News Archives

U.S. Officials Investigating “Mystery Drone” Incident Over Barksdale Air Force Base That Prompted Security Alert

Micah Hanks·March 9, 2026

Sightings of an unmanned aerial system over Barksdale Air Force Base (BAFB) early on Monday resulted in a temporary shelter-in-place order.

One in Two Americans May Be Living with a Neurological Disorder, New Study Finds

Chrissy Newton·November 26, 2025

More than half of Americans, roughly 54% of the population, are living with a neurological disease or disorder, according findings detailed in a new study.

Google Has a New ‘Preferred Sources’ Feature—Here’s How to Add The Debrief and Never Miss the Latest Science and Tech News

Micah Hanks·October 14, 2025

Google's new “preferred sources” feature allows users to pick their favorite news sources. Here's how to add The Debrief to your favorites.

U.S. Army Secretary Refers to Astronaut “On the Moon Who’s a Soldier,” Igniting Secret Space Program Conspiracies

Micah Hanks·June 13, 2025

An odd statement by U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll this week ignited speculations about secretive U.S. military operations on the Moon.

Breakthrough Prize 2025: What to Know About the Awards Dubbed ‘Oscars of Science’

Chrissy Newton·April 7, 2025

The 11th annual Breakthrough Prize recently honored pioneering researchers alongside Hollywood icons in a star-studded ceremony in Santa Monica.

New Drug May Revolutionize Stroke Recovery by Replicating Rehab Effects

Chrissy Newton·March 19, 2025

For the first time, researchers have suggested a breakthrough drug that could fully replicate the benefits of physical stroke rehabilitation.

Northrop Grumman Equips South Korea with New Helicopter-Mounted Mine Detectors

Ryan Whalen·February 26, 2025

Northrop Grumman reached a deal with Hanwha this week to provide helicopter-mounted Airborne Laser Mine Detection Systems.

Lost for 3,500 Years, Archaeologists Unearth Long-Missing Tomb of Pharaoh Thutmose II

Ryan Whalen·February 24, 2025

A Pharaoh's tomb belonging to Thutmose II, lost in the depths of the Western Valleys of the Theban Necropolis, has been discovered.

Research Shows Classical Music Can Soothe Fetal Heart Rates, Promoting Healthy Development

Chrissy Newton·February 6, 2025

New research reveals classical music can help calm fetal heart rates, potentially offering developmental benefits to babies in the womb.

Bird Flu Evolution is Driven by Large-Scale Poultry Vaccinations, New Study Finds

Ryan Whalen·January 27, 2025

Large-scale poultry vaccinations may be driving bird flu evolution, according to a concerning new international study.

1,100 Pound Space Object Falls from the Sky in Kenya, Fueling Misinformation

Chrissy Newton·January 8, 2025

A mysterious space object that crashed into a remote area of Kenya has led to widespread speculation online.

New Research Shows Suicide Rates Do Not Spike During the Holiday Season

Kenna Hughes-Castleberry·December 13, 2024

New research by the Annenberg Public Policy Center suggests that suicide rates do not increase around the holiday season.

China Introduces New Cardless System That Allows Payments With a Swipe of the Hand

Chrissy Newton·November 30, 2024

China has taken a step into the future with a new cardless method of payment that requires little more than a hand swipe.

Experts Warn Quality of Non-Partisan Governmental Data May Soon Decay. Here’s Why.

Ryan Whalen·July 13, 2024

A new study finds that America's statistical data is under threat, not from cyber criminals but from bureaucratic mismanagement.

Elon Musk Announces Second Neuralink Brain Implant Scheduled for Next Week

Chrissy Newton·July 12, 2024

Elon Musk says Neuralink will implant its brain-computer interface system in a second human patient next week.

The Vatican Has Updated Its Guidelines for Evaluating Apparitions and Supernatural Phenomena. Here’s What That Means.

Micah Hanks·May 20, 2024

For the first time in decades, the Vatican has updated its process for evaluating visions of the Virgin Mary and other alleged supernatural phenomena.

NASA Has Concluded Its Investigation of a Mystery Object That Crashed Into a Florida Home Last Month

Micah Hanks·April 15, 2024

An object that struck a home in Florida last month has been confirmed by NASA to have been released from the International Space Station.

Military Officials Tracking High-Altitude Balloon Spotted Over Western United States (Updated)

Micah Hanks·February 23, 2024

A high-altitude balloon is being tracked over the Western United States, according to officials who spoke on Friday with knowledge of the matter.

