several astronauts to Earth following a “medical concern” on board the International Space Station (ISS).
“A New Type of Astronomical Object”: Hubble Telescope Confirms First Detection of a “Relic” Unlike Anything Astronomers Have Seen
NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has spotted an object unlike any previously observed, revealing an unusual remnant of the cosmic past.
A Mysterious “Medical Concern” in Space Caused NASA to Cancel a Spacewalk—Here’s Everything We Know
NASA has postponed the first planned spacewalk of 2026 after a medical concern involving a crew member aboard the International Space Station.
Voynich Manuscript Breakthrough? The Secret Behind “The Most Mysterious Book in the World” May Involve an Ancient Cipher System
A new theory argues the famous Voynich Manuscript, often referred to as “the most mysterious book in the world,” may have served as an ancient cipher system.
Double-Slit Experiment Challenges Einstein, Communication with Light, and a Baffling Paradox
This week in news from The Debrief, new research resolving a century-old debate surrounding the double-slit experiment, communication with light, and more are featured.
Scientists Have Discovered Evidence of Previously Unknown Electrical Power Generation in Living Cells
New evidence of electrical power generation on cell membranes could offer insights into how living cells interact with their surroundings.
A Baffling Paradox Led Physicists to the Discovery of Particles of Light That Can Exist in 37 Different Dimensions
An international team says they successfully demonstrated conditions under which photons appear to exist simultaneously in 37 dimensions.
Fusion Ignition Breakthrough: Energy Researchers Report Tokamak Experiments That Exceed Mysterious ‘Plasma Density Limit’
In a new milestone for fusion energy research, physicists in China say they have exceeded the plasma-density limit.
Einstein Was Wrong? Ingenious New Double-Slit Experiment Settles a Century-Old Debate in Quantum Mechanics
Researchers have finally resolved a century-old debate over the famous "double slit" experiment, according to new research.
Archaeologists Have Discovered a Massive Ancient Structure in Ireland—It Could Be the Largest Prehistoric Site of Its Kind
Archaeologists have discovered one of the largest settlements ever identified in Ireland's Baltinglass hillfort landscape.
Space, Archaeology, Consciousness, and the Science of Tomorrow: The Top Science Stories of 2025
2025 has been an exceptional year for discoveries, and we here at The Debrief have kept a watchful eye throughout the last twelve months as several major scientific discoveries and important technological achievements have occurred throughout the year.
Science of Tomorrow: The Top Discoveries in 2025 That Are Pushing the Boundaries of Science
From science-fiction technologies like warp drives and levitation to the search for evidence of intelligent life elsewhere in the cosmos, here is a look at some of the stories from 2025 that are pushing the boundaries of current scientific concepts.
Science of Consciousness: The Most Intriguing Discoveries in 2025 Involving Neuroscience and the Mind
Questions about the nature of consciousness remain among the most perplexing areas of modern scientific research, with implications for both the human mind and our broader concept of reality.
Archaeology in 2025: Here Are Several of This Year’s Most Fascinating Ancient Discoveries
Here’s a look at some of our favorite archaeological discoveries from 2025, and some of the greatest new insights we’ve obtained about the ancient world throughout the year.
Beyond the Standard Model: Here Are the Top Mind-Bending Physics Stories from 2025
Taking a look back over the last twelve months, here are several of the biggest science stories in physics this year, as well as a few of our favorite mind-bending science stories from 2025.
Astronomy in 2025: This Year’s Most Captivating Discoveries in Space and the Cosmos
Here is a look at just a few of the biggest developments in astronomy that The Debrief has been tracking in 2025.
A New “Cloaking Device” is Unveiled, Ancient Technology Emerges, and the Space Force’s New ‘Ghosts, Gods, and Monsters’
This week in our top stories, researchers unveil a novel "cloaking device" that can shield complex objects from detection, and more.
“We Did Not Expect Anything Like This”: How a Black-Market Archaeological Discovery Helped Unearth a Lost Ancient Fortress
A collection of silver coins sold on the black market has led European archaeologists to the discovery of...