laser Archives

Huge Stone Structures in Quebec, the Discovery of a “Space Laser,” and the U.S. Army’s New “Super-Foam”

Micah Hanks·March 10, 2026

This week, ancient stone structures in Canada, a "space laser," and the U.S. Army's "super-foam" are in the news, along with the latest developments in the U.S. campaign in Iran.

Sudden El Paso Flight Restriction Raises Questions About U.S. Aerial Threat Detection

Micah Hanks·February 12, 2026

The unexpected closure of airspace above El Paso, Texas, this week abruptly ended on Wednesday, following a mysterious notice issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) just six hours earlier.

Scientists Have Developed a Laser-Controlled Magnet With No Heating Required

Ryan Whalen·January 29, 2026

Swiss researchers have developed a new technique allowing for magnetic polarity changes using only a laser beam.

“The Waves From an Earthquake, Only On the Surface of a Small Chip”: This Vibrating Laser May Be the Future of Wireless Technology

Ryan Whalen·January 15, 2026

Tiny, artificial earthquake-like waves generated by lasers may be the key to smaller, faster, and more efficient computer chips.

This YouTube Creator Built a Camera That Shows You Don’t Need a Major Lab to Film Light in Motion

Marie Nicola·December 27, 2025

A YouTube creator working out of his garage has engineered something that is normally found only in major research facilities: a camera capable of filming a laser beam moving at the speed of light.

Perovskite Laser Breakthrough May Crack the Code for Next-Generation Computing and Optical Communications

Ryan Whalen·August 21, 2025

A major breakthrough in perovskite lasers, a promising yet elusive solution for integrating lasers into silicon chips, has been achieved.

New Laser-Printed Ceramics Can Withstand The Extreme Challenges of Nuclear, Space, and Defense Applications

Ryan Whalen·June 2, 2025

New laser-fabricated ceramics demonstrate endurance of ultra-hot temperatures common to nuclear power, jet engines, and spacecraft.

World’s Most Powerful Laser, ‘ZEUS,’ Equips U.S. With Beam Surpassing 100x Global Electric Power Output

Christopher Plain·May 20, 2025

University of Michigan scientists say the most powerful laser ever built, called ZEUS, just achieved two petawatts of power.

Strange ‘Terrell-Penrose Effect’ Observed in Lab For the First Time, in New Confirmation of Einstein’s Special Relativity

Ryan Whalen·May 8, 2025

Physicists have demonstrated the Terrell-Penrose effect, which causes an object moving close to the speed of light to warp before our eyes.

Pew Pew Pew!

This week on The Debrief Weekly Report...

MJ Banias·April 1, 2025

On this week's episode of The Debrief Weekly Report, Kenna and Steph talk a new development in laser technology, and how light may be able to transform matter. Next, they take a hit on some cannabis news and a recent finding that illegal pot contains some really nefarious fungus. Lastly, they take a "voyage home" to find transparent wood?

Ultrafast Laser Breakthrough Reveals Light’s Ability to Instantly Transform Properties of Matter

Ryan Whalen·March 25, 2025

The effects of ultra-fast lasers that can change material states in attoseconds are finally understood, thanks to new Israeli research.

Most Powerful Ultrashort Electron Beam Ever Created Breaks Previous Power Records by a Factor of Five

Ryan Whalen·March 11, 2025

The most powerful ultrashort electron beam ever created offers new possibilities for recreating cosmic conditions in laboratory environments.

Mysterious Filament Formation Revealed in First-Ever Images of Plasma Instability

Ryan Whalen·March 11, 2025

A plasma instability has been photographed for the first time, showcasing electron beams forming spaghetti-like filaments.

Laser Light Transformed Into a Supersolid in Groundbreaking Experiment

Ryan Whalen·March 8, 2025

Physicists have transformed laser light into a supersolid, marking an entirely new process for achieving this mysterious state of matter.

Northrop Grumman Equips South Korea with New Helicopter-Mounted Mine Detectors

Ryan Whalen·February 26, 2025

Northrop Grumman reached a deal with Hanwha this week to provide helicopter-mounted Airborne Laser Mine Detection Systems.

Revolutionizing Landmine Detection: Breakthrough Laser-Acoustic Technology Allows for Safer, Faster Clearances

Tim McMillan·November 11, 2024

Breakthrough acoustic-laser technology could pave the way for faster, safer landmine detection in global conflict zones.

DARPA-Funded Laser Research Program May Lead to New Atomic Clock Breakthrough

Ryan Whalen·August 16, 2024

New laser research by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is paving the way toward developing the most accurate atomic clock ever constructed.

NASA Just Tested a New Experimental Hybrid Antenna for Deep Space Laser Communications

Micah Hanks·February 12, 2024

NASA says recent tests with an experimental hybrid antenna were successfully able to receive radio frequency and near-infrared laser signals being dispatched from the Psyche spacecraft on its journey into deep space.

UK Ministry of Defense Says High-Powered DragonFire Combat Laser Successfully Downed Aerial Target

Christopher Plain·January 24, 2024

The UK Ministry of Defense has announced the first successful downing of an aerial threat using its DragonFire combat laser system.

Lockheed Martin is Making the ‘Most Powerful Combat Laser Ever’ Even More Powerful

Christopher Plain·August 9, 2023

Lockheed Martin is increasing the power of its 'most powerful combat laser ever' to a staggering 500 kilowatts, smashing the previous record of 300 kW.

International Fusion Energy Experts Are Looking to Lasers for the Future of Clean Energy

Micah Hanks·December 13, 2022

Fusion energy researchers around the world are increasingly looking to lasers as the path toward producing cleaner, more sustainable energy in the years ahead.

US Navy Shows Off Newest Laser Weapon

Christopher Plain·May 6, 2022

The US Navy Office of Naval Research has successfully tested an all-new, fully electric laser weapon system. Designed...

U.S. Navy Successfully Test Fires Drone Killing Laser

Christopher Plain·December 16, 2021

On December 14th, the United States Navy conducted a live-fire test of their Laser Weapon System Demonstrator (LWSD),...

Researchers Use Acoustic Levitation to Create a “Tractor Beam” of Sound

Christopher Plain·August 5, 2021

Researchers with Tokyo Metropolitan University have developed a "tractor beam" using sound waves to manipulate objects without actually coming into contact with them.

Russian Leaked Laser weapon, combat laser, Ukraine

Leaked Photo of Russia’s Secret Laser Weapon Appears Online

The photos offer a first glimpse at what is believed to be the new “tactical laser,” first reported by Russian press in January.

Tim McMillan·December 14, 2020

The photos offer a first glimpse at what is believed to be the new “tactical laser,” first reported by Russian press in January.

Chief of Naval Operations Receives Briefing on Directed Energy Weapons

Once considered science fiction, the future of warfare may rely on these advanced laser weapons systems.

Micah Hanks·November 30, 2020

Once considered science fiction, the future of warfare may rely on advanced directed energy weapons systems being developed by the Navy.

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