Ideas Archives - The Debrief

Yep, We Can Weaponize an Asteroid

With a bit of planning, time, and a giant amount of money, we could theoretically hurl space rocks into anything.

Raquel Santos·November 30, 2021

NASA's recent DART launch and with Season 6 of The Expanse coming out, we wanted to know if you can turn an asteroid into a weapon.

AI-Scientists May Usher in A Bright Future in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

Scientific progress may accelerate when artificial intelligence (AI) will explore data autonomously, without the blinders imposed by human prejudice.

Avi Loeb·November 24, 2021

Refusal to admit anomalies as evidence that our knowledge base may have missed something important stems from our ego. AI won't make the same mistakes.

Most of The Universe is Invisible: Here’s What You Need to Know about what You Can’t See

Matt Bothwell·November 19, 2021

Most of the universe is invisible, but when we look at it through different 'eyes,' suddenly the dark void of space seems much less empty.

How Does the Jump Drive in Apple TV’s ‘Foundation’ Work?

Was Isaac Asimov traversing wormholes or going quantum? The Debrief takes a look at two theories to understand how the Foundation universe has mastered FTL travel.

Kenna Castleberry·November 19, 2021

Apple TV's 'Foundation' is full-on sci-fi, so we naturally wondered how the 'Jump' drive allows for quick travel across the Empire's galaxy.

Can We Mine the Moon? The Top Five Things Humanity Needs to Survive In Space

Raquel Santos·November 18, 2021

What if we could take advantage of all the resources the Moon has to offer? Here are five ways we can mine the Moon, and thrive.

You Just Died. Is Your Digital Afterlife in Order?

What is the 'Digital Afterlife' and who looks after your data when you die?

Kenna Castleberry·November 17, 2021

With more people on the internet, the problem of what to do with the dead is very much a hot topic. Welcome to the digital afterlife, are you ready?

Is The Technology of Dune Possible?

The Debrief consulted with Dr. Kevin Grazier, a respected science advisor, to discuss the technology and science in 'Dune.'

Christopher Plain·November 5, 2021

The technology of Dune is way out there, so The Debrief brought in an expert to weigh in on whether Dune tech is even possible.

The Top 5 Dystopian Video Games From 2021 To Prep You For the End of the World

Raquel Santos·November 4, 2021

To help prevent the end of the world (or better prepare for it), The Debrief has put together the top 5 dystopian video games released in 2021.

Eclipsed Women: The Need for Scientist-Mothers in Popular Culture

Kenna Castleberry·November 3, 2021

Scientist-mothers are often ignored for a tenure positions or experience a significant reduction in publications, and the media isn't helping.

These 4 Technologies Can Save Humanity From A ‘Global Warming Hell World’

The Debrief takes a look into the 4 top inventions that can actually save us from climate change

Candy Chan·November 2, 2021

Climate change is going to kill us, but some have been working to fix it. The Debrief tackles the top 4 inventions that will save humanity.

Ultra-High Energy Experiments Move Nuclear Fusion Closer to Reality

Christopher Plain·November 1, 2021

Meet the man who wants to take us to the outer reaches of our solar system, and the software he designed to build the engine that can do it.

Online Witchcraft Is Popular as Hell, and It Isn’t Going Away

As science and technology continue to remain the key driving forces of the 21st Century, witchcraft is still out there and its popular as hell...

Raquel Santos·October 29, 2021

Witchcraft has a popular online following, so what does that mean for science and its coexistence with this ancient art?

‘The Expanse’ Predicts Our Future As Interplanetary Communication Will Soon Be A Reality

Matt Staples·October 22, 2021

As The Expanse Season 6 prepares to land on December 10th, we'd like to take a look at the communications technology employed in the show.

This New Deep Space Propulsion System Rides Like A Leaf on the Solar Wind

Plasma Magnet Propulsion can revolutionize interplanetary travel, we just need to ride the wind.

