Asteroid Bennu Samples Reveal Big Surprise Involving Building Blocks of Life
NASA scientists discovered a plethora of precursors to life on the asteroid Bennu, demonstrating the importance of Earthbound sample-return missions.
Ryan Whalen
Ryan Whalen covers science and technology for The Debrief. He holds an MA in History and a Master of Library and Information Science with a certificate in Data Science. He can be contacted at ryan@thedebrief.org, and follow him on Twitter @mdntwvlf.
Bird Flu Evolution is Driven by Large-Scale Poultry Vaccinations, New Study Finds
Large-scale poultry vaccinations may be driving bird flu evolution, according to a concerning new international study.
Arctic-Boreal Zone’s Unsettling Transformation into a Carbon Source Signals Dangers of Climate Change
Research is revealing how climate change is driving the Arctic-boreal zone's shift from a carbon sink to a carbon source.
Stretchable Organic Solar Cells Could Power the Future of Wearable Technology
A new stretchable organic solar cell may offer the efficient power source needed for the next generation of wearable devices, according to a team of international researchers.
The X Factor: Study Reveals How Your Mother’s X Chromosome Could Impact Cognitive Health in Aging
New research is offering deeper insights into the role of the active X chromosome and its effects on brain health.
Scientists Complete First Comprehensive Map of Human DNA Recombination
Scientists reveal new insights into the hidden processes driving human genetic variation with the first complete human DNA recombination map.
Fast Radio Burst Traced to Mysterious “Dead Galaxy” in a First of Its Kind Discovery
The mystery of Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) is more diverse than previously known after rapid emissions unexpectedly come from an ancient dead galaxy.
MIT Unveils New Robot Insect, Paving the Way Toward the Rise of Robotic Pollinators
Move over bees, MIT researchers have developed a robot bug for artificial pollination to underpin an entirely indoor farm of the future.
America’s Heartland is Under Escalating Drought Threats Due To Climate Change
Accelerating climate change is causing severe droughts in the United States and worldwide, with exceptionally harsh ramifications for specific biomes.
‘Cosmic Ghost Towns’ Could Hold Clues the Mysteries of Galactic Structure
Cosmic ghost towns, halted in their development by cosmic forces billions of years ago, have been discovered by University of Arizona Steward Observatory astronomers.
NASA “Blue Lurker” Discovery Sheds light on the Secrets of Triple-Star Evolution in M67
NASA has identified a rare and unusual "blue lurker" star that was produced during the collapse of a triple-star system in the M67 star cluster.
Cosmic Mystery Ensues as Supermassive Black Hole Emits Odd X-ray Pulses Unlike Anything Previously Seen
A distant supermassive black hole, the mysterious 1ES 1927+654, emits X-ray pulses unlike anything previously recorded, which MIT astronomers hypothesize results from a cosmic balancing act.
Proximity Ferroelectricity Could Unlock The “Next Generation Of Opto-Electronic Materials” For Data Storage
Proximity ferroelectricity unlocks new materials for data storage and wireless communications in new Penn State research, which is crucial as AI demands stretch computing supply chains.
Korean Scientists Reveal Futuristic New ‘WeaRo’ Exoskeleton For Industrial Use
Korean scientists have unveiled a manual labor exoskeleton they call WeaRo, paving the way for safer robot assisted work.
Excitons Demonstrate Exciting Quantum Mysteries With Potential For Revolutionary Computing Power
The unpredictable quantum world just got stranger thanks to Brown University physicists' discovery of unexpected behavior in particles called fractional excitons.
Carbon-Capturing Construction Materials Could Help in the Fight Against Climate Change
New carbon-capturing building materials could help reduce the effects of climate change, according to new research.
Mystery of Ancient “Wheel of Ghosts” Endures as New Research Casts Doubt on Megalith’s Celestial Alignments
The mystery of the "Wheel of Ghosts" reopens as new data demonstrating the site's shifting geodynamics undermine its suspected use as an astronomical tool.
Storm Surfing Bats Are Revealing Secrets to How They Conserve Energy During Long Migrations
New research is revealing that bats have the unique ability to "surf" along storms while making their distant migratory travels, according to recent findings.
Turbulent Origins of Twinkling Fast Radio Burst Revealed by MIT Scientists
The origin of a sparkling Fast Radio Burst (FRB) has been discovered in a galaxy 200 million light years away through the work of MIT astronomers.
Tech Companies Are Seeking To Develop AI That Excels at Flattering and Manipulating Us
A disturbing new use of AI to understand and manipulate our intentions through flattery and false friendship has been identified in new research at the University of Cambridge.
‘Dead Internet Theory’ Looms as Meta Unveils Plans to Flood Facebook and Instagram with AI ‘Users’
Dead Internet Theory seemingly comes true as Facebook and Instagram parent company Meta reveals a plan to stock its social media platforms with fake AI users.
Hidden Texts in Medieval Manuscripts Are Revealing Iceland’s Lost Secrets
Investigating the lost literary history of Iceland reveals religious upheavals and clever forgeries, new research has revealed.
NASA’s Parker Space Probe Succeeds in Making Closest-Ever Approach To The Sun
After receiving healthy signals from the Parker Space Probe, NASA can breathe a sigh of relief following the craft's record-breaking approach to the Sun.
“Just Make Sure You Give The Gift,” Says New Research On The Acceptability Of Late Gifts
Despite our anxieties over missing gift-giving occasions, Ohio State University researchers have found that even a late gift still sparks holiday cheer.
