The Intelligence Brief Archives

When Radiation Meets Metal: The Complicated Science of Material Failure

Micah Hanks·September 29, 2022

Welcome to this week’s installment of The Intelligence Brief… items in our queue this week include how a team of researchers at Sandia labs have recently undertaken studies of what causes metal and other materials to fail in extreme environments. Hence,...

Neptune’s Rings Make Rare Appearance in Surreal Images Captured by Webb

Micah Hanks·September 22, 2022

Welcome to this week’s installment of The Intelligence Brief… as new images from the James Webb Space Telescope continue to set new precedents in our ability to observe the cosmos, this week we’ll be looking at 1) striking new images...

SHERLOC Investigates Red Planet Puzzler at Wildcat Ridge

Micah Hanks·September 15, 2022

This week, the Perseverance rover's SHERLOC instrument has made potentially promising discoveries in an ancient delta that may help unravel a Martian mystery.

NASA’s DART Spacecraft Is On Its Way Toward a Collision With an Asteroid Moon

Micah Hanks·September 8, 2022

This week's Intelligence Brief examines NASA's plans to smash its DART spacecraft into an asteroiod moonlet millions of miles away from Earth later this month.

Traveling at 8% of the Speed of Light, the Strange Celestial Object S62 is the Fastest Ever Seen

Micah Hanks·September 1, 2022

In this week's Intelligence Brief, we look at a mysterious object traveling at 8% of the speed of light, the fastest object ever observed by astronomers.

Artemis Mission Has NASA Searching the Lunar South Pole for Landing Sites

Micah Hanks·August 25, 2022

This week, we examine several landing sites NASA recently proposed on the Moon's south pole for its ambitious Artemis mission.

NASA Prepares For the First Moonshot of Its Artemis Program

Micah Hanks·August 18, 2022

As NASA gears up for its Artemis mission, we look at what NASA plans to accomplish during its first test flight with its SLS rocket and the Orion capsule.

As the Length of Days on Earth Changes, Scientists Search for Answers

Micah Hanks·August 11, 2022

This week we examine what atomic clocks are revealing about changes to the length of days on Earth, and why it has some scientists worried.

Earendel: The Most Distant Star in the Universe Seen Through the Eye of Webb

Micah Hanks·August 4, 2022

The James Webb Space Telescope managed to capture images of the most distant star in the universe... this week, we take a look at that star, and the origins of its unique name.

2033 Will Mark a New Milestone as NASA Delivers First Samples From Mars

Micah Hanks·July 28, 2022

NASA has outlined its latest plans for its ambitious Mars Sample Return Program, now expected to deliver samples collected by the Perseverance rover back to Earth by 2033.

Climate Change Concerns Prompt Executive Action From the White House

Micah Hanks·July 21, 2022

This week we turn our focus toward the Biden Administration's recent executive steps toward curbing the effects of climate change.

The James Webb Space Telescope is Already Changing How We See the Universe

Micah Hanks·July 14, 2022

This week in our analysis we’ll be looking at what the James Webb Space Telescope is already revealing about our universe.

Webb First Look: NASA Drops a Teaser in Advance of Revealing Telescope’s First Images

Micah Hanks·July 7, 2022

As NASA gears up for the release of the first images captured by the James Webb Space Telescope, we look at a stunning "teaser" dropped in advance of the July 12 release.

Planetary Defense: How to Protect Earth from Deadly Asteroid Impacts

Micah Hanks·June 30, 2022

In this International Asteroid Day edition of the Intelligence Brief, we look at what NASA and others are doing to mitigate the threats of potential asteroid impacts in the future.

Voyager Spacecraft Will Soon Power Down for Their Final Mission Into the Beyond

Micah Hanks·June 23, 2022

This week, we look at two of the most iconic spacecraft ever to leave Earth and go into space in search of the unknown, and what NASA has said about the final phase of their historic mission.

Climate Change: A Challenge for U.S. National Security

Micah Hanks·June 16, 2022

This week, we examine the DOD's concerns about climate change, and what the U.S. military and its allies are doing to combat it.

The Artificial Intelligence Arms Race: Where Are We Now?

Micah Hanks·June 9, 2022

This week, we look at how current efforts at the Pentagon figure into concerns about an “artificial intelligence arms race”.

The Great Dimming of Betelgeuse: Answers Finally Emerge

Micah Hanks·June 1, 2022

A stellar mystery that has baffled astronomers may have been solved: what has been causing the "great dimming" of the star Betelgeuse?

Boeing’s Starliner Touches Down After Successful Mission to the ISS

Micah Hanks·May 26, 2022

Following the successful touchdown of NASA and Boeing’s new CST-100 Starliner spacecraft, we’ll be looking at what vehicles like Starliner may be able to provide to future orbital operations even beyond the ISS.

Congressional Hearings on UAP: Four Surprises That Came Up During Tuesday’s House Panel

Micah Hanks·May 19, 2022

In this installment of The Intelligence Brief, we’ll be looking at key points - and several surprises - that were touched on during Tuesday's Congressional hearings on UAP.

Intelligence Chief Warns of “Prolonged Conflict” in Ukraine

Micah Hanks·May 12, 2022

In recent days, DNI Avril Haines provided concerning new details on intelligence assessments about Russia’s long game in Ukraine.

Washington’s Ongoing UAP Problem

Micah Hanks·May 4, 2022

Here's what the Pentagon’s track record with UAP says about its level of transparency, and what must change going forward.

Ukraine: The Greatest Challenge

Micah Hanks·April 27, 2022

This week's newsletter focuses on recent statements by U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley, and why he believes the war in Ukraine represents a threat to the global international security order.

“Probable Threat” over the U.S. Capitol was a Close Call, but Points to Problems for the FAA

Micah Hanks·April 21, 2022

This week, an aviation incident in Washington that occurred Wednesday night has many concerned about oversight by aviation officials in the Nation's Capitol.

How The Pentagon Helped Confirm an Interstellar Object Made Its Way to Earth

Micah Hanks·April 13, 2022

This week we'll be looking at how a meteor that might have gone unnoticed was revealed to have interstellar origins, with help from the Pentagon.

War Crimes in Ukraine: The Latest Evidence

Micah Hanks·April 6, 2022

In recent days, the world was shocked by images coming out of Ukraine depicting the apparent killings of civilians in Bucha.

NASA to Get a $26 Billion Boost in Biden’s 2023 Budget

Micah Hanks·March 30, 2022

With the recent release of the U.S. government’s proposed 2023 budget, this week we look at what President Biden’s proposal will help NASA accomplish in the coming year.

Meanwhile in Russia: War Crimes, Vanishing Officials, and Defiant Soldiers

Micah Hanks·March 24, 2022

As the battle in Ukraine rages on, hopes that the conflict will soon end are now being voiced by an increasing number of Russians.

NASA’s Moon Rocket Rollout to Bring Artemis-I Mission Closer to Launch

Micah Hanks·March 16, 2022

This week, we'll be looking at what NASA engineers and technicians had to say recently about the forthcoming rollout of the Artemis I mission's space launch system.

Cislunar Patrol: Enhancing the U.S. Military’s Detection of Objects in Space

Micah Hanks·March 9, 2022

This week, we look at the Air Force Research Laboratory's plans for its new Cislunar Highway Patrol System.

Politics in Orbit: Russia and the Future of the International Space Station

Micah Hanks·March 2, 2022

Welcome to this week’s edition of The Intelligence Brief… with the battle ensuing on the ground in Ukraine, international tensions are boiling over into interesting spaces, including outer space. This week, we’ll be looking at 1) Russia’s partnership with NASA, and...