Christopher Plain·October 20, 2021

Wind Rider, also called a Plasma Magnet, is a solar wind catching sail that can reach the outer solar system quickly without chemical fuel.

The Chinese Accidentally Invented Gunpowder. What if it Never Happened?

Ramsha Zubairi·October 13, 2021

The history of war is tied to that of science, and gunpowder is an essential part of our development. What if it wasn't?

The Future of Education is Not Math and Science, But Curiosity and Compassion

The Debrief sat down with innovation expert and author Perttu Polonen to talk about "Future Skills," and how children need to learn for a future that has yet to be understood.

Christopher Plain·September 29, 2021

Perttu Polonen makes a case for an approach to child education that will be critical to preparing them for a marketplace defined by change.

The Experience: The Cultural Rise of Alien Abductions and Those Who Encounter Them

Former New York Times reporter Ralph Blumenthal explores the rise of the alien abduction phenomenon, and the people who experience it.

Ralph Blumenthal·September 24, 2021

Former New York Times reporter Ralph Blumenthal explores the rise of the alien abduction phenomenon and the people who experience it.

10 Modern Civilizations On The Road To Collapse

Tim McMillan·September 24, 2021

From the very moment humans started grouping in complex centralized societies, people became obsessed with the idea of civilization’s collapse. In fact, the destruction, salvation, and rebirth of society are some of the central tenets of virtually every major organized...

Inside the World’s Most Exclusive (and Strange) Anti-Gravity Club

Christopher Plain·September 22, 2021

They wanted to defy a basic and fundamental force of the universe: gravity. Welcome to the wildest bunch of scientists you've ever met.

The Dreams of Interstellar Travel and the Team Paving the Way

Part 2 of our Exclusive Interview with Dr. Harold G. “Sonny” White, and why Limitless Space Pushes Us To The Stars

Christopher Plain·September 16, 2021

Part 2 of The Debrief's exclusive interview with Dr. Harold "Sonny" White, his plans for interstellar travel, and how he plans on getting us there.

Meet The Man Behind NASA and DARPA’S Warp Drive Programs

Part 1 of an Exclusive Interview with Dr. Harold G. “Sonny” White, the Grand Duke of Breakthrough Propulsion.

Christopher Plain·September 15, 2021

Sonny White left NASA in 2018, taking his Warp Drive theories with him. Now, he's given The Debrief an exclusive interview about his work.

Tech Workers Rebel Against a Lame-Ass Internet by Bringing Back ‘GeoCities-style’ WebRings

The internet used to be the bastion of authentic creativity and self expression. This movement wants to make it suck less...

Eli Motycka·September 6, 2021

In response to today’s lame-ass Internet, mediated by big corporations, tech workers are bringing back 'GeoCities' style WebRings.

The Extraterrestrial Hypothesis: In the Debate Over UAP Origins, Scientists Wrestle With Possibilities… and Biases

As UFO interest reaches unprecedented heights, a favored theory about their origin presents new challenges for scientists.

Micah Hanks·August 30, 2021

As UFO interest reaches unprecedented heights, renewed favor for the "extraterrestrial hypothesis" reveals a new challenge for scientists.

These 7 “Star Trek” Technologies May Soon Become Reality

Star Trek inspires us to look forward, so let's do just that.

Christopher Plain·August 24, 2021

7 "Star Trek" inventions that could quickly become reality, and will let humans one day boldly go where we've never gone before.

Here Is What You Need to Know About UFOs According to the AIAA Aviation Conference

Chris Plain Takes a Deep Dive into the Top 5 Takeaways about UFOs and Flight Safety

Christopher Plain·August 20, 2021

Many recurring themes emerged during the UFO panel at the AIAA Aviation conference, so here are 'The Debrief's Top 5 Takeaways.'

UFOs: Shifting the Narrative from Threat to Science

What stands in the way of the scientific community’s taking on the challenge of discovering if any UFOs are extraterrestrial?

