psychology

A Counterintelligence Nightmare: Air Force Command Received Multiple Warnings Before Accused Pentagon Leaker’s Arrest

Tim McMillan·May 19, 2023

Court documents filed by Federal prosecutors this week revealed that Air Force superiors had received multiple warnings regarding...

New Research Reveals LSD’s Mind-Altering Power To Enhance Learning and Exploratory Thinking

Tim McMillan·May 18, 2023

Researchers report they have uncovered remarkable new effects of the potent psychedelic drug lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) on human cognition, according to findings detailed in a new study. 

Pentagon Proposes Bold Move to Cut Red Tape in the Development of Breakthrough Technologies

Tim McMillan·May 9, 2023

The Department of Defense (DoD) is requesting new authorities that would allow the Pentagon to initiate the development of new breakthrough technologies without explicit pre-approval from Congress. 

Disinformation, Covert Influence, and Cyber-Espionage Still a Major Problem on Social Media, Latest Meta Report Reveals

Tim McMillan·May 8, 2023

Meta's Adversarial Threats Report offers the latest insights on how bad actors are using social media for malicious activities.

Breakthrough Smart Material Can Change Shape and Color In Response To Multiple Stimuli

Tim McMillan·April 27, 2023

Researchers have created a breakthrough smart material that can change its shape and color after being activated by heat and electricity.

The U.S. Army is Seeking Next-Gen Prototypes To Deliver HADES To Its Adversaries

Tim McMillan·April 18, 2023

The Army is looking to upgrade its aging fleet of ISR aircraft by advancing its next-generation platform known as HADES.

Hacktivists Order FBI Memorabilia and Sex Toys For Fugitive Russian Intel Officer After Hacking His Email

Tim McMillan·April 12, 2023

A group of Ukrainian hacktivists say they successfully hacked the email of a wanted Russian intel officer and ordered sex toys to his home.

New Ultrasonic Acoustic Attack Targeting Microphones and Voice Assistants Gives Remote Access to Most Smart Devices

Tim McMillan·April 10, 2023

Researchers have developed a new ultrasonic acoustic attack that can covertly give hackers remote access to most smart devices.

Pentagon Launches Classified Program To Reverse-Engineer and Exploit Emerging Tech and Cyber-Physical Systems

Tim McMillan·April 5, 2023

The DoD has launched a new classified program to find ways to both attack and defend emerging technologies and cyber-physical systems.

New Study Reveals Sharp Decline in American IQ Scores as the “Reverse Flynn Effect” Takes Center Stage

Tim McMillan·March 29, 2023

A new study found a sharp decline in American IQ scores in recent years, offering support for what researchers term the "Reverse Flynn Effect." 

DARPA Wants to Revolutionize Amphibious Warfare By Developing An Entirely New Class of Flying Boat

Tim McMillan·March 21, 2023

DARPA announced it is moving forward with plans to develop an entirely new class of flying boat for use in amphibious military operations.

Lockheed Martin Won’t Deny The Existence of This Mysterious Hypersonic Spy Plane

Tim McMillan·March 17, 2023

Lockheed Martin continues to hint that the "Darkstar" hypersonic jet in the film Top Gun: Maverick might actually exist.

Pentagon Releases Video of Russian Fighter Jet Forcing Down U.S. Surveillance Drone

Tim McMillan·March 16, 2023

Dramatic video from the Tuesday encounter between an American MQ-9 Reaper surveillance drone and a Russian fighter jet over the Black Sea.

New Quantum Computing Study Proposes First-Ever Practical Blueprint for a Verifiable Lab-Created Transversable Wormhole

Tim McMillan·March 14, 2023

A recent study has proposed the first-ever practical blueprint for a lab-created wormhole that can verifiably bridge spacetime. 

Global Allies Turn a Blind Eye to Adversarial Airborne Surveillance and UAP Despite U.S. Warnings

Tim McMillan·March 7, 2023

Despite U.S. warnings, global allies appear unconcerned by the implications of adversarial airborne surveillance or unidentified aerial phenomena.

