China Archives

Something Sparked a Technological Revolution in China 146,000 Years Ago—Archaeologists Have Now Linked It to a Mysterious Extinct Human Species

Micah Hanks·August 16, 2026

During the harsh conditions in ice age China 146,000 years ago, a remarkable survival strategy was being developed by early humans.

An Unexpected Carnivorous Plant Has Been Discovered Growing in China’s Mountain Forests

Ryan Whalen·August 5, 2026

A century and a half later, botanists are still proving Charles Darwin right in their recent identification of a new carnivorous plant.

China Develops Drones with Endless Flight Times Powered by Advanced Laser Technology

Ryan Whalen·July 30, 2026

Chinese Researchers have developed a breakthrough laser charging technology enabling drone flights of unlimited duration.

China Clears Brain-Computer Interfaces for Commercial Use: Is It Time for a Global Coalition?

Chrissy Newton·July 19, 2026

Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) could fundamentally reshape what it means to be human. Is the formation of a global BCI coalition needed?

Archaeologists Opened a Chinese Lord’s 2,600-Year-Old Tomb—and Discovered Dozens of “Deactivated” Metallic Artifacts

Micah Hanks·July 7, 2026

Why were dozens of bronze artifacts discovered within an ancient Chinese tomb "deactivated" at the time of their placement?

Convicted Harvard Scientist Rebuilds Career in China Through Controversial Brain-Computer Interface Lab

Chrissy Newton·May 19, 2026

A former Harvard professor convicted of concealing ties to a Chinese talent program now leads a state-backed brain-computer interface lab in China.

146,000-Year-Old Tool Discovery Reveals Unexpected Adaptations to Harsh Ice Age Life

Ryan Whalen·May 10, 2026

Ice Age tools dating back 146,000 years, discovered in an ancient Chinese cave, reveal surprising human adaptations to a harsh environment.

Bronze Age Artifact Made from ‘Space Metal’ Unearthed at a Sacrificial Site is Confirmed as the Oldest of Its Kind

Micah Hanks·March 24, 2026

A curious Bronze Age artifact unearthed at a ceremonial site in southwestern China has now been identified as the earliest known and the largest of its kind, according to newly published research.

The U.S.-Iran Conflict Has Had an Unexpected Impact on China’s View of American Power

Tim McMillan·March 5, 2026

China may be drawing a different lesson from the U.S.-Iran war as analysts warn against underestimating American military power.

China Advances in BCI Race with 50+ Human Implants, Real-Time Chinese Speech Decoding

Chrissy Newton·February 24, 2026

A global race to develop a competitive brain-computer interface is heating up between the United States and China.

This Ancient Chinese Mind-Body Exercise Has a Major Heart Health Benefit, New Study Finds

Austin Burgess·February 24, 2026

Recent clinical trials show that baduanjin, a traditional Chinese mind-body exercise, can lower blood pressure as much as brisk walking.

“This Isn’t Folklore; It’s Pharmacology”: Centuries-Old Traditional Medicine Could Be a Game-Changer for Hair Loss

Micah Hanks·February 10, 2026

Scientists say new research shows a centuries-old traditional Chinese herbal medicine could be a game-changer in fighting hair loss.

Droughts and Floods Weakened the Tang Dynasty Before Its Collapse, Researchers Say

Austin Burgess·January 24, 2026

New research suggests that environmental stress played an important role in weakening the Tang dynasty before its eventual collapse.

Self-Powered Soft Robots from China Could Transform Deep-Sea, Space, and Wearable Technology

Chrissy Newton·December 3, 2025

New research from Zhejiang University could reshape the future of robotics and wearable technology by enabling machines to power themselves using nothing more than ambient motion.

An Unexpected Discovery in Lunar Soil Samples Could Solve a Magnetic Moon Mystery

Micah Hanks·November 17, 2025

Scientists have made a surprise discovery in lunar soil samples that could help unravel the mystery behind the Moon’s magnetic anomalies.

