Features

Intelligence Officials Say U.S. Has Retrieved Craft of Non-Human Origin

Leslie Kean and Ralph Blumenthal·June 5, 2023

In a Debrief exclusive, Ralph Blumenthal and Leslie Kean report that a former intelligence official turned whistleblower has told Congress and the IG that the U.S. has retrieved craft of non-human origin.

NASA, AARO and the Galileo Project Agree on the Need for a Scientific Study of UAP

Avi Loeb·June 2, 2023

Suppose NASA astronauts had images of technological objects hovering above Earth that are not identified as human made. Should they share the data with the public or worry that such an act would generate turmoil in society?

Self-Replicating Machines: The Ultimate Recipe for Long-Term Survival?

Avi Loeb·May 31, 2023

The dispersal of self-replicating machines throughout the Universe could be the ultimate recipe for long-term survival.

Could Advanced Civilizations Weaponize Black Holes?

Avi Loeb·May 26, 2023

Fortunately for those who favor interstellar peace, there is a major practical hurdle for manufacturing black holes technologically.

Garry Nolan: A Stanford Professor’s Quest to Resolve Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena

Micah Hanks·May 22, 2023

The Debrief recently caught up with Stanford professor of pathology Garry Nolan, who discusses his research involving unidentified anomalous phenomena.

Cosmic Expansion: The ‘Horizon’ for Intergalactic Travel

Avi Loeb·May 22, 2023

Avi Loeb examines some of the limitations imposed on intergalactic travel through accelerated cosmic expansion.

It’s Time To Rethink Some Common Assumptions About UFOs

Michael Glawson, Ph.D.·May 17, 2023

Professor of philosophy Michael Glawson, Ph.D., offers perspectives on common assumptions we have about UFOs, and why they need to change.

Will Your Home Be Hit by a Meteorite?

Avi Loeb·May 15, 2023

Could your home be hit by a meteorite? It isn't a frequent occurrence... but that doesn't mean it never happens.

Frontiers of Science: Our Survival in the Milky Way

Avi Loeb·May 4, 2023

The frontiers of science and our knowledge of the universe naturally lie on the boundary between the known and the unknown.

The Chicago O’Hare UAP Incident: Physics Team’s Analysis Offers a Fresh Look at This Famous 2006 Case

Christopher Plain and Micah Hanks·May 2, 2023

According to a group of physicists, witness descriptions of the famous 2006 Chicago O’Hare UAP incident are suggestive of a form of advanced propulsion that may one day revolutionize space travel. 

This LGBTQ+ Non-Profit is Getting The Attention of the Space Industry by Breaking Down Barriers

"Gaaays in Spaaace" is pressing for more LGBTQ+ representation in the space industry, and they are using science fiction like Star Trek to do it...

MJ Banias·April 27, 2023

LGBTQ+ non-profit "Gaaays in Spaaace" is pushing the space industry for change, and it's using science fiction like Star Trek to do it. 

Here Are the Major Takeaways You Missed From the Recent Senate Hearing on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena

Tim McMillan·April 26, 2023

Here are the key takeaways you likely missed from the recent Senate hearings on AARO and unidentified aerial phenomena.

Is AI Alignment Research Akin to “Helicopter Parenting”?

Avi Loeb·April 25, 2023

AI alignment research aims to steer AI toward the intended goals or ethical principles of humans. But at what point are we over-parenting?

New Free VR Program, Psyrreal, Lets You Experience Psychedelic Trips Without Drugs

Tim McMillan·April 20, 2023

Researchers have created a new freely available VR program called Psyrreal that can simulate the subjective effects of psychedelic experiences.

Unidentified Aerial Phenomena: Science “From Farm to Table”

Avi Loeb·April 14, 2023

Scientists, working with open data like the Galileo Project comprises, must help the U.S. government unravel the nature of UAP.

Discovering Extraterrestrials Offers Benefits, Not An Existential Risk

Avi Loeb·April 11, 2023

In 2010, Stephen Hawking warned that aliens might pose an existential risk to humanity, and that we should therefore be careful about broadcasting our existence to interstellar space.

