Breaking News Archives

Previously Extinct Fish Successfully Brought Back to Life

Christopher Plain·January 6, 2022

A species of fish that previously became extinct in the wild has been successfully bred and reintroduced back into its native habitat. Known as the tequila splitfin, or “zoogoneticus tequila” in scientific terms, the western Mexican fish previously played a...

DART Returns First Photos Readying for Asteroid Smash

Christopher Plain·January 5, 2022

NASA’s DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) spacecraft has returned its first photos, proving its onboard navigation camera survived launch. Known as DRACO, which is short for Didymos Reconnaissance and Asteroid Camera for Optical navigation, the lone camera carried by DART...

Psilocybin is Safe in Therapeutically Viable Doses

Christopher Plain·January 4, 2022

Researchers have shown that psilocybin is safe in doses of either 10mg or 25 mg, with no adverse effects to short-term or long-term health. The same study also affirmed the safety of scaling the administration of psilocybin to a large...

Chinese Fusion Reactor Sets New Record of 1,056 Seconds

Christopher Plain·January 4, 2022

China’s EAST Tokamak fusion reactor has set a new world’s record by maintaining its nuclear fusion reaction for a total of 1,056 seconds. This milestone smashes the previous record set in May of 2021, when the same team saw their...

The U.S. Military Is a Bad Boy When It Comes To Climate Change

Kenna Castleberry·December 28, 2021

Studies have shown that if the U.S. military was its own country, it would be the top global emitter of greenhouse gasses.

The James Webb Space Telescope Lift Off A Success, A New Era Of Astronomy Is About to Begin

Kenna Castleberry·December 25, 2021

As of 7:20 EST, the Ariane 5 rocket successfully launched, taking the James Webb Space Telescope far into space.

Deepfake Audio Detection Method Spots Fake Voices

Christopher Plain·December 23, 2021

Engineers have developed a deepfake audio detection method designed to sniff out increasingly realistic audio deepfakes. Unlike the more commonly known video deepfakes which can reproduce the look and voice of an actual person, audio deepfakes use advanced AI software...

Why Did SpaceX Just Launch Muscle Cells into Space?

Christopher Plain·December 22, 2021

SpaceX just launched a fresh set of supplies to the International Space Station (ISS), including a batch of custom-made human muscle cells. Once aboard the ISS, the unusual package and the researchers behind its contents hope the accelerated effects of...

Interstellar Bussard Ramjet Undergoes New Analysis

Christopher Plain·December 22, 2021

The advanced propulsion concept known as the Bussard Ramjet has undergone a new analysis to determine its feasibility. And according to the team behind the second look, the concept is sound. But, they add, the physical dimensions of the innovative...

Shrodinger’s Tardigrade: Did We Actually Quantum Entangle a Living Organism?

We treat these little buggers horribly...

Kenna Castleberry·December 21, 2021

Did scientists quantum entangle a tardigrade? If anything, they proved that humanity will never stop abusing these small and cute "water bears."

Could Black Holes Account for ‘Missing’ Dark Matter?

Christopher Plain·December 21, 2021

A new study proposes that black holes formed at the dawn of time may actually account for all dark matter. This theory, the authors note, builds on previous work from Stephen Hawking performed in the 1970s, and may finally answer...

Huge Water Deposit Found in Mars “Grand Canyon”

Christopher Plain·December 17, 2021

A massive water deposit almost twice the size of Vermont has been discovered just beneath the surface of Mars. Whether bound to other minerals or stored as water ice, the new discovery made by the European Space Administration (ESA) was...

United States Navy Testing Cutting Edge Saildrone

Christopher Plain·December 17, 2021

The United States Navy is currently conducting live field tests of a new sail-powered autonomous drone known simply as Saildrone. Equipped with an on-board solar array to power its electronics, this unique, wind-powered vehicle made by a company with the...

Step Aside Scarecrows, Here Come the ‘Scarefish’

Christopher Plain·December 17, 2021

Australian researchers have designed a robot “scarefish” that mimics the natural predator of invasive Mosquito fish species, successfully scaring them off. Plus, the research team behind the robotic fish says, its newest invention not only chased away the intended target...

U.S. Navy Successfully Test Fires Drone Killing Laser

Christopher Plain·December 16, 2021

On December 14th, the United States Navy conducted a live-fire test of their Laser Weapon System Demonstrator (LWSD), successfully destroying the floating target. This latest test, which took place in the Gulf of Aden, is an attempt to address the...

First Venus Life Finder Mission Eyes 2023 Launch

Christopher Plain·December 16, 2021

A new report from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) details the privately funded Venus Life Finder (VLF) missions, starting with the first proposed launch in 2023. Hoping to settle the debate regarding potential microbial life in the clouds of...

MARS Perseverance Rover Reveals Key Discoveries

Christopher Plain·December 16, 2021

NASA’s Mars Perseverance rover has made some exciting new discoveries, offering even more clues to the red planet’s complex, watery past. Plus, mission scientists say, these new discoveries will help direct the planned Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission planned for the...