Scientists Confirm Discovery of Massive Crater in China, Revealing Scale of Ancient Impacts Was “Far Greater than Previously Recorded”

Ryan Whalen·November 15, 2025

A recently discovered impact crater in China is among the best-preserved ever found, offering insight into how space rocks shaped our planet.

Social Media Influencers in China Now Need Credentials to Discuss Expert Topics

Chrissy Newton·November 3, 2025

China has introduced a rule requiring online influencers to hold formal qualifications when discussing topics such as medicine, law, education, and finance.

“The Silent Strain We See Today Could Lead to Tomorrow’s Disasters”: India’s Sinking Cities Put Millions of Lives at Risk

Ryan Whalen·October 29, 2025

India’s largest cities are sinking, which may lead to a future catastrophe with millions of lives and thousands of buildings at risk.

12,000-Year-Old Evidence Reveals Smoke-Drying Mummies Preceded Egypt’s Pyramids

Austin Burgess·September 25, 2025

A new study suggests that the people of ancient southern China and Southeast Asia practiced mummification by curing bodies over low, smoky fires.

China Says It Wants to Kill an Asteroid

Austin Burgess·September 12, 2025

According to China's space agency, the government is preparing to test a direct method of planetary defense by sending a spacecraft to collide with an asteroid.

Humanoid Robots Take the Field in China’s First “Robot Olympics”

Chrissy Newton·August 19, 2025

It's official: the intersection of robotics and competitive sports has arrived with China's three-day World Humanoid Robot Games, an event dubbed the "Robot Olympics."

A Nuclear Reactor on the Moon? U.S. Races to Deploy Nuclear Power in Space Amid China-Russia Push

Micah Hanks·August 7, 2025

A newly surfaced NASA directive reveals a fast-tracked effort by the United States to deploy a nuclear reactor on the Moon and Mars.

Chinese Researchers Develop Breakthrough System to Extract Water and Fuel from Lunar Soil

Chrissy Newton·August 7, 2025

New research reveals a process that could allow astronauts to harvest water from lunar soil during future missions on the Moon.

Chang’e-6 Returns First Samples from Far Side of the Moon, Revealing Deep Lunar Secrets

Ryan Whalen·July 16, 2025

Earth’s Moon always presents us on the surface with the same face, yet its mysterious far side features many significant differences.

Global BCI Race Heats Up as China Unveils New Policies to Accelerate Brain-Tech in Healthcare

Chrissy Newton·July 15, 2025

China has unveiled new policies to accelerate the development and adoption of brain-computer interface technology for medical purposes.

“Save NASA”: Scientists Protest Deep Cuts to Agency’s Science Programs

Micah Hanks·July 10, 2025

In our analysis this week, we look at how NASA's proposed budget would slash the agency's science division by nearly 50%.

Neuralink Hits 7 Users as Global Brain Implant Count Remains Under 100

Chrissy Newton·July 7, 2025

Elon Musk’s Neuralink company has officially implanted its N1 brain-computer interfaces in seven individuals.

Bacteria Found on China’s Tiangong Space Station Shows Unique Adaptations for Space Survival, Study Shows

Chrissy Newton·June 16, 2025

A strain of bacteria found aboard the Tiangong space station in 2023 appears to be a variety never previously identified on Earth.

China Unveils New Non-Nuclear Hydrogen Bomb, Adding Heat to Taiwan Tensions

Chrissy Newton·June 15, 2025

As tension between China and Taiwan grows daily, China’s recent development of a non-nuclear hydrogen bomb has added a new layer of uncertainty.

China’s Tianwen-2 Launches to Retrieve Samples from Mysterious Asteroid Kamo’oalewa

Ryan Whalen·May 30, 2025

On May 28, China’s Tianwen-2 launched on a sample return mission to asteroid Kamo’oalewa, before heading out for a visit with the Comet 311P.

