Space Archives

New NASA Video Highlights How Often Asteroids Hit Earth

Christopher Plain·November 10, 2021

After an asteroid the size of a small refrigerator recently whipped by Earth at an altitude of only 1,800 miles, significantly closer than the ring of communication satellites in geostationary orbit and only five times the average orbit of the...

New Exoplanet Hunting Tool Begins Search for Alien Worlds

Supercomputer Based System Uses Advanced Spectroscopy to Spot Earth Sized Planets

Christopher Plain·November 10, 2021

A new instrument named NEID, the NN-explore Exoplanet Investigations with Doppler spectroscopy, has come online, providing a powerful new tool to exoplanet hunting researchers looking for alien worlds. Using a spectrograph connected to the WIYN 3.5m telescope at the Kitt...

“Critical to Life” Signs of Water Found in Distant Galaxy

Christopher Plain·November 9, 2021

Researchers studying the galaxy SPT0311-58, which is over 12.8 billion light years away, say they have found signs of water. The finding is significant because it shows that water was present less than a billion years after the universe was...

Scientists Successfully Measure Exoplanet’s Atmosphere

First of it Kind Detection Seen as a Key Milestone in Search for Extraterrestrial Life

Christopher Plain·November 9, 2021

Using the Gemini South Telescope in Chile, an international team of scientists have successfully analyzed the chemical makeup of an exoplanet’s atmosphere. This measurement is the first of its kind, which astronomers say is a key milestone in the search...

This Asteroid No One Saw Coming Almost Hit Earth

Christopher Plain·November 8, 2021

An asteroid the size of a small refrigerator nearly collided with Earth on October 24th, and no one knew it was there until it was already gone. Dubbed Asteroid 2021 UA1, the hefty piece of space rock hurled over Antarctica...

Blue Origin’s Orbital Reef: A Business Park in Space?

Matt Staples·November 4, 2021

Blue Origin, founded by entrepreneur and former CEO of Amazon, Jeff Bezos, has recently announced plans to develop a commercial space station known as "Orbital Reef."

Sadly, That Technosignature From Proxima Centauri Was a False Alarm

Jazz Shaw·November 2, 2021

One of the strongest candidates to date for an alien technosignature most likely originated from a source much closer to home than Proxima Centauri, new research says.

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.

Biofuel to Power Martian Return Missions Can Be Made on Site, New Research Says

Christopher Plain·October 28, 2021

Researchers have proposed a method of creating biofuel on Mars using only sunlight, CO2, and ice on the red planet’s surface.

Breakthrough Plasma Thruster will Cannibalize Zombie Satellites for Fuel

Christopher Plain·October 27, 2021

This new plasma engine will cannibalize dead satellites for fuel and help reduce the amount of space junk in Earth's orbit.

Deep Space Food Challenge Winners awarded $450,000 by NASA

Raquel Santos·October 25, 2021

The 18 challenge winners were recognized for their creative ideas for sustainable and reliable food systems that can generate healthy and safe meals.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson Discusses Asteroids and Pilot Encounters with UAP

"They know they saw something, and their radars locked on to it," Nelson said during a recent live-stream event that touched on UAP, asteroid defense, and a variety of space-related issues.

Micah Hanks·October 23, 2021

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson recently spoke with the University of Virginia about defending Earth from asteroids, and pilot reports of encounters with unidentified aerial phenomena.

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.

We Might Be Able to Nuke an Asteroid to Save the World After All, Study Says

Jazz Shaw·October 19, 2021

A recent study by a team of scientists says that under the right conditions, a nuclear blast actually could be used to save the Earth from an incoming asteroid.

Russian Thruster Malfunction Caused ISS To Lose Control, And It’s Happened Before

The ISS is falling apart due to age and tech glitches. The Debrief explores the last 5 major incidents aboard the space station.

Raquel Santos·October 18, 2021

The ISS lost control recently when a Russian thruster accidentally fired. The Debrief examines the last 5 incidents on the station that put it at risk.

Something is Producing Radio Waves in the Heart of the Milky Way, and it Has Astronomers Baffled

Micah Hanks·October 14, 2021

Strange radio waves detected by astronomers in recent days have led some to believe that a hidden stellar object may be lurking near the center of the Milky Way.