Leslie Kean·August 11, 2021

What stands in the way of the scientific community’s taking on the challenge of discovering if any UFOs are extraterrestrial?

When the World Runs out of Water, Will This Inventor Save Us?

After six years in ‘stealth mode,’ this new water-generating technology is finally being revealed.

Christopher Plain·August 9, 2021

As countries scramble to avoid looming water shortages, one inventor says his new device can create thousands of gallons of water a day.

The 5 Sci-Fi Tech Developments That Make Tomorrow’s Supersoldiers Totally Badass

Science fiction author S.T. Campitelli weighs in on the future of supersoldier technology

S.T. Campitelli·August 4, 2021

Supersoldiers are a common sight in sci-fi, but some very real tech developments may be changing science fiction into science fact.

Could a Human Interface Lead to the Creation of Empathic Virtual Reality?

B.K. Bass·August 2, 2021

Can virtual reality allow a human interface via simulations that create realistic experiences, complete with real emotions?

America’s Secret Bat Bomb: Dropping Exploding Bats on Japan To Win the Second World War

It Actually Worked.

Harrison Kass·July 22, 2021

“Couldn’t millions of bats be fitted with incendiary bombs and dropped from planes?" With those typed words, the US developed the "Bat Bomb."

Universal Translators: Going Beyond the Meaning of Words

Phillip Knight Scott·July 19, 2021

Universal translators allow for seamless communication between alien species in science fiction. What happens when they break?

Ancient Plagues and New Evidence That Prepared Humanity for Today’s COVID Crisis

Candy Chan·July 19, 2021

A new study reveals that the Black Death had spread much farther than previously thought. Could it be that ancient plagues taught us lessons?

Getting Around Conflicts with FTL Travel in Science Fiction

A Guest Post by author R. S. Penney and his ideas surrounding Warp and Interstellar Communication

R. S. Penney·July 6, 2021

FTL: if you want to write a space-opera, it’s pretty much a necessity. That’s why it’s such a bummer that warp is basically impossible.

Four Reasons Why China’s New Space Station Will Outpace the ISS

Candy Chan·July 1, 2021

In April, China launched the first module of its new space station. Here are 4 things you should know about Tiangong and how it rivals the ISS.

Remembering Tunguska: A Mystery Explosion that Baffles The CIA Over a Century Later

Theories Continue to Run Wild As Scientists Try to Explain the 15 Megaton Blast That Shook Sibera

Ryan Sprague·July 1, 2021

Several theories have been brought forward to explain it, but the Tunguska event remains a mystery over a hundred years later.

Meet the Man Building an Anti-Gravity Device, and the Alien God That Inspired Him

Pushed by the Frontiers of Science, The Debrief's Chris Plain Falls Down The Rabbit Hole With The Man Trying To Detect Warp Signatures and Defy Gravity

Christopher Plain·June 29, 2021

Anti-gravity, alien gods, UFOs and the frontiers of science. Genius and madness are separated by a fine line, meet the guy who crosses it.

China May Just Be Sabre-Rattling, But Its Closest Neighbors Are Preparing for the Worst

The Debrief's Harrison Kass Examines How China's Neighbors Are Gearing Up for War

Harrison Kass·June 29, 2021

China is emboldened and building up its forces, so its neighbors have begun funding deterrence and defense programs in reaction to China's rise.

The Fate of the Moon: Could Earth’s Satellite Ever Escape Its Orbit?

Micah Hanks·June 18, 2021

Could the Moon ever manage to escape Earth’s gravity? If this happened at some point in the future, where might the Moon go from there?

Wandjina: Using An Old God To Track Ancient Australian Climate Change

Violeta Matijević Bagia·April 30, 2021

Wandjina is part of Australia's cultural and geographic landscape, but the god was more than myth and may have helped track climate change.

