artificial intelligence

UK Launching “high risk” Scientific Agency ARIA to take “great leaps into the unknown”

ARIA To Rival US Based DARPA In Developing Cutting-Edge and Novel Technology.

MJ Banias·February 19, 2021

The UK has just announced the spending of £800 million over five years on ARIA, a "high risk" science agency designed to take "great leaps into the unknown."

William Shatner Says We’ll Find Life on Mars and That We Are Not Alone

The Debrief sat down with the actor to talk about his TV show, extraterrestrials, and the mysteries he finds compelling.

MJ Banias·February 10, 2021

The Debrief interviewed the most famous science fiction icons, William Shatner, and his belief that there is life on Mars and that we are not alone.

New Research Says AI Can Determine Who Will Die From COVID-19

Tim McMillan·February 8, 2021

By showing AI can predict with 90% certainty who will die from COVID-19, researchers hope the info can be used for issuing vaccines.

Super Intelligent AI May Be “Uncontrollable,” says new study

Mike Damante·February 3, 2021

According to a new study, the actions of superintelligent AI may be hard to predict, making them uncontrollable. 

Spirit AeroSystems’ “Loyal Wingman” Crewless Fighter Jet Will Transform Battlespace

Graeme Rendall·February 1, 2021

Spirit AeroSystems is leading a team to develop a prototype of the UK's first crewless fighter aircraft, dubbed "Loyal Wingman."

China’s SETI Program Will Find Alien Life First, Says Chinese Astronomer

Ryan Sprague·January 26, 2021

Zhang Tongjie, a Chinese cosmology professor, believes that China's SETI Program will be the first to find an alien transmission.

Section 31: The Military Coders Who Hacked How We Track Objects in Space 

MJ Banias·January 21, 2021

Section 31 is a group of coders that have hacked their way into keeping track of all objects in Earth's orbit, both known and unknown.

Air Force Says Second B-21 Raider Currently In Production

Tim McMillan·January 18, 2021

The Air Force recently announced the production of a second B-21 Raider, and revealed first flight for the stealth bomber should come in 2022.

Brain Implants Allow Quadriplegic Man To Feed Himself

AI, robotic limbs, and brain implants allow a paralysed man to eat a Twinkie.

Christopher Plain·January 15, 2021

Researchers developed brain implants and AI-controlled limbs that allowed a quadriplegic man to feed himself using his thoughts.

New Study Shows Robots May Be Able to Have ‘Empathy’

Researchers develop a robot that can predict the actions of another based purely on visual cues.

MJ Banias·January 11, 2021

A new study from Columbia University has proven that a robot can anticipate another robot's actions based solely upon visual cues. Empathy may be next.

New Commercial Satellite’s Images Are So Clear They Raise Privacy Concerns

Ryan Sprague and MJ Banias·December 19, 2020

Capella Space just announced that it has created a satellite so powerful that it can see through walls and take crystal clear photos anywhere.

Japan Invests $48 Billion in Development of “Metamaterial” F-X Stealth Fighter

Collin Jones·December 17, 2020

Japan has announced its partnership with defense giant Lockheed Martin in an effort to build a sixth-generation F-X...

The Internet of Military Things, and a Former CIA Director on UFOs

Micah Hanks·December 16, 2020

The U.S. Air Force is moving towards an “Internet of Things” on a military scale, and former CIA director John Brennan weighs in on the debate over UFOs in Navy videos.

Here Goes the Air Force’s ‘Big News’

Tim McMillan·December 16, 2020

For nearly two weeks, the Air Force has been teasing some big news was coming. Now, today, the Air Force have announced jsut what it is.

Ex-Israeli Space Chief’s ‘Galactic Federation’ Based on Alien Conspiracy Theories

In a recent interview, Israeli journalist Raanan Shaked provides more insight into former Israeli Space Chief Haim Eshed's controversial claims about aliens

Tim McMillan·December 15, 2020

In a recent interview, Israeli journalist Raanan Shaked provided insight into former Israeli Space Chief Haim Eshed's controversial claims about a "Galactic Federation" and aliens.

Hackers Linked to Russia Targeted Federal Agencies in Massive Security Breach

Cybersecurity experts say modernization of IT infrastructure and AI-based systems may help prevent future attacks.