Meteorite Slams Through the Roof of Canadian Woman’s Home, Landing on Her Pillow

Micah Hanks·October 14, 2021

A Canadian woman recently had a rude awakening as a meteorite tore through the ceiling of her home, covering her in debris and prompting a 911 call.

Probing the Icy Crust of Jupiter’s Moon Europa, Astronomers Search for Alien Life

Raquel Santos·October 12, 2021

Scientists are taking the search for extraterrestrial life beneath the icy surface of Jupiter's moon Europa.

New ‘Astroagriculture’ Research May Have Just Solved How We Grow Food on Mars

Candy Chan·October 12, 2021

New research shows that nitrogen-fixing bacteria can help plants grow better in Mars-like soils, putting us on the path to astroagriculture.

Breathing on the Moon Will Require Harvesting Oxygen from Lunar Rocks

Candy Chan·October 11, 2021

Engineers have successfully demonstrated how water and oxygen can be extracted by the heating of lunar soil. We can all breath easy now.

Mars’ Jezero Crater Was Home to a River Delta Like Those Found On Earth, New Study Confirms

Christopher Plain·October 7, 2021

An international team have determined that Mar's Jezero Crater once contained a massive river delta like those found on Earth.

NASA’s Lucy Spacecraft Zeros in On Mysterious Trojan Asteroid Swarms Following Jupiter

Micah Hanks·October 1, 2021

Lurking in orbit around our Sun and sharing a path with Jupiter are the mysterious Trojan asteroid swarms, which astronomers have now trained their sights on for future study.

Astronomers Discovered A Weird “Void” In Space, and It Has A QR Code.

Go get your phone right now!

MJ Banias·September 28, 2021

Astronomers have discovered a giant "void" in our Milky Way, and for the first time, you can use your phone to see it up close.

The Top 5 Places In Our Solar System Astrobiologists Say Aliens Would Be Hiding Their Technology

Sarah London·September 27, 2021

A top 5 list of where scientists think I can find my hot alien boyfriend, or where alien technosignatures may be hiding in our solar system.

Robot Swarms Being Developed to Mine the Moon

Candy Chan·September 21, 2021

A team of researchers plans to advance space-mining methods using swarms of autonomous robots to mine and collect minerals for space missions.

What if the Inspiration4 Crew Were Stranded in Space? Could We Rescue Them?

More people are going into space, so what happens when something goes wrong? We need a rescue plan.

Candy Chan·September 20, 2021

The world’s first all-civilian trip into space was a success, but as trips to space increase, what happens if astronauts need rescue?

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.

NASA Releases Stunning Animation of Upcoming Psyche 16 Asteroid Mission

Christopher Plain·September 16, 2021

NASA has released a stunning video animation of their upcoming mission to an asteroid, Psyche 16, over 370 million miles from Earth.

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.

The Top 3 Things From Space That Are Probably Going to Kill Us

Candy Chan·September 15, 2021

Here are the top 3 things from outer space that can potentially wipe out the human species in a few years. This is fun, right?

First Rocks Sampled by Mars Perseverance Rover Dramatically Improve Chances for Life

Christopher Plain·September 14, 2021

Tests performed on the first two rock samples collected on Mars indicate that the planet was home to liquid water for an extended period.

The Drinking Water Aboard the International Space Station Is A Cesspool, New Study Confirms

New Study Examines How Microbial Life Affects Drinking Water for Long Haul Space Missions

MJ Banias·September 8, 2021

A new study explores how multi-species microbial populations affect potable water safety during space missions proving space water is gross.

Galaxies Pass Gas, New Study Confirms

MJ Banias·September 1, 2021

New research indicates that galaxies consume gas clouds to form stars and then release polluted gases back out into their environment.

Our Solar System’s “Oort Cloud” Is Home to Countless Interstellar Visitors, Says New Research

MJ Banias·August 31, 2021

A new study says there are more interstellar objects in the Oort Cloud than previously thought, and they like wandering into our solar system.

Webb telescope micrometeoroid impacts, Hubble Tension, James Webb Space Telescope

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope Successfully Concludes Its Pre-Launch Tests

Micah Hanks·August 31, 2021

The James Webb Space Telescope, NASA’s eagerly awaited new addition to its telescope array, has successfully completed its final run of tests, according to the space agency.

