Get your weekly burst of scientific illumination from The Debrief’s network of rebellious journalists as they warp through the latest breaking science and tech news from the world of tomorrow. Every Friday, join hosts Stephanie Gerk, Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