This week in news from The Debrief: a Quebec landowner says huge, mysterious stone formations on his property could point to evidence of a previously unknown chapter in Canadian prehistory. Elsewhere, in a discovery that astronomers are calling “truly extraordinary,” a powerful “space laser” mega-beam has been detected from across the cosmos. And finally, recent research funded by the U.S. Army Research Lab helped create a ‘super foam’ that absorbs ten times more energy than existing protective foams.
Along with these stories, below you’ll find the latest coverage from The Debrief on the ongoing conflict in Iran, followed by more of the latest science and technology headlines we’re covering.
US-ISRAEL WAR WITH IRAN
The U.S.-Israel campaign in Iran has led to significant confusion since it began. The Debrief is working to provide balanced views, original reporting, and news analysis—not breathless reporting and hot-takes. Here’s a look at our recent coverage, which includes news about the latest military developments, oil costs, and economic impact, and how misinformation is spreading online as the conflict escalates:
- U.S.-Iran War Update: Strikes Hit Energy Sites and Gulf Still Under Drone Fire, as Oil Spikes Near $120
Weekend strikes and missile attacks widen the U.S.–Israel war with Iran, raising fears over energy markets and escalation. - U.S.–Israel Campaign Against Iran Shifting to “Phase Two”—Here’s What Comes Next
The U.S.–Iran war enters a new phase as U.S. and Israeli forces shift strikes toward Iran’s missile factories and defense industry. - Disinformation Floods Social Media as Iran Conflict Sparks Viral Rumors
The Iran conflict has triggered a surge in online disinformation, including AI-generated imagery and unverified viral claims. - Gas Prices “Around $5 Per Gallon”? Economist Warns of Rising Fuel Costs as Conflict in Iran Escalates
In the chaos of the Iran conflict, U.S. consumers may be in for sticker shock as the destruction shreds the global energy supply chain. - The U.S.-Iran Conflict Has Had an Unexpected Impact on China’s View of American Power
China may be drawing a different lesson from the U.S.-Iran war as analysts warn against underestimating American military power.
More Recent Stories from The Debrief:
- DARPA Reveals the X-76: The X-Plane Aims to Combine Helicopter Freedom With Jet Speed
DARPA’s X-76 experimental aircraft aims to combine helicopter flexibility with jet-like speeds and runway-independent flight. - The Mysterious Origin of an ‘Ultra-Energetic’ Cosmic Neutrino Detected in 2023 May Have Been Found
The search for the origin of a mysterious ultra-energetic cosmic neutrino detected in 2023 may have finally reached a ‘blazing’ conclusion. - Mars Hit by Massive Solar Storm Delivering 200 Days of Radiation in 64 Hours
A solar superstorm recorded on Mars by the ESA orbiters reveals the hidden dangers in Mars’ upper atmosphere. - U.S. Officials Investigating “Mystery Drone” Incident Over Barksdale Air Force Base That Prompted Security Alert
Sightings of an unmanned aerial system over Barksdale Air Force Base (BAFB) early on Monday resulted in a temporary shelter-in-place order. - 163-Year-Old Wreckage of Historic ‘USS Monitor’ Revealed in Haunting New Imagery with Cutting-Edge Sonar Tech
State-of-the-art technology has revealed the 19th-century wreckage site of the USS Monitor in stunning new highest resolution images. - Unexpected Speeding Electron Discovery Could Boost the Future of Solar Power
New solar energy research has demonstrated that electrons can move across solar panels at a speed far greater than previously understood. - Forget Coffee and Energy Drinks: Experiments with Esports Athletes Reveal Caffeine-Free Beverage that Increases Concentration and Stamina
Experiments with esports players show this non-caffeinated drink combats mental fatigue in a different way than coffee and energy drinks. - The Scholarship of Comics: Scholars Argue Western Definitions of Comics Overlook Global Traditions
A new book challenges what co-editor Dr. Joe Sutliff Sanders of the University of Cambridge calls a very narrow Anglo-European idea of what comics are. - Scientists Discover “Hidden” Lifeforms Thriving Beneath the World’s Driest Desert
A recent study from the University of Cologne has revealed that microscopic soil worms called nematodes form surprisingly diverse communities throughout the Atacama. - “This Was Very Unexpected”: New Phase of Matter Discovered Where Quantum Qualities Appear in a Non-Quantum State
Researchers were shocked to discover that what was thought to be a quantum state is actually an entirely new phase of matter. - New Study Reveals Intelligence Doesn’t Come From One Part of the Brain—It Emerges From the Whole Network
New research suggests Intelligence may emerge from how the brain’s networks work together rather than a single “intelligence center.” - Forever Twilight? Satellite Mirrors Could Create Artificial Daylight From Orbit, Impeding Astronomical Observations
A new proposed satellite constellation could turn the night sky into permanent twilight, Harvard professor Avi Loeb warns. - NASA Confirms DART Mission was the First Human-Made Object to Alter an Asteroid’s Orbit
NASA says an impact from its DART spacecraft changed the orbit of an asteroid for the first time ever, offering hope for planetary defense. - This Device Promises to Mitigate Earthquake Damage in the World’s Most Vulnerable Regions
A newly patented device could protect essential infrastructure from the worst effects of earthquakes, wind storms, and even man-made forces. - Researchers Create ‘Humanity’s Last Exam’ to Test the Limits of Artificial Intelligence
Tests that once challenged advanced AI models are now being solved with ease, making it harder for researchers to pinpoint what current systems are actually capable of. - Traveling at 20% The Speed of Light: Scientists Demonstrate ‘Practical’ Light Sails to Explore the Universe
Scientists have successfully tested a material design for light sails using photonic crystals that could achieve 20% the speed of light