DARPA’s Strange Physics, ‘Seeds of Life’ in Space, and Massive Ancient Megastructures
This week in news from The Debrief, DARPA is pursuing strange physics, and NASA's James Webb Space Telescope makes a major discovery.
archaeology
Massive Lost Prehistoric Stone Megastructures Discovered in Europe’s Adriatic Hinterland
Archaeologists uncover prehistoric Megastructures in Slovenia’s Karst Plateau, revealing previously unknown ancient European ingenuity.
5,500-Year-Old Cult Shrine Unearthed in Jordan Reveals Evidence of Crisis, Social Collapse in the Bronze Age
Discoveries at an ancient cult shrine in Jordan have revealed new evidence of how ancient people responded to crisis during the Bronze Age.
Mysterious Figurines from Sardinia’s Bronze Age Reveal an Unexpected Discovery About the Ancient World
Mysterious Bronze Age figures produced by Sardinia’s Nuraghe culture have finally had their material origins revealed.
Archaeologists Have Unearthed an Ancient Site in Turkey That May Predate the Famous Temple Site of Göbekli Tepe
Mendik Tepe, a Neolithic site recently unearthed by archaeologists in Turkey, could potentially predate the famous temple site of Göbekli Tepe.
Ancient Medicine or Something Else? Archaeologists Discover 34,000 Year Old Indigo Dye on Paleolithic Tools
Archaeologists have uncovered a 34,000-year-old mystery that's rewriting our understanding of early human behavior, and our use of indigo.
Evidence of 9000-Year-Old “House of the Dead” Unearthed at Neolithic City of Çatalhöyük, Archaeologists Say
Archaeologists excavating a Neolithic site in central Turkey believe that they have uncovered a “House of the Dead” containing human remains.
New Dating of Enigmatic ‘Petralona Skull’ Reveals Neanderthals Weren’t Alone in Prehistoric Europe
New dating reveals the Petralona Skull is at least 286,000 years old, reshaping our understanding of human evolution in Europe.
Burial Pits in France Reveal Grisly Evidence of Brutality During Warfare and Captivity in Neolithic Europe
Archaeologists in France have uncovered Neolithic burial pits, offering rare evidence of early organized violence in Europe.
Bizarre Krayt Dragon-Like “Penis Worm” Discovered in Grand Canyon Reveals Ancient Evolutionary Arms Race
A newly discovered Cambrian, "Kraytdraco," reveals a bizarre predatory 'penis worm' in an ancient arms race beneath Grand Canyon seas.
Stonehenge Mystery: Enigmatic ‘Newall Boulder’ Wasn’t Moved by Glaciers After All—Its True Origins Are Even More Striking
A discovery from England’s famous Stonehenge has now been traced to a surprising source, which upends past thinking on its origins.
12,000 Years of Mongolian Rock Art Reveal Iconic Creature’s Puzzling Transformation into a Mythic Beast—Now We Understand Why
Ancient Mongolian rock art reveals how cultural symbolism evolved with climate and society over millennia.
“There is Something Very Different Going on Here”: Archaeologists Keep Finding Gigantic Shoes at This 2000-Year-Old Roman Site
Recent excavations at an ancient Roman site in England have unearthed gigantic shoes that may be among the largest ever found.
Researchers Reveal the Surprising Reason Ancient Humans May Have Engaged in Early Fire Use
New findings suggest ancient humans in the Near East used fire to smoke meat, rather than cook it, preserving and protecting it from animals.
Secrets of a Lost Empire’s Mysterious 200-Mile “Gobi Wall” Finally Revealed
New research reveals the Gobi Wall was more than a medieval defense—uncovering its role as a strategic tool of control for the Xi Xia Empire.
Scientists Are Decoding a Mysterious Form of Writing From the Ancient Inca Empire—Here’s What It Reveals
Researchers studying an ancient form of string-writing used in pre-Columbian South America have unraveled new clues to a longstanding mystery.