The Strange Death of Rockstar and Tech Mogul Philip Taylor Kramer Remains Baffling Almost Three Decades After His Disappearance

Kenna Hughes-Castleberry·March 31, 2023

The bizarre 1995 disappearance and reported suicide of Iron Butterfly bassist Philip Taylor Kramer has left many wondering for decades what really happened.

Exotic Propulsion: Technological Probes From the Final Frontier

Avi Loeb·March 30, 2023

By studying interstellar objects, we may learn about new exotic propulsion methods that will make it easier for us to venture into interstellar space.

Could Earth be at Greater Risk from a Deadly Asteroid Impact Than We Realize?

Micah Hanks·March 28, 2023

Recent studies indicate that potential threats related to an asteroid impact could be greater than previously realized.

HyperCycle is on the Threshold of Enabling a New Route Towards Artificial General Intelligence

Christopher Plain·March 27, 2023

A new company called HyperCycle is enabling the development of global artificial intelligence by allowing localized AI systems to communicate and compete in an entirely new way.

DARPA Funded Electric Sky on Threshold of Aviation Revolution with Whisper Beam

Christopher Plain·March 15, 2023

Funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the folks at Electric Sky are moving closer to revolutionizing electric aviation by making its Whisper Beam power-beaming system a reality.

The Allegory of the Cave: An Interstellar Interpretation

Avi Loeb·March 15, 2023

In this installment of "Our Cosmic Neighborhood," Harvard astronomer Avi Loeb takes a look at an ancient philosophical dialogue in the context of interstellar artificial intelligence.

On the Trail of a Unseen Killer: Questions Linger Over Unexplained Cattle Deaths in Colorado

Micah Hanks·March 13, 2023

Documents and interviews with Colorado officials reveal new clues behind the investigation into a wave of unexplained cattle deaths last year.

French Air and Space Force Event Examines New Challenges Occurring at High Altitudes

Baptiste Friscourt·March 10, 2023

On January 9th, the French Air and Space Force (FASF) held an event that examined emerging high-altitude challenges.

Global Allies Turn a Blind Eye to Adversarial Airborne Surveillance and UAP Despite U.S. Warnings

Tim McMillan·March 7, 2023

Despite U.S. warnings, global allies appear unconcerned by the implications of adversarial airborne surveillance or unidentified aerial phenomena.

Green Energy Game-Changer? The Environmental Benefits of Nuclear Fusion

Ellie Sivins·March 3, 2023

Now is the time to be looking at the variety of ways nuclear fusion will be beneficial for the environment in the decades ahead.

The New Frontiers of Psychedelic Therapy

Amanda Winstead·February 28, 2023

Science is finally breaking down many of the longstanding stigmas around entheogens, revealing new potential for psychedelic therapy.

Excessive Secrecy Could Undermine U.S. Efforts to Evaluate Unidentified Flying Objects, Experts Warn

Micah Hanks·February 26, 2023

Incidents involving several objects downed over North America have renewed debate over excessive secrecy and unidentified flying objects.

A New Era of Optical SETI: The Search for Artificial Objects of Non-Human Origin

Beatriz Villarroel and Geoff Marcy·February 20, 2023

Searching for artificial objects of non-human origin in our skies could provide a promising new route forward in SETI research.

Opinion: The Power of Cooperation Can Help Us Solve the Mystery of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena

Alex Dietrich·February 17, 2023

Retired U.S. Navy fighter pilot Alex Dietrich shares her thoughts on the power of cooperation in solving unidentified aerial phenomena.

Discover the Next Generation of Human-Machine Teaming: A Pioneering Company, XTEND, is Looking To Disrupt the Drone Industry

Tim McMillan·February 9, 2023

XTEND, a pioneering technology company, looks to revolutionize the robotics industry by developing the next generation of human-machine teaming.

Breakout Tech: Here Are Some of the Key Developments and Technologies to Watch in 2023

Clayton Morris·February 3, 2023

As we look at the technological advancements that lay ahead in the coming year, we’re faced with a time-honored question: at what cost?

Has Earth Ever Had Encounters With Interstellar AI Devices in Its Past?

Avi Loeb·February 3, 2023

What is the chance that a technological gadget with an interstellar version of ChatGPT would visit Los Alamos for lunch in 1950?

