This week in stories we’re covering at The Debrief, translations of a mysterious ancient Egyptian text pushed back the timescales on ancient advanced medical knowledge by 1000 years, and this is the fascinating story behind the discovery. Elsewhere, new research reveals why some people can control their dreams, revealing a surprising link between perception and lucid dreaming. And finally, an unusual ore sample uncovered in an African mine reveals the bizarre story of Earth’s two-billion-year-old natural nuclear reactor.
Meanwhile, here’s a look at all the recent stories The Debrief is covering right now:
- An Ancient “Machine Gun” May Have Been Used in Pompeii Siege, Study Finds
A new study suggests Pompeii siege damage may reveal use of an ancient rapid-fire weapon, reshaping views of Roman warfare. - “We Knew This Was Something Really, Really Special”: NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope Captures a Comet’s Destruction
NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope had a lucky day last year, just happening to capture the rare breakup of a comet for the first time. - Controversial Study Challenges Age of Famous Monte Verde Site, Reigniting One of Archaeology’s Greatest Debates
A new study questions the age of Chile’s Monte Verde archaeological site, reigniting debate over when the first people reached South America. - “You Can Create and Control This Exotic State Using Light “: DARPA-Funded Scientists Use Lasers to Create a New Exotic State of Matter at Room Temperature
Researchers using custom-fabricated nanostructures that ‘trap’ light have created a new exotic state of matter with light at room temperature. - Innovative New Design Helps Superconductors Withstand Heat and Magnetic Fields
Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology shaped the surface on which superconducting material is grown, improving its performance at higher temperatures and preserving its stability in strong magnetic fields. - The “Secrecy Paradox”: New Study Reveals the Hidden Social Game Behind “Insider Knowledge”
New study reveals how the Secrecy Paradox shapes status, spreads secrets, and drives hidden hierarchies in online communities. - Coffee and Tea Linked to Lower Dementia Risk Over Decades of Tracking
A long-term study led by researchers from Mass General Brigham found that moderate consumption of caffeinated coffee or tea was associated with a lower risk of dementia and improved cognitive performance in participants over time. - “We Want to Understand How We Got Here”: Extragalactic Archaeology is Helping Astronomers Reveal a Spiral Galaxy’s Hidden Past
Extragalactic archaeology has come of age, with astronomers for the first time reconstructing the history of a spiral galaxy. - AI Therapists May Be Doing More Harm Than Good, Study Warns
Study finds AI therapists may reinforce harmful beliefs, show bias, and fail in crises, raising serious mental health concerns. - Falling Fruit Reveals a Hidden Pact Between Plants and Pollinating Beetles
A team at Kobe University has discovered a previously overlooked dynamic between the Japanese red elder plant and a group of beetles that both harm and help the plant. - “There Was a Hole in the Ceiling”: Meteorite Smashes into Texas Home Amid Recent Rise in Space Object Reentries
A Texas woman says a meteorite crashed through the roof of her home on Saturday, following a loud boom reported by residents near Houston, Texas. - Rujm el-Hiri, Israel’s Mysterious “Stonehenge of the East” Is Not Alone, New Research Reveals
Israel’s strange Wheel of Ghosts turns out not to be so unusual after all, as new research has uncovered many similar sites in the region. - New Study Links Brain-Wave Patterns During Sleep to Dementia Risk
A new study on sleep patterns has revealed a potential key to understanding how the brain ages. - Fast-Spinning Giants Help Astronomers Distinguish Planets from Failed Stars, New Research Reveals
Distinguishing between brown dwarfs and giant planets has confused astronomers, but a clear separating factor has finally been identified. - Old-Growth Forests in Sweden Hold Vastly More Carbon Than Tree Farms, Study Finds
An international team of scientists highlights the critical role of soil in climate mitigation, raising urgent questions about the long-term consequences of industrial forestry practices. - U.S.-Iran War Update: Energy War Spreads Across Gulf, Raising Fears of a Conflict With No Clear End
Iran war expands into an energy crisis, raising global risks and making a clear end to the conflict harder to see. - NASA Scientists Finally Solve Asteroid Bennu Mystery That Left Them “Baffled”
NASA scientists trying to unravel a longstanding mystery about the asteroid Bennu believe they may have finally ‘cracked’ the case