Archaeologists Unearth 2000-Year-Old Evidence of Psychedelic Use by This Enigmatic Ancient Culture
Hallucinogens proved to be one of the most powerful tools of Peru's ancient Chavín Phenomenon society for maintaining hierarchy.
Is This the Tomb of Jesus? A 2000-Year-Old Site Beneath Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre Reveals Its Ancient Secrets
Archaeologists say new findings from one of Christianity’s holiest sites align with descriptions in the Gospels long associated with the tomb of Jesus.
Altar of the Storm God: Archaeologists Unearth New Evidence of an Ancient Mayan Tale of Conquest
An ancient Mayan altar in Tikal, a 2,400-year-old city in Guatemala, evidences a quasi-imperial control system before the Spanish arrival.
Who Was Entombed in the Pyramids? Surprising New Burial Discoveries Challenge Past Narratives
Researchers have located laborers beneath a pyramid in Tombos, Sudan, revealing burial was more inclusive in ancient Egypt than expected..
8,000 Years Ago, Neolithic Europeans Crossed the Mediterranean to Settle in Africa According to New DNA Evidence
European Neolithic hunter-gatherer groups traveled the sea to make their home in Africa, according to a new archaeological discovery.
1.5-Million-Year-Old “Factory” for Bone Tool Production Reveals Unexpected Cognitive Leap in Early Humans
A prehistoric "factory" discovered in Tanzania pushes human ancestor bone tool-making back by over a million years from earlier estimates.
Mind-Shattering Discovery Reveals How a Human Brain Turned to Glass in the Ancient Eruption of Mount Vesuvius
An individual who perished in the Mount Vesuvius eruption of 79 CE had his brain turned to glass under a unique set of conditions.
The Devil’s Money?
This week on The Debrief Weekly Report...
This week on The Debrief Weekly Report...
On this week's episode of The Debrief Weekly Report, Kenna and Stephanie cash out with a mysterious cult currency lost to the ages. They then discuss some interesting space news coming out of Australia, and finish off the show by listening to the healing tempo of music as medicine.
“The Devils Money”: Archaeologists Uncover a Horde of Gold and Jewelry at Mysterious Early Medieval Cult Site
Archaeologists have uncovered an early medieval cult site in the Netherlands, that features hordes of gold and jewelry.
Bone Powder Unearthed in Ancient Vessels Reveals New Clues About a Mysterious Early Chinese Culture
New research has revealed bone powder was a crucial substance as ancient China's Peiligang culture emerged from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle.
Mystery of Ancient “Wheel of Ghosts” Endures as New Research Casts Doubt on Megalith’s Celestial Alignments
The mystery of the "Wheel of Ghosts" reopens as new data demonstrating the site's shifting geodynamics undermine its suspected use as an astronomical tool.
Archaeologists Discover “Smoking Gun” Evidence of Earliest Human Companionship with Canines in the Americas
Alaskan archaeological sites reveal the origins of human-canid friendship in the Americas began 2,000 years earlier than once thought.
Oldest Alphabet Discovered in Ancient Syrian Tomb Redefines History of Writing
A research team at Johns Hopkins University has discovered evidence of the world's oldest alphabetic writing, carved onto finger-length clay cylinders, outdating other scripts by 500 years.
Ancient Interactions with an Enigmatic “Lost” Species Profoundly Shaped Early Human History, New Data Reveals
New data is revealing deeper insights into how early humans interbred with Denisovans in several distinct events that significantly shaped our early history.
Archeologists Spar with Ancient Spears to Uncover Lost Combat Knowledge
A team of archaeologists recently explored prehistoric combat to shed light on how ancient warriors of the European Bronze Age fought.
Easter Island Mystery Debunked: New Study Disputes “Ecocide” Theory and Island’s Supposed Dark Past
New genetic research helps debunk a popular theory about Easter Island and the mysterious decline of its indigenous population.
New Research Reveals Fear’s Hidden Role in Shaping Early Civilizations
Fear may have more significantly influenced the development of early civilizations than previously known, new research shows.