How DARPA, Star Trek, and UFOs Inspired This Engineer to Unravel the Secrets to Warp Drive Propulsion

Christopher Plain·February 1, 2023

Meet Dr. Chance Glenn, the university professor and electrical engineer preparing to test his warp drive theory.

These Are the Top 5 Places and Times Humanity is Likely to Discover Extraterrestrial Life

Christopher Plain·January 24, 2023

Here are the Top Five places humanity is most likely to find signs of extraterrestrial life and when those discoveries could take place.

What Would a Planck Energy Accelerator Entail?

Avi Loeb·January 17, 2023

If we ever detect a beam of Planck energy neutrinos from a preferred direction in the sky, we will know where to search for new physics.

Astroculture: A Quick, But Not So-Easy Guide to Space Farming

Amanda Winstead·January 16, 2023

While the prospects of space farming certainly bear a degree of promise, there are a number of reasons why it won’t be particularly easy to execute.

Opinion: Let’s Bring the UAP Challenge Into the Light of Day

Jacques Vallée·January 14, 2023

Computer scientist Jacques Vallée shares his views on bringing the unique challenge UAP represents "out of the shadows and into the light of day."

Beliefs Versus Evidence: Science, Supersymmetry, and Beyond

Avi Loeb·January 4, 2023

In the battle of belief versus evidence, we must avoid the tendency to get entrenched in ideas that cannot be falsified.

As a Former Fighter Pilot Who Encountered UAP, We Need Science—Not Stigmas and Conspiracies—to Solve This Mystery

Ryan Graves·December 31, 2022

A major barrier to our understanding of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) is not just government secrecy: it’s stigma.

Snowball Earth: Was the Surface of Our Planet Ever Completely Frozen?

Avi Loeb·December 30, 2022

Climate models suggest that runaway glaciation during periods of our planet's history may have resulted in a frozen, “Snowball Earth” state.

Seeking Immortality in Space: Encounters With ‘Interstellar Memorabilia’

Avi Loeb·December 27, 2022

Like prehistoric cave paintings, finding interstellar extraterrestrial devices might indicate that the quest for immortality is universal to all sentient beings past and present throughout the Milky Way galaxy.

Some of the Most Mysterious, Bizarre, Even Terrifying, Holiday Traditions in History

Tim McMillan·December 22, 2022

Terrifying demons, pooping logs, and peasant kings hosting drunken parties, The Debrief discusses some of the most bizarre and terrifying holiday traditions.

Would We Notice Interstellar CubeSats in Our Cosmic Neighborhood?

Avi Loeb·December 12, 2022

If humans ever find interstellar CubeSats, it will change our priorities from funding military conflicts to space exploration.

The Strange Tale of Russia’s UFO Wonder Weapons Based on “New Physical Principles”

Tim McMillan·December 9, 2022

For over a decade Russia has been talking about developing "weapons based on new physical principles." An idea that apparently has its origins in the belief of UFOs.

Panspermia: Was Terrestrial Intelligence Seeded by a Cosmic Gardener?

Avi Loeb·December 5, 2022

How can we determine from circumstantial evidence on multiple planets whether panspermia might have occurred?

The Discovery of Life on Titan Could Reveal Clues About Early Life in the Universe

Avi Loeb·December 1, 2022

Saturn's moon Titan has an atmosphere rich in organic compounds, which has led to speculations that chemical precursors of life may have been generated there.

Recent Pilot UAP Sightings Point to Aviation Safety Challenges, Experts Say

Micah Hanks and Chrissy Newton·November 30, 2022

Several recent pilot UFO sightings may have been explained, but ongoing incidents involving unidentified aerial phenomena point to safety issues and other challenges for aviators.

The Confluence of Natural and Artificial Intelligence

Avi Loeb·November 29, 2022

Nature established two distinct pathways for reflecting upon itself, one based on natural intelligence and the second based on artificial intelligence.

Star Trek is Motivating This Team of Scientists to Build a Working Warp Drive Spacecraft

Creating a warp bubble is only a part of the project, and mastering nuclear fusion is the larger prize.

Christopher Plain and MJ Banias·November 28, 2022

Dr. Greg Hodgin, founder of ZC Inc., discusses his love of Star Trek and how he and his company is planning to build the world's first warp drive spacecraft.