Pentagon: No Plans To Release Images of Unidentified Objects From Recent Shootdowns

Tim McMillan·February 24, 2023

The Pentagon says it has no plans to release images of a series of unidentified objects recently shot down over the U.S. and Canada.

Webb Space Telescope’s Latest Discovery Could Completely Upend Our Current Understanding of the Universe

Tim McMillan·February 23, 2023

Images captured by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope lead to unexpected discovery that could upend our understanding of the universe.

Chinese Engineers Develop Transmedium Drone That Can Fly in the Air and Swim Underwater

Tim McMillan·February 22, 2023

A team of Chinese engineers have developed a new autonomous transmedium drone capable of flying in the air and swimming underwater. 

AI-Controlled Fighter Jet Takes Flight, Marking an Unprecedented Breakthrough in Autonomous Aviation

Tim McMillan·February 16, 2023

In a historic first, an AI-controlled fighter jet racked up more than 17 hours of flight time while autonomously executing advanced fighter maneuvers, including simulated aerial dogfights.

Discover the Next Generation of Human-Machine Teaming: A Pioneering Company, XTEND, is Looking To Disrupt the Drone Industry

Tim McMillan·February 9, 2023

XTEND, a pioneering technology company, looks to revolutionize the robotics industry by developing the next generation of human-machine teaming.

Pentagon Secretly Working To Unleash Massive Swarms of Autonomous Multi-Domain Drones to Dominate Enemy Defenses

Tim McMillan·February 3, 2023

The Pentagon is secretly developing a new program to unleash thousands of autonomous drones to dominate enemy defenses.

Mysterious Beams of Light and Curious Spirals: Hawaii’s Subaru-Asahi Star Camera Keeps Capturing Bizarre Scenes in the Night Sky

Tim McMillan·February 1, 2023

From eerie blue spirals to ghostly green beams of light, the Subaru star camera keeps capturing mysterious scenes in the night skies over Hawaii.

“Signals of Interest” Turn Up in SETI Search Aided by Citizen Scientists

Micah Hanks·December 15, 2022

Welcome to this week’s installment of The Intelligence Brief… while the big news this week involves the U.S. Department of...

The Strange Tale of Russia’s UFO Wonder Weapons Based on “New Physical Principles”

Tim McMillan·December 9, 2022

For over a decade Russia has been talking about developing "weapons based on new physical principles." An idea that apparently has its origins in the belief of UFOs.

A “Quantum Brain” Could Solve The Hard Problem of Consciousness, New Research Suggests

Tim McMillan·December 5, 2022

New research claims to have observed quantum entanglement in the brain, suggesting that a "quantum brain" might solve the hard problem of consciousness.

Is Ayahuasca Safe? New Research Examines Risks Linked to the Ancient Psychedelic Brew

Tim McMillan·November 16, 2022

New research examines the adverse health effects of consuming ayahuasca, with results offering a nuanced view of the ancient psychedelic drink.

U.S. Intel Community Is Looking To Expand Its Understanding of “Cyberpsychological” Warfare

Tim McMillan·September 27, 2022

The U.S. Intelligence Community's high-risk/high-payoff brain trust, IARPA, recently put out the word that it wants to better explore "cyberpsychological warfare."

Could Microbreaks Help Relieve Employee Burnout?

Kenna Hughes-Castleberry·September 15, 2022

Looking at microbreaks, or breaks of less than 10 minutes, researchers found these breaks to be helpful in staving off burnout.

A Meeting with ‘Oumuamua at the Venice Film Festival

Avi Loeb·September 14, 2022

On September 3, 2022, the 79th Venice Film Festival hosted a session titled “Meeting with `Oumuamua” at the Excelsior Hotel in Venice.

Researchers Bust the Myth That Cannabis Users Are Lazy

Christopher Plain·September 6, 2022

Researchers studying potentially harmful effects on regular cannabis users say they have busted the lazy stoner myth.

Solving the Hard Problem of Consciousness: Physicist Nir Lahav Ph.D. on a Relativistic Theory of Consciousness

Micah Hanks·August 24, 2022

Dr. Nir Lahav explains how a relativistic approach to the hard problem of consciousness may help us unravel some of the perplexing questions we have about the brain, and other mysteries of the mind.

Consciousness Mystery Could Be Solved By This Compelling New Physics Theory

Micah Hanks·August 12, 2022

A new physics theory proposes novel solutions to a longstanding mystery, which philosophers call the hard problem of consciousness.

Research Suggests Smartphones Could Help Improve Your Memory, But There’s a Catch

Kenna Hughes-Castleberry·August 12, 2022

A new study from University College London looked at how a smartphone could improve memory as a way to store extra information.

Don’t Think About It: How Does Our Brain Control Unwanted Thoughts?

Kenna Hughes-Castleberry·July 29, 2022

New research addressing how people cope with unwanted thoughts has revealed new strategies that may help us control the way we think.

Hearing Noises During your Dreams Might be Normal, According to New Research

Kenna Hughes-Castleberry·July 22, 2022

New research suggests that hearing noises while we dream could be far more common than scientists once expected.

In Psychedelic Therapy, The “Mystical Experience” Could Be Key

Tim McMillan·July 12, 2022

A recent study further supports that altered states of consciousness are the key to psychedelic therapy, after finding no positive impact from psilocybin microdosing.

More Optimism Leads to a Longer Lifespan, New Research Suggests

Kenna Hughes-Castleberry·July 6, 2022

Higher levels of optimism were found to be linked to longer lifespans in several participants in a new study.

“Why is He Such a Jerk?” Research Reveals Why Middle-Aged Men May Fall Into This Weird Demographic

Kenna Hughes-Castleberry·June 14, 2022

A new study from the University of Georgia has found a similarity between people with bad attitudes: many of them are middle-aged men.

Is Reality an Illusion? New Research Explores How Perception Influences Physical Responses

Tim McMillan·June 8, 2022

New research on perception feeds into the debate that reality is, fundamentally, just an illusion.

Good News About Blueberries, this Fruit Can Help Reduce Risk for Prediabetes and Dementia

Kenna Hughes-Castleberry·May 26, 2022

A recent study has linked the consumption of blueberries with lower risks of dementia as well as prediabetes.

A Genetic Mutation Can Boost Your Intelligence…But Also Cause You to Go Blind

Kenna Hughes-Castleberry·May 20, 2022

There is no standard definition of intelligence. From book smarts to street smarts, the definition of intelligence varies...

The Rise of Fictosexuality: Why People are Falling in Love with Fictional Characters

Kenna Hughes-Castleberry·May 12, 2022

Is Fictosexuality is on the rise? Thanks to one Japanese man and his recent wedding, it is becoming a more popular movement than you'd think.

Archaeologists Have Found Ancient Friendship Bracelets, Revealing the Roots of this Tradition

Kenna Hughes-Castleberry·May 10, 2022

Whether it’s a matching shirt or necklace, or our favorite video games, we love to share physical objects...

New Research Shows Another Key Feature to Identify a Psychopath

Kenna Hughes-Castleberry·May 5, 2022

New research from the University of New Mexico reveals a curious fact: psychopaths don't move their heads while talking.

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.

Research Suggests that Being Bilingual Boosts Brain Health

Kenna Hughes-Castleberry·April 26, 2022

As the brain ages, it begins to slow down many of its functions. This can lead to loss...

New Research Suggests that Green Spaces Can Promote Peace Over War

Kenna Hughes-Castleberry·April 25, 2022

Green spaces like parks or fields can help boost individual psychology and may help promote peace in a war-torn area.

Magic Mushrooms May Help Stop Opioid Addiction, New Research Suggests

Kenna Hughes-Castleberry·April 22, 2022

Psilocybin, a compound found in magic mushrooms, may be helpful in helping individuals overcome opioid addiction.

“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. 

Filtered Faces: How the Selfie is Driving Up Requests for Plastic Surgery

Kenna Hughes-Castleberry·April 18, 2022

New research suggests that individuals using a selfie to distort how they look can drive them to want plastic surgery.