Landing On Santa’s Naughty List Ranks Among Parents’ Top Discipline Strategies, New Research Finds
According to new research, parents frequently use concerns involving Santa skipping a Christmas visit to discipline their children.
Magnetizing Laser Unveiled by MIT Physicists Could Radically Change Data Storage
MIT scientists have developed a groundbreaking magnetizing laser in new research that could have significant ramifications for highly efficient and resilient data storage solutions.
Researchers Reveal Startling Psychology Behind How AI Biases Affect Humans
New University College London (UCL) research has discovered how biased AI systems can influence biased beliefs in humans.
James Webb Space Telescope Spots Monstrous Black Hole Lounging After a Cosmic Feast
Even a monstrous black hole needs a break after a cosmic feast, according to new findings by University of Cambridge astronomers.
This is Your Brain On Surveillance: New Study Reveals How Awareness of Being Watched Alters Our Brains
According to the latest research from Australian Neuroscientists, being under surveillance imperceptibly alters our brains.
James Webb Space Telescope Reveals Exoplanet Trappist-1 B Could Have An Atmosphere, Challenging Past Conclusions
Potentially Habitable
Potentially Habitable
The Earth-like exoplanet Trappist-1 b may have an atmosphere after all, potentially overturning earlier findings.
Astronomers Uncover Explosive Mystery as Enormous Gamma-Ray Flare Erupts from M87’s Black Hole
A black hole at the center of the M87 galaxy has erupted in an enormous gamma-ray flare that is defying astronomer's expectations.
Breakthrough Color Technology Based On Peacock Feathers Could Coat Your Next Car
For thousands of years, humans have used pigmented paints, dyes, and inks that absorb light to create color, but now, a Japanese researcher is pioneering a radical new way of applying reflective color technology to 3D objects.
Scientists Uncover The Secrets Of Sleep And Memory In Electrified Brain Experiments
German neuroscientists have made a significant advancement in finally uncovering the long-missing link between deep sleep and memory formation.
“We All Hate Needles.” Researchers Hack Skin Bacterium to Replace Shots with Topical Cream.
Researchers at Stanford University may be on the cusp of overcoming the fear of needles with a topical vaccine applied directly to the skin, after recent successful tests.
Evidence of Ancient Hot Water on Mars Points to the Red Planet’s Potentially Habitable History
Traces of ancient hot water on the Red Planet hint that Mars may have had a habitable past, new research reveals.
Archaeologists Discover “Smoking Gun” Evidence of Earliest Human Companionship with Canines in the Americas
Alaskan archaeological sites reveal the origins of human-canid friendship in the Americas began 2,000 years earlier than once thought.
Lockheed Martin’s Next-Gen Training Tech is Revolutionizing U.S. Army Simulations
Lockheed Martin is advancing soldier training with a range of high-tech solutions that promise to significantly reduce training costs while enhancing effectiveness.
Scientists Uncover New Way to Generate Green Hydrogen Energy From Water And Sunlight
Japanese researchers have developed an innovative method that utilizes sunlight to split water into green hydrogen fuel, effectively leveraging two of humankind's oldest energy sources while helping combat climate change.
NASA Tackles Heat Shield Challenges as Artemis Moon Missions Aim to Outpace China
On Thursday, NASA provided updates on its Artemis lunar exploration campaign, moving to win the new space race with China.
AI is Aiding the Effort To Neutralize Hazardous Pollutants Escaping Forgotten Oil and Gas Wells
Thousands of lost and forgotten oil and gas wells that may be leaking hazardous pollutants are finally being identified with the help of AI.
“Nobody Knows How They Can Do This.” New Evidence of Cells “Learning” Upends Past Thinking on Cellular Function
Scientists have provided new evidence for cells learning without the need for complex brains and nervous systems.
Human Hibernation May Be the Key to Future Space Travel. This Unlikely Source is Offering Clues to How it Might Be Achieved.
Scientists are getting new insights into how human hibernation could be possible for long periods during space travel by studying bat blood.
Strange Supernova Spotted by Astronomers Unveils the Pre-Metallic History of the Cosmos
International astronomers have observed an unusual supernova that is poor in metals, providing vital clues about the early galaxy.
Scientists Discovered Hayabusa 2 Asteroid Sample Was Teeming With Microbes, But Where Did They Come From?
Imperial College London scientists say microbes on asteroid samples from Japan's Hayabusa 2 mission have down to Earth origins.
Could New Evidence Solve the D.B. Cooper Hijacking Mystery? Some Longtime Researchers Aren’t Convinced.
New evidence could finally solve the decades-old D.B. Cooper mystery, but some longtime researchers into the famous hijacking aren't so sure.
Skipping Thanksgiving Dinner? Scientists Says That Could Be Bad For You.
This psychologist suggests that going to Thanksgiving dinner may be more critical to your future happiness than you realize.
Jupiter’s Magnetic Tornadoes Are Creating Mysterious Dark Spots Like A Reverse Aurora
Researchers have discovered short-lived spots possibly generated by magnetic tornadoes occurring on Jupiter.
AI Milestone Allows Artificial Neural Networks to ‘Evolve’ by Taking a Cue from Nature
AI researchers in New York have achieved another milestone by allowing artificial neural networks to learn and evolve in a manner that mirrors the processes of living creatures.
New NASA Discovery is Upending Our Assumptions About Early Life on Earth
A recent groundbreaking NASA study has revealed a significant discovery about the protein configurations that may give rise to life, challenging existing scientific assumptions.
Study Reveals Online Content Moderators Can Easily Become Victims of Misinformation
Online content moderators may be susceptible to misinformation due to an "illusory truth effect," new research shows.