Are Rocket Scientists & Brain Surgeons Really Smarter?

Christopher Plain·December 15, 2021

A new study seems to disprove the age old notion that folks in certain professions are smarter than the average public, particularly rocket scientists and brain surgeons. And given the research team’s unexpected results, we may have to rethink some...

Why is This Cancer Treatment Giving People Night Vision?

Christopher Plain·December 15, 2021

A type of cancer treatment called photodynamic therapy is giving recipients superhuman night vision. While temporary, the researchers looking into the actual mechanisms behind the unexpected side effect believe their findings may help those suffering from an array of vision...

Is Your Cat Really Just a Psychopath?

Christopher Plain·December 14, 2021

Your cat is most definitely a psychopath. At least, that’s what researchers behind a new study have determined. Plus, those same researchers have developed a questionnaire that can help you determine just how psychopathic your own cat is. BACKGROUND: PSYCHOPATHIC...

“Unidentified Aircraft” Causes Russian Commercial Flights To Change Course

Tim McMillan·December 14, 2021

The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation announced it would be looking into the circumstances surrounding an “unidentified aircraft” that forced two Russian commercial airliners to change course over the Black Sea last Friday. According to local news reports, at 11:56 A.M. (Moscow...

How an Artificial Magnetic Field Could Make Mars Habitable

Christopher Plain·December 13, 2021

A new study suggests that humans may possess the technological capabilities to create an artificial magnetic field, or magnetosphere, around Mars. And, the study authors note, if successful, such an artificial magnetic field could help protect future Mars colonists from...

New 3D NASA App Shows All Near Earth Objects

Christopher Plain·December 13, 2021

A new app released by the National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) provides users a unique tour of the varied array of space rocks known as Near Earth objects (NEOs) currently surrounding our planet. The 3D real-time visualization tool’s developers...

What is a Planet and Why Does it Matter?

New Research Paper Says it is Time to Return to Original Definition made by Galileo

Christopher Plain·December 10, 2021

A group of researchers are pushing the International Astronomical Union (IAU) to change its current definition of a planet from one based on its orbital mechanics to one focused on its inherent composition. This change, they note, is long overdue,...

Solar Wind May Have Helped Create Life on Earth

Christopher Plain·December 9, 2021

New research has shown that the stream of charged particles emitted by the sun known as the solar wind may have played a significant part in making Earth habitable. And they say, this force not only helped bring water to...

Scientists Transform Physical Materials Using Light

Unlike Previous Technologies, New Method Leaves Zero Heat Damage

Christopher Plain·December 9, 2021

A team of researchers from the California Institute of Technology (CalTech) have reported the ability to transform physical materials using only the power of light. Unlike previous, more limited methods, this new approach dramatically reduces the absorption of waste heat,...

Humans Enter Creative Sweet Spot Right Before Sleep

Christopher Plain·December 9, 2021

New research has shown that the human mind seems to enter into a creative “sweet spot” right before passing into deep sleep. Previous studies had found possible connections between deeper forms of sleep and mental well-being, but this latest effort...

List of Confirmed Exoplanets Grows by 301

Christopher Plain·December 8, 2021

A recent analysis of previously recorded satellite data has added 301 new exoplanets to the continuously growing list. This latest addition comes as a result of a new deep neural network tool employed by NASA researchers that can distinguish the...

Study Says “Spiritual” Psychedelics May Aid Mental Health

Christopher Plain·December 8, 2021

A new study has found a positive relationship between the use of psychedelics and improved mental health. Specifically, the study found that psychedelics can cause increased feelings of spirituality, and that these feelings lead to better emotional regulation, and therefore...

DARPA Funded Researchers Accidentally Discover The World’s First Warp Bubble

"Engage."

Christopher Plain·December 6, 2021

Warp drive pioneer Dr. Harold G “Sonny” White has reported research results that he believes could theoretically manifest a warp bubble under laboratory conditions.

As Defense Bill Stalls in Senate, Experts Are Divided Over the Pentagon’s New UAP Investigations Unit.

Senators, scientists, and defense experts express mixed opinions about the DoD’s latest efforts to address military encounters with unidentified aerial phenomena.

Micah Hanks·December 6, 2021

Senators, scientists, and defense experts express mixed opinions about the DoD’s latest efforts to address military encounters with unidentified aerial phenomena.

NASA Video Animates Space Laser Communication System

Christopher Plain·December 6, 2021

A November, 2021 video animation from NASA shows how their soon to be launched demonstrator spacecraft will test laser communications in space, both between two satellites as well as between the International Space Station and Earth. Dubbed the “Laser Communications...

Researchers Achieve Mind Control Using Only Light

Christopher Plain·December 3, 2021

A form of mind control using only the power of light has been developed by a team of South Korean researchers. And, the research team says, the process is fully reversible and has already been used successfully on mice in...