200-Million-Years Ago, These Winged ‘Dragons’ Glided Through England’s Ancient Skies

Micah Hanks·January 22, 2024

On an ancient subtropical island that once existed near modern-day South West England, a species of winged creatures that closely resembled tiny dragons once thrived, new research has revealed.

Unknown Object Punched “Softball Sized Hole” in Aircraft, Prompting Emergency Landing and FAA Investigation

Micah Hanks·January 19, 2024

The FAA is investigating an incident that prompted the emergency landing of an Atlas Air flight at Miami International Airport late Thursday evening, leaving a hole above one of its engines.

Japan Airlines Plane Erupts into Flame After Collision with Coast Guard Aircraft at Tokyo Airport

Micah Hanks·January 2, 2024

A fiery scene unfolded at Haneda Airport in Tokyo on Tuesday as a Japan Airlines jet erupted into flames after a ground collision with a Japan Coast Guard aircraft.

New Survey Reveals Differences Along Political Lines on Social Media Content Removal

Chrissy Newton·November 3, 2023

A recent survey that reveals how partisan interests and biases influence the debate over the deletion of content on social media sites.

Israel-Hamas War: These Are the Israeli-Palestinian Advocacy Groups Bringing Peacebuilding to Social Media

Chrissy Newton and Marie Nicola·October 19, 2023

Mediation-oriented groups and non-profits are leading by example and urging fellow Israelis and Palestinians to come together and find a mutual solution to end the war.

WiFi Signals May Soon Be Used to Watch You

MJ Banias·September 15, 2023

New research shows WiFi signals that can read through walls, presenting profound implications for the future of communication and security.

Mystery Surrounds Deaths of Three Marines Found Near Camp Lejeune

Micah Hanks·July 25, 2023

The deaths of three U.S. Marine lance corporals found near Camp Lejeune remains unclear two days after their bodies were first discovered.

Discovery of “Debris Field” Announced by U.S. Coast Guard in Search for Missing Submersible

Micah Hanks·June 22, 2023

A debris field has reportedly been discovered by searchers involved in the effort to recover a missing submersible that was lost on Sunday near the vicinity of the Titanic wreckage.

Rescue Teams Race Against Time in Search for Missing Submersible Near Titanic Wreck

Micah Hanks·June 20, 2023

The search for a submersible craft with five people aboard remains underway after disappearing near the wreckage of the famous Titanic.

Our New Podcast ‘The Debrief Weekly Report’ Covers Today’s News and the Science of Tomorrow

"The Debrief Weekly Report", a science news podcast for those who think about tomorrow, will have you girding your ions.

MJ Banias and Stephanie Gerk·January 30, 2023

The Debrief is excited to announce the launch of a brand new weekly news podcast, The Debrief Weekly Report, hosted by MJ Banias and Stephanie Gerk.

China Says They Are Solving a Major Hypersonic Hurdle with Metamaterials and WiFi

At hypersonic speeds, communication is impossible. Or, at least it was...

MJ Banias·January 20, 2023

The Chinese government announced it has allegedly solved the issue of communication for hypersonic missiles and aircraft using WiFi and metamaterials.

Want to be the next Elon Musk? There’s a College Degree For That Now

Mike Damante·June 10, 2021

ASU now has a 12-month program in Executive Master of Global Management: Space Leadership, Business, and Policy to train a future Elon Musk.

Blast from the Past: Astronomers Detect “Extreme” Event From Proxima Centauri

Micah Hanks·April 23, 2021

Astronomers have observed an “extreme” flaring event on Proxima Centauri, which they believe to be the largest the star has ever been seen to produce.

Neuralink Founder Says We “Could Build Jurassic Park.” Should we?

Mike Damante·April 7, 2021

Neuralink co-founder Max Hodak tweeted, “We could probably build Jurassic Park if we wanted to.” Is it even possible to bring dinosaurs back?

Biden Pledges To Nearly Triple Science Research Funding

Tim McMillan·March 26, 2021

During his first press conference, U.S. President Joe Biden said his administration was planning to invest heavily in science, pledging to increase federal funding for scientific research “closer to 2%” of America’s overall GDP. “Back in the ’60s, we used to...

Richard Garriott Becomes First Astronaut and Polar Explorer to Visit Mariana Trench

Micah Hanks·March 23, 2021

Richard Garriott has become first person to have visited the Mariana Trench, both poles of the Earth, and also fly aboard the International Space Station.

New Cancer Treatment Uses A Mini CERN Particle Accelerator To Blast Tumors With Ion Beams

MJ Banias·February 26, 2021

The Next Ion Medical Machine Study uses CERN particle accelerator technology to build next gen ion accelerators to treat cancerous tumors.