An Unexpected Discovery Could Rewrite the History of Cocaine Use in Europe
A surprise discovery reveals cocaine may have been widely available and used in Europe, centuries earlier than previously thought.
Mystery of Göbekli Tepe Deepens as Scientists Search for Clues to Ancient Site’s Strange Symbols
A controversial new paper says Göbekli Tepe may be the world's oldest calendar, reigniting debate over the 11,500-year-old megalithic site.
Scientists Have Located ‘Hidden Elements’ Recovered from Early Astronomer Tycho Brahe’s Alchemy Laboratory
Recent discoveries are shedding light on the ingredients used by early astronomer and alchemist Tycho Brahe in his experiments.
Evidence of Ancient Human Interactions with Intelligent “Lost” Species Offers Clues to Their Mysterious Disappearance
New research is revealing insights into the genetics of modern humans, while offering clues to the mysterious disappearance of the Neanderthals.
2,500-Year-Old Graffiti Points to Existence of a Lost Ancient Greek Temple
Researchers have uncovered unique graffiti that may indicate there once stood a massive Greek temple since been lost to history.
Paradigm Shift: Odd Artifacts and Archaeological Mysteries
This week we examine archaeological discoveries that are causing many experts to revisit old perplexing questions about cosmic-scale events that occurred long ago, as well as questions over who may have been among the earliest to arrive in North America.
7000-Year-Old Evidence of a Mysterious Cosmic Event is Helping Reveal the Secrets of an Ancient European Settlement
Data from an ancient cosmic event has helped researchers accurately date a prehistoric settlement in northern Greece.
Archaeologists Unearth New Clues That Could Help Solve Centuries-Old “Lost Colony” Mystery
New evidence uncovered by archaeologists is bringing researchers closer than ever to revealing the fate of the famous Lost Colony of Roanoke.
1600-Year-Old Stone Inscribed in Mysterious Ancient Language Unearthed in Accidental Discovery
A peculiar stone inscribed with a mysterious ancient language is revealing new insights to the ancient history of the British Isles.
Deep Within These Ancient Lava Tube Caves, Archaeologists Have Made an Unprecedented Discovery
Archaeologists say remarkable archaeological discoveries are being unearthed deep within ancient lava tube caves in northern Saudi Arabia.
75,000-Year-Old Neanderthal Woman’s Facial Reconstruciton Sheds New Light on Our Archaic Human Ancestors
Archaeologists from The University of Cambridge have unveiled the reconstructed face of a 75,000-year-old Neanderthal woman.
Mysterious Roman Dodecahedrons Have Baffled Researchers for Centuries. These Theories Could Help Solve the Mystery.
The mysterious Roman dodecahedrons have baffled researchers for centuries. Now, recent discoveries could be moving archaeologists closer to unraveling their mystery.
Dentist Makes an Unsettling Discovery in the Floor of His Parents’ Newly Renovated Home
An unsettling discovery in a renovated home reveals how evidence of the ancient past may quite literally be hidden right under our noses.
New Evidence Reveals Humans Arrived on This Caribbean Island Far Earlier Than Previously Thought
Humans may have occupied the Caribbean island of Curaçao as much as 850 years earlier than previous estimates.
Ancient Cult Site Unearthed by Archaeologists May Have Been Devoted to Persian Water Goddess
Archaeologists say they have located an ancient fortification that was once a possible cult site devoted to a Persian water goddess.
3000-Year-Old Discoveries at Philistine Temple Reveal Psychoactive Rituals Linked to Mother Goddess Cult
Botanical remains and archaeological evidence from a 3,000-year-old temple in Israel are shedding light on the mysterious ancient Philistines.
5,000-Year-Old Smashed Skull of Vittrup Man Tells Violent Story of an Ancient Ritual Sacrifice
A new study into the enigmatic Vittrup Man reveals new clues about his origins and the harsh way of life that led to his death millennia ago.