NASA Issues an Artemis Update, a Teleportation Breakthrough, and Tardigrades in Martian Soil
This week, as NASA announces massive changes to its Artemis program, quantum teleportation, tardigrades, and space science are also making the news.
archaeology
60,000-Year-Old “Highly Unusual” Etchings Could Point to Humanity’s Earliest Use of Geometric Design
Evidence of early human use of geometric concepts in prehistoric art has surfaced in Africa, pointing to complex patterns in ancient etchings on ostrich eggshells.
Did Archaeologists Uncover Evidence of a Neanderthal “Skull Cult” in This Ancient Spanish Cave?
Archaeologists in Spain have discovered an odd collection of animal bones that may point to evidence of an ancient Neanderthal "skull cult."
A Mysterious Roman Artifact Covered in Odd Markings Puzzled Researchers for More Than a Century—Now AI Has Cracked Its Ancient Code
A curious ancient Roman artifact has drawn renewed attention as researchers report finally solving the mystery of its undeciphered markings.
Hidden Human Senses, a “Sophisticated” Artifact Challenges Early Timelines, and a New Webb Telescope Discovery
This week, the discovery of "hidden" human senses, an ancient Egyptian artifact discovery that challenges existing timelines, and a Webb Telescope discovery are all in the news.
5,300-Year-Old Egyptian Artifact Confirms Existence of “Mechanically Sophisticated” Drilling Technology Before the Age of the Pharaohs
Researchers have identified the earliest known "mechanically sophisticated" drill found in association with ancient Egyptian archaeology.
12,000-Year-Old Discovery in an Oregon Cave Reveals First Evidence of a “Complex” Ancient American Technology
A 12,000-year-old discovery offers a rare look at the emergence of complex technologies employed by America’s early inhabitants.
14,000-Year-Old Alaskan Site Could Rewrite the Story of How Humans Reached the Americas
Finds at Alaska’s Holzman site show how Ice Age hunters, mammoths, and tools shaped the earliest journey into North America.
Early Humans in Asia Were Making Advanced Tools 160,000 Years Ago—Upending a Long-Held Assumptions
Ancient tools from China show early humans made complex, hafted technologies 160,000 years ago, reshaping views of innovation.
Archaeologists: Half a Million-Year-Old Elephant Bone Hammer Wasn’t Made by Modern Humans
Archaeologists studying a nearly 500,000-year-old elephant bone hammer have determined the ancient tool was made by Neanderthals or another early human ancestor.
50,000-Year-Old Artifacts Unearthed at Controversial Archaeological Site Could Rewrite the Early Prehistory of the Americas
Discoveries at a controversial southeastern archaeological site could potentially push back the timelines for human arrival in the Americas.
A “Master Regulator” in the Brain, Unearthing a Major Archaeological Find, and How the Body Brews its Own Alcohol
This week in stories we're covering at The Debrief, scientists have identified a "master regulator" in the brain, and an ancient Roman factory is unearthed.
A Remarkable 7th-Century Anglo-Saxon Discovery Has Been Unearthed at a Nuclear Site in the UK
Excavations at a nuclear power site in the United Kingdom have revealed evidence of a "high-status" Anglo-Saxon burial.
Secret ‘Sonic Weapon’ Claims, a New Astronomical Mystery, and a 2000-Year-Old Toxic Surprise
This week in recent news from The Debrief, we look at claims of a secret U.S. sonic weapon, an astronomical mystery, and a toxic archaeological discovery.
2000-Year-Old Grave Reveals Mysterious Red Toxic Surprise, Confirming Once Unknown Ancient Burial Practice
The presence of a mysterious red substance has revealed a toxic discovery in a 2,000-year-old grave in southern Ukraine.
Archaeologists Have Discovered a Massive Ancient Structure in Ireland—It Could Be the Largest Prehistoric Site of Its Kind
Archaeologists have discovered one of the largest settlements ever identified in Ireland's Baltinglass hillfort landscape.
Space, Archaeology, Consciousness, and the Science of Tomorrow: The Top Science Stories of 2025
2025 has been an exceptional year for discoveries, and we here at The Debrief have kept a watchful eye throughout the last twelve months as several major scientific discoveries and important technological achievements have occurred throughout the year.
Archaeology in 2025: Here Are Several of This Year’s Most Fascinating Ancient Discoveries
Here’s a look at some of our favorite archaeological discoveries from 2025, and some of the greatest new insights we’ve obtained about the ancient world throughout the year.
Mysterious Jars Found in King Tut’s Tomb Have Perplexed Scholars for a Century—New Research Finally Reveals What They Held
King Tut’s alabaster jars have long held mystery. A new Yale study finds chemical evidence suggesting they once contained opium.
Researchers May Have Solved the Mystery Behind the Collapse of One of the World’s First Great Civilizations
New research suggests the Indus Valley Civilization was reshaped by centuries of river drought, migration, and climate stress.
A Webb Telescope Discovery “That Shouldn’t Exist,” a Mysterious Stairway to Nowhere, and Support for Near-Death Experiences
This week, JWST discoveries, archaeological mysteries, and neuroscience research into the mystery of near-death experiences are all featured in the news.
Universal Consciousness Before the Big Bang, the Launch of “UAlbany Project X”, and Extremophile Survival in Space
In news this week from The Debrief, scientists are looking at the idea of pre-Big Bang "universal consciousness," extreme organism survival in space, and the launch of a cutting-edge new UAP research initiative.
“Bronze Age People Didn’t Do That”: English Team Unearths “Unprecedented” Evidence of 4500-Year-Old Ancient Monument
British archaeologists have made a discovery they believe points to an unusual ancient monument that once stood in Northwest England 4,500 years ago.
New Study Suggests Some Neanderthals Were Victims of Targeted Cannibalism During Late Pleistocene Conflicts
New study uncovers why non-local female Neanderthals at Goyet were targeted, revealing conflict, capture, and cannibalism.
Archaeologists Uncover a Massive Bronze Age ‘Proto-City’ in Kazakhstan That Rewrites Steppe History
Archaeologists reveal Semiyarka, was a vast Bronze Age settlement, reshaping our understanding of early Steppe cities and metallurgy.
Neanderthals’ Disappearance May Not Have Been from Extinction, Controversial New Study Argues
Neanderthals may not have truly gone extinct, according to a new mathematical model that suggests they underwent genetic dilution over time.
An Odd Discovery in the Alps, a Promising New Cancer-Killer, and Our Hidden “Seventh Sense”
This week, The Debrief reports on new cancer-killing therapies, a new seventh sense, and why archaeologists have turned to the public after making an odd discovery.
5,000-Year-Old Discovery at Canaanite Cult Site Dubbed “One of Very Few Known from Such an Ancient Period”
Artifacts uncovered near the Tel Megiddo archaeological site in Israel reveal an ancient Canaanite cult and its worship practices.
4000-Year-Old Labyrinth Discovery, Dubbed “One of the Most Important Archaeological Finds” of the Century, Brings New Life to the “Myth of the Labyrinth”
A remarkable discovery in Crete has reinvigorated debate over the origins behind the ancient Greek myth of the labyrinth.
Ancient Mayan Astronomers Perfected a 700-Year System for Eclipse Prediction, New Study Reveals
New research reveals how Mayan astronomers built a precise eclipse prediction system using complex lunar mathematics.
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.
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..