China Plans To Build a Massive Several Mile-Wide Spacecraft

Micah Hanks·August 27, 2021

It has been learned in recent days that China’s National Natural Science Foundation (NNSF) is moving forward with plans to study the construction of a massive, several mile-wide spacecraft, beginning with a five year project that will examine the mechanics...

New “Hycean” Exoplanets Could Be Hiding Alien Life, New Study Says

Water water everywhere...and aliens too?

Christopher Plain·August 26, 2021

A research team has identified a "Hycean" exoplanet class that they believe makes excellent targets for the search for extraterrestrial life.

NASA Just Released One of The Most Detailed High-Def Videos of Mars, and You Need To See It

Christopher Plain·August 25, 2021

On August 17th, NASA released a nearly 3-minute video featuring a high-def panorama of the Martian surface shot by the Curiosity Rover.

Impact at Popigai: Earth’s Most Unusual Crater Documents an Epic Ancient Cataclysm

Micah Hanks·August 23, 2021

The Popigai crater, a 100-km-wide impact area in Siberia, documents events from long ago that caused one of the greatest periods of change in Earth's long history.

NASA’s Ingenuity Helicopter Has Now Completed a Dozen Successful Flights Over Mars

Micah Hanks·August 19, 2021

With another successful flight logged on Sunday, NASA's Ingenuity helicopter has now completed a total of twelve flight missions on Mars.

Mysterious Asteroid Phaethon is Challenging What We Understand About Comets

Micah Hanks·August 18, 2021

A recent study proposes that the key to a mystery surrounding comet-like asteroid Phaethon could be a salty one.

These Two Future Mars Missions Could Prove Life Thrives on the Red Planet

Christopher Plain·August 13, 2021

Dr. Ryuki Hyodo explains the MSR and MMX missions, and how their search for past and present signs of life on Mars have the potential to alter the course of human history.

Scientists Found “Complex Organic Matter” in Our Solar System, And It Shouldn’t Be There

Christopher Plain·August 10, 2021

Scientists found something weird in the inner solar system; a pair of dark red rocks seemingly covered in complex organic material.

NASA Looking For People Willing To Spend a Year Living in Simulated Martian Habitat

Tim McMillan·August 10, 2021

NASA has announced it's currently looking for people who would be willing to spend a year living in a simulated Martian habitat.

“Failed Stars” Are Being Used To Understand Exoplanets

Christopher Plain·August 3, 2021

Researchers developed a new technique to look at brown dwarfs, also known as “failed stars,” with hopes of shedding some light on exoplanets.

Harvard-Led Team Launches New Project To Investigate “Unidentified Aerial Phenomena”

The Multi-Institutional, International Research Team Hopes To Find Evidence For Near-Earth Extraterrestrial Technology

Tim McMillan·July 27, 2021

A new Harvard led project aims to find scientific proof of extraterrestrial life, including examining reports of "Unidentified Aerial Phenomena."

Curiosity Rover Finds That Signs of Martian Life May Have Been Erased

Liam Stewart·July 27, 2021

Researchers studied Martian materials collected by Curiosity, leading them to believe that proof of Martian life may have been wiped from existence.

Our Cosmic Neighbors: Is There Alien Technology in Our Solar System?

Scientists Have Been Searching for Signs of Alien Technology in Our Solar System for A Decade

Christopher Plain·July 26, 2021

Scientists have been hunting for ET in our solar system for a decade, and new efforts may prove aliens are hanging out in our cosmic backyard.

InSight Mission Shows Us What Mars Looks Like Beneath Its Surface, And It’s A Bit Weird

What do you call an earthquake on Mars? A marsquake (and no, we didn't make that up).

Candy Chan·July 22, 2021

Mars' inner structure has been unveiled by the international team of NASA's InSight mission, and some of the findings tell a curious tale.

Shields Up! White Dwarf Stellar Winds May Serve as Planetary Defense Shields

Christopher Plain·July 21, 2021

New research suggests that stellar winds produced by white dwarf stars could serve as "defense shields" for potentially habitable planets.