Can the U.S. Outpace China in AI and Stop a Chip War Over Taiwan? Experts Clash Over the High-Stakes Semiconductor Race

Chrissy Newton·May 19, 2025

The U.S.-China chip war intensifies as nations grapple with export controls and strategic dominance in the global race for AI.

The Kessler Syndrome: Crisis in Space Intensifies as Thousands of Satellites Crowd Earth Orbit

Micah Hanks·May 8, 2025

This week we look at the "Kessler Syndrome," and how a chain reaction of orbital collisions could jeopardize infrastructure in space.

China Launches Three Astronauts to the Tiangong Space Station

Chrissy Newton·April 29, 2025

China has launched three astronauts into space to head to the Chinese Tiangong space station to replace the existing crew onboard.

“They Will Act as Lighthouses in Space.” China Saves Off-Course Satellites Using Gravity Slingshot After Launch Failure

Ryan Whalen·April 28, 2025

China rebounded from a failed March 2024 space mission by saving two off-orbit satellites through a novel navigation technique.

Chinese Quantum Satellite Makes Groundbreaking Ultra-Secure Transmission with South Africa

Ryan Whalen·March 21, 2025

The first quantum satellite link was established between the Chinese quantum microsatellite Jinan-1 and a South African university.

China’s Experimental ‘Flying Train’ Edges Closer to Reality—Can Hyperloop Succeed Where Others Failed?

Ryan Whalen·February 19, 2025

China’s experimental hyperloop T-Flight maglev train is advancing toward making record-breaking transportation speeds a reality.

New Senate Bill: Americans Using Chinese AI Products Could Face 20 Years in Prison and Stiff Fines

Tim McMillan·February 4, 2025

Newly proposed legislation would make it a federal crime for Americans to use Chinese AI products, resulting in hefty fines or even jail time.

New “Thermogalvanic” Cells Show 70% Increase in Cooling Power, Chinese Scientists Claim

Christopher Plain·February 4, 2025

Chinese scientists claim their newly designed "thermogalvanic" cells that use an electrochemical reaction for cooling are 70% more powerful.

Bone Powder Unearthed in Ancient Vessels Reveals New Clues About a Mysterious Early Chinese Culture

Ryan Whalen·February 1, 2025

New research has revealed bone powder was a crucial substance as ancient China's Peiligang culture emerged from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle.

Is RedNote the New TikTok? Social Media Users Are Migrating to a New Chinese App as Potential Ban Looms

Chrissy Newton·January 15, 2025

Is RedNote the new TikTok? The emerging platform is making waves on social media as a potential rival to TikTok's dominance.

As Supreme Court TikTok Ban Looms Near, New Research Highlights Growing Health Risks of Social Media for Kids

Chrissy Newton·January 12, 2025

As the U.S. Supreme Court debates whether Congress can ban TikTok, new research sheds light on the potential health risks social media platforms pose to children.

Astrophotographer Captures Mysterious Blue Flash During Avalanche

Christopher Plain·December 4, 2024

A Chinese astrophotographer says his camera captured a mysterious blue flash of light during an avalanche on Mount Xiannairi in Sichuan

China Introduces New Cardless System That Allows Payments With a Swipe of the Hand

Chrissy Newton·November 30, 2024

China has taken a step into the future with a new cardless method of payment that requires little more than a hand swipe.

China Just Activated the Most Powerful Advanced Hypergravity Machine Ever Built. Here’s What That Could Mean.

Micah Hanks·November 26, 2024

A new facility containing what has been described as “the world’s most advanced hypergravity machine” has just begun operation, according to Chinese state media.

The Oceans of Mars

This week on The Debrief Weekly Report...

MJ Banias·November 12, 2024

On this week's episode, Kenna and Stephanie decide to take a dip in a Martian ocean and discuss China's Mars expedition, and its discovery. After watching a movie and discussing brain science, they then wrestle an ancient terror bird to the ground, and ruminate on this giant fossil discovery.