Telekinesis Is Possible, We Just Need Technology to Do It

MJ Banias·April 29, 2021

As we continue to dive deeper into the world of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), will we achieve telekinetic powers in the digital world?

Catholic Conference to Discuss ET, A.I., and Other Life ‘Beyond Human’.

Christopher Plain·April 19, 2021

The Society of Catholic Scientists has scheduled their 2021 SCS conference, and this year's topic is literally out of this world.

You Need This Bullet (and Bomb!) Proof Flying Iron Man Suit

Jazz Shaw·April 12, 2021

TV host Adam Savage revealed that he had developed a functional "Iron Man" suit created out of titanium. Oh, and it can fly.

Top 5 Things About A.I. That This Science Fiction Writer Thinks Will Kick Ass

Eliza Green·April 2, 2021

Artificial intelligence may be a dirty word in some quarters. Yet, ask any science fiction writer, and they will shout, "It's about time!"

If Aliens Landed Tomorrow, Could We Communicate With Them?

An interview with Dr. Arik Kershenbaum, author of "The Zoologist's Guide to the Galaxy: What Animals on Earth Reveal About Aliens—and Ourselves."

Jazz Shaw·April 2, 2021

Are we alone in the universe? If not, would we even be able to communicate with aliens should the ever arrive? An interview with Arik Kershenbaum.

UAP

Future Life

Ideas

With a bit of planning, time, and a giant amount of money, we could theoretically hurl space rocks into anything.

Scientific progress may accelerate when artificial intelligence (AI) will explore data autonomously, without the blinders imposed by human prejudice.

Was Isaac Asimov traversing wormholes or going quantum? The Debrief takes a look at two theories to understand how the Foundation universe has mastered FTL travel.

What is the 'Digital Afterlife' and who looks after your data when you die?

The Debrief consulted with Dr. Kevin Grazier, a respected science advisor, to discuss the technology and science in 'Dune.'

The Debrief takes a look into the 4 top inventions that can actually save us from climate change

As science and technology continue to remain the key driving forces of the 21st Century, witchcraft is still out there and its popular as hell...

Plasma Magnet Propulsion can revolutionize interplanetary travel, we just need to ride the wind.

The Debrief sat down with innovation expert and author Perttu Polonen to talk about "Future Skills," and how children need to learn for a future that has yet to be understood.

Former New York Times reporter Ralph Blumenthal explores the rise of the alien abduction phenomenon, and the people who experience it.

Part 2 of our Exclusive Interview with Dr. Harold G. “Sonny” White, and why Limitless Space Pushes Us To The Stars

Part 1 of an Exclusive Interview with Dr. Harold G. “Sonny” White, the Grand Duke of Breakthrough Propulsion.

The internet used to be the bastion of authentic creativity and self expression. This movement wants to make it suck less...

As UFO interest reaches unprecedented heights, a favored theory about their origin presents new challenges for scientists.

Star Trek inspires us to look forward, so let's do just that.

Chris Plain Takes a Deep Dive into the Top 5 Takeaways about UFOs and Flight Safety

What stands in the way of the scientific community’s taking on the challenge of discovering if any UFOs are extraterrestrial?

After six years in ‘stealth mode,’ this new water-generating technology is finally being revealed.

Science fiction author S.T. Campitelli weighs in on the future of supersoldier technology

It Actually Worked.

A Guest Post by author R. S. Penney and his ideas surrounding Warp and Interstellar Communication

Theories Continue to Run Wild As Scientists Try to Explain the 15 Megaton Blast That Shook Sibera

Pushed by the Frontiers of Science, The Debrief's Chris Plain Falls Down The Rabbit Hole With The Man Trying To Detect Warp Signatures and Defy Gravity

The Debrief's Harrison Kass Examines How China's Neighbors Are Gearing Up for War

An interview with Dr. Arik Kershenbaum, author of "The Zoologist's Guide to the Galaxy: What Animals on Earth Reveal About Aliens—and Ourselves."