Venus Phosphine Signal Confirmed by Original Team

Christopher Plain·December 3, 2021

A year after the discovery of phosphine gas in the atmosphere of Venus, a signal many believe could be indications of microscopic life, the research team behind the controversial discovery have reexamined the data. And, they say, this reanalysis only...

Tess Finds Mars-Sized Planet That is Dense as Iron

Find May Point to Entire System of Habitable Exoplanets

Christopher Plain·December 3, 2021

Researchers using the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) have discovered a relatively nearby (at least in astronomical terms) exoplanet that is the size of Mars, but as dense as pure iron. Plus, the team behind the discovery notes, this planet...

Mysterious Area in Space Causes Spacecraft to Slow Down

Christopher Plain·December 2, 2021

A mysterious area of outer space directly above the Earth’s atmosphere causes spacecraft to slow down, and researchers are trying to figure out why. This same area has foiled GPS and other technologies, causing NASA to launch the latest fact-finding...

Europa Becomes Next Target in NASA’s Hunt for Life

Christopher Plain·December 1, 2021

NASA’s hunt for extraterrestrial life has a new target, Jupiter’s icy moon Europa. According to researchers involved, a new, dedicated mission will peer miles below Europa’s icy surface to determine if the sea of water hidden underneath is capable of...

Pair of Supermassive Black Holes Closest to Earth

Christopher Plain·December 1, 2021

Astronomers have spotted a pair of supermassive black holes that are not only huge, but are also the closest black holes to Earth. And according to the researchers who made the discovery, the two black holes are close enough to...

Time Travel May be Possible Inside the Quantum Realm

Christopher Plain·November 30, 2021

Time travel may be possible after all, particularly in the quantum realm. And based on recently published research, this may include moving both backward and forward in time. BACKGROUND: BUT ISN’T TIME TRAVEL IMPOSSIBLE? In classical physics, the movement of...

“Super Jelly” Can Survive Elephant Stomp and Retain Shape

Christopher Plain·November 29, 2021

Researchers have developed a new type of hydrogel called “super jelly” that can withstand the crushing impact of an elephant’s stomp or the weight of a car without losing its original shape. Made from 80% water, the material is virtually...

First Handheld Railgun Matches 22 Rifle’s Power

Christopher Plain·November 29, 2021

The world’s first commercially available handheld railgun is now available for preorder. And according to the company selling the first of its kind portable electric cannon, the muzzle velocity and projectile power is comparable to many 22 caliber rifles. BACKGROUND:...

DART, NASA’s New Planetary Defense Mission, Has Launched Aboard a SpaceX Rocket

Micah Hanks·November 26, 2021

A mission to test technology that may one day be used to defend our planet against potentially deadly asteroids and other near-Earth objects was successfully launched on Wednesday, according to NASA.

Coffee May Help Prevent Onset of Alzheimer’s Disease

Christopher Plain·November 26, 2021

According to a recent study, daily coffee consumption may help prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of cognitive decline. The same study also indicates that both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee may have the same beneficial effects and...

What the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope means for the Astronomy World

Matt Bothwell·November 25, 2021

If all goes to plan, the James Webb Space Telescope is set to re-write everything we know about our place in the Universe.

DoD Announces the Establishment of “Airborne Object Identification and Management Synchronization Group” to Study UAP

Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks says the AOIMSG will assume the current duties of the Navy’s UAP task force.

Micah Hanks·November 24, 2021

Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks says the Airborne Object Identification and Management Synchronization Group (AOIMSG) will assume the current duties of the Navy’s UAP task force.

Canadians Hate Thanksgiving

And Four Other Bizarre Things I’ve Learned While Working at The Debrief

Christopher Plain·November 24, 2021

Christopher Plain celebrates Thanksgiving, Canadians, and four other bizarre things he has learned over the last year while working here at The Debrief.

NASA Wants Battelle to Put a Nuclear Reactor on the Moon

Christopher Plain·November 23, 2021

NASA wants Battelle to put a fission based nuclear reactor on the moon, and is asking anyone and everyone to submit ideas. The request for proposals is being coordinated through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory, (INL) the...

New Propulsion System Flies in Space

Christopher Plain·November 22, 2021

A new propulsion system that uses electric power and iodine to create thrust has been successfully tested in space, marking a first for such systems. Having proven that low cost, Iodine-based systems are a viable alternative to the expensive xenon-based...

New Shape-Shifting Ceramics Could Revolutionize Future Electronics, Study Confirms

Raquel Santos·November 22, 2021

Researchers discovered a process that resulted in a shape-shifting form of ceramic materials that could usher in a revolution in technology.

Theory Says Black Holes May Offer Space/Time Shortcut

Christopher Plain·November 18, 2021

Black holes may indeed be shortcuts through space and time, just like science fiction always promised. And unlike those sci fi stories where interstellar travelers jump from place to place using Einstein-Rosen bridges, (the scientific name for such constructs) this...