Europe At The Forefront of Hypersonic Missile Defense

Germany joined its European allies this month in the space based hypersonic missile defense system, TWISTER.

Christopher Plain·December 23, 2020

Europe may be technologically poised to lead the world in defense against future hypersonic missiles via its space-based TWISTER program.

New ‘Comet Chaser’ Spacecraft Will Lurk in Orbit Waiting for A Target

Part of the European Space Agency’s Comet Intercept mission, the proposed vehicle would lurk in an orbital “dead zone” for years before selecting its target.

Christopher Plain·December 20, 2020

Part of the European Space Agency’s Comet Intercept mission, a 'comet chaser' probe will lurk in orbit waiting for a target to come along.

New Commercial Satellite’s Images Are So Clear They Raise Privacy Concerns

Ryan Sprague and MJ Banias·December 19, 2020

Capella Space just announced that it has created a satellite so powerful that it can see through walls and take crystal clear photos anywhere.

High Tech MXene Fabric Being Developed to Stop “Havana Syndrome” Attacks

MXene can absorb and reflect electromagnetic waves, and researchers claim it can keep spies and diplomats safe from microwave attacks.

Christopher Plain·December 16, 2020

MXene can absorb and reflect EM waves, and researchers claim it can keep spies and diplomats safe from microwave attacks, dubbed "Havana Syndrome."

Cutting-Edge Simulation Technology Being Developed for Military Training

Combining real-life historical military engagements with modern simulation technology, the program is touted as “the ultimate tool for military education and battle analysis."

Christopher Plain·December 16, 2020

With hopes of improving the training of future U.S. military leaders, researchers at Purdue University have developed a cutting-edge simulation program that offers students a virtual reality 3-D tour of the famed WWII D-Day battle at Normandy, France. By taking...

Star Trek Style “Tricorder” App Turns iPhone into a DNA Sequencer

iGenomics App Able to Sequence DNA on a Mobile Device

Collin Jones·December 7, 2020

Scientists from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have developed a mobile DNA sequencer reminiscent of the "tricorder" featured in Star Trek.

Elon Musk Says SpaceX Will Have Humans on Mars by 2026

Ryan Sprague·December 7, 2020

Last week, Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, said that he is confident that his company will be launching a crew to Mars by 2026.

DeepMind Makes AI History By Solving “Protein Folding Problem”

The achievement will likely have a significant impact on the future of computational and molecular biology.

Adam Kehoe·December 3, 2020

On Monday, DeepMind Technologies announced a major breakthrough in what is known in computational biology as the "protein folding problem."

Is There Life on Mars? New Study Says It’s Probably Underground

MJ Banias·December 3, 2020

A new study concludes that if life ever existed on Mars, it would have to dwell well below the planet's surface.

New Findings May Place the Asteroid Apophis Within Striking Distance of Earth

Apophis May Strike Earth in 2068 Due to Yarkovsky Effect.

MJ Banias·December 2, 2020

New data presented in late October indicates that the 340-meter-wide Apophis asteroid may drift much closer to Earth than initially thought.

Researchers Want to Build A Laser ‘Tractor Beam’ to Control Weather

A New Study Proposes Using Lasers to Manipulate The Path of Lightning.

MJ Banias·December 1, 2020

A new study by an international team of scientists proposes using lasers to create a tractor beam to manipulate lightning during storms.

DARPA’s Dream of a Tiny Robot Army Is Close To Becoming a Reality

DARPA edges closer to its dream of having 250 AI drones for urban warfare environments.

Tim McMillan·December 1, 2020

DARPA edges closer to its dream of having 250 AI drones for urban warfare environments.

Astronomers Analyze A Rare 470 Year Old ‘Baby’ Magnetar

Swift J1818.0−1607 Is A Rare Magnetar But Its Even More Special Because Its Just A Baby.

Chris Rutkowski·November 30, 2020

Astronomers analyse a 470 year old "baby" cosmic object known as a magnetar using the Chandra X-ray Observatory.

Kidon – Israel’s Shadowy Group of Elite Killers

The assassination of Chief Iranian Nuclear Scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, bear all the hallmarks of Mossad's expert group covert killers.

Tim McMillan·November 30, 2020

The assassination of Chief Iranian Nuclear Scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, bear all the hallmarks of Mossad's expert group covert killers- Kidon.

This Lava Exoplanet is Comprised of Burning Rock

Things are looking rocky on K2-141b.

MJ Banias·November 10, 2020

Scientists used simulations to map out the surface conditions of the lava exoplanet K2-141b, a world where it rains burning rocks.