Micah Hanks·December 14, 2020

Cybersecurity experts say modernization of IT infrastructure and AI-based systems may help prevent future attacks.

Reaching New Heights

Micah Hanks·December 9, 2020

Mount Everest is now two feet taller, and as The Debrief team also continues to grow, we look at developments in the world of defense in this week's Intelligence Brief.

The Question that Got Google’s Timnit Gebru Fired: Can an AI Model Be Too Big?

Adam Kehoe·December 9, 2020

Last week, Google Timnit Gebru, a leader in its ethical AI team. Today, AI experts and ethicists are pondering what this means for the future.

DeepMind Makes AI History By Solving “Protein Folding Problem”

The achievement will likely have a significant impact on the future of computational and molecular biology.

Adam Kehoe·December 3, 2020

On Monday, DeepMind Technologies announced a major breakthrough in what is known in computational biology as the "protein folding problem."

Boldly Going, Rebelliously Curious: Our Mission Statement

Welcome to The Debrief, where we cover science, technology, defense, and the world of tomorrow.

Micah Hanks·November 30, 2020

Welcome to The Debrief, your source for reporting on science, technology, defense, and the world of tomorrow.

Pope Francis Calls for Prayers as AI Research Progresses

The pontiff says robotics "can make a better world possible."

Admin·November 12, 2020

The Pope’s statement underscores the fundamental uncertainty that surrounds projections for robotics and machine learning in the coming years.

Tomorrow’s Future: How Science Fiction Predicted Social Media and the World of the 21st Century

Science fiction luminary Frederick Pohl saw the world of tomorrow decades before it ever arrived.

Admin·July 27, 2020

Science fiction luminary Frederick Pohl saw social media and innovations of the world of tomorrow decades before they arrived.

Scientists Uncover the Terrifying Psychological Impact of the Mysterious Aztec Death Whistle

Tim McMillan·November 21, 2024

New research reveals that the sounds from the mysterious Aztec death whistle has an "aversive" and "scary" impact on the brain.

Earth-like Planet Discovery Near Distant White Dwarf Offers Clues to Earth’s Future

Avi Loeb·September 7, 2024

The discovery of an Earth-mass planet around a white dwarf based on gravitational microlensing could offer clues to the future of Earth and our Sun.

Interstellar Sun-Divers: Probing the Sun’s Corona for Exotic Artifacts

Avi Loeb·August 19, 2024

NASA's Parker Solar Probe and other space observatories could be used to study interstellar "Sun-divers." What else could they reveal?

Breakthrough in Robotics: New Actuator Mimics Human Muscle Allowing For Safer, More Flexible Robots

Tim McMillan·July 11, 2024

Engineers develop breakthrough actuator that mimics human muscle, allowing for the advancement of softer, safer robots.

Julian Assange, Famous and Controversial Wikileaks Founder, is a Free Man

Micah Hanks·June 27, 2024

This week Julian Assange, the famous founder of Wikileaks, finally returned to his home in Australia a free man.

Emergency on the ISS? Disturbing Audio Led to Concerns About a Medical Situation in Space

Micah Hanks·June 13, 2024

This week, we examine an incident that unfolded this week that led to concerns about a possible medical emergency on board the International Space Station. 

DARPA’s Secretive New Neutrino Detector Program Could Be A Game-Changer for Global Underwater Military Surveillance

Tim McMillan·June 12, 2024

DARPA is aiming to revolutionize global military surveillance and underwater communication using neutrino detection technology.

NASA’s Experimental X-59 “Quiet” Supersonic Aircraft Moves One Step Closer to Flight

Micah Hanks·May 16, 2024

This week, we examine NASA's efforts to bring quiet supersonic flight to commercial aviation as its X-59 experimental aircraft faces its most crucial challenges yet. 

Leaked Document Reveals Russia’s Latest Efforts to Weaken the West

Micah Hanks·April 18, 2024

This week we examine a newly leaked secret document outlining Russia’s aims to wage a campaign aimed at weakening the U.S. and other western nations.

The Pentagon’s New UAP Report is Seriously Flawed

Christopher Mellon·April 12, 2024

In an exhaustive analysis, Christopher Mellon breaks down why the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office's new UAP report is seriously flawed.

Game-Changing Design a Major Breakthrough in the Development of Muscle-Powered “Biohybrid Robotics”

Tim McMillan·April 11, 2024

New MIT flexure design could be a game-changer for biohybrid robotics and the development of muscle-powered machines.

Fragmented Facts: AARO Report Unearths Odd Claims Involving U.S. Recovery of Material From 1952 UFO Incident

Micah Hanks·March 12, 2024

Was a fragment shot off a UFO near Washington D.C. in 1952? There may be more to this seemingly dubious story than meets the eye... but you wouldn't know that from reading AARO's recent, deeply flawed historical report.

All Habitable Worlds Come to an End

Avi Loeb·December 12, 2023

How many tragedies of alien civilizations on habitable worlds have we missed over the 13.8 billion years that elapsed since the Big Bang?

AI Can Read Cuneiform Now

This week on The Debrief Weekly Report...

MJ Banias·November 29, 2023

On today’s episode, we discuss an ancient discovery into human wearable technology, how AI is now being used to decipher ancient cuneiform tablets, and why NASA wants to grow food in lunar soil.

Thanksgiving in Space

Micah Hanks·November 23, 2023

In this holliday edition of The Intelligence Brief, we’ll be taking a look at the history of astronauts celebrating Thanksgiving in space.

Eerie Glows and Electron Beams: What Were NASA’s ‘DISSIPATION’ and ‘BEAM-PIE’ Missions Investigating Over Remote Alaska?

Micah Hanks·November 10, 2023

NASA's DISSIPATION and BEAM-PIE missions recently launched a pair of rockets to investigate auroras and other phenomena over Alaska.

Can You Tell the Difference? Unsettling Study Reveals AI’s Aptitude For Producing Disinformation

Tim McMillan·July 25, 2023

New study explores how AI text generators impact information perception and whether people can tell AI-generated truth from disinformation.

Gravitational Waves Could Soon Revolutionize the Hunt for Intelligent Alien Civilizations. Here’s How.

Conor Feehly·July 12, 2023

Scientists say that gravitational waves could play a more significant role in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) in the decades ahead. Here's why.

It’s Time To Rethink Some Common Assumptions About UFOs

Michael Glawson, Ph.D.·May 17, 2023

Professor of philosophy Michael Glawson, Ph.D., offers perspectives on common assumptions we have about UFOs, and why they need to change.

Classified Document Leak Reveals Presence of Western Special Forces in Ukraine, and Much More

Micah Hanks·April 13, 2023

This week we analyze a recent U.S. classified document leak that reveals new details on Western allies and the war in Ukraine.

Mk-II Aurora Space Plane Completes Its First Rocket-Powered Flight, Sets Pace for Orbital Program

Micah Hanks·April 6, 2023

This week, we take a look at the successful rocket-powered test flight of the new Mk-II Aurora space plane by Dawn Aerospace.

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. 

China Isn’t Giving Lethal Aid to Russia… Yet. Here’s What U.S. Officials Know.

Micah Hanks·February 23, 2023

This week's Intelligence Brief newsletter examines the Pentagon's recent statements on whether China plans to provide lethal aid to Russia.

Science Is Better Than Politics and Popularity Contests

Avi Loeb·February 8, 2023

The elemental composition of the first interstellar meteor will be decided by a mass spectrometer, not by the number of likes it gets on Twitter. 

These Are the Top 5 Places and Times Humanity is Likely to Discover Extraterrestrial Life

Christopher Plain·January 24, 2023

Here are the Top Five places humanity is most likely to find signs of extraterrestrial life and when those discoveries could take place.

“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 State of the Universe: Lost Civilizations from Our Cosmic Past  

Avi Loeb·November 22, 2022

Future interstellar travel could reveal that the "State of the Universe" is far more significant than our present concerns over worldly political matters at home.

Jacques Vallée: Pursuing Unidentified Aerial Phenomena and ‘Impossible Futures’

Micah Hanks·October 7, 2022

The 83-year-old scientist tells The Debrief what more than six decades of studying aerial mysteries have taught him about UAP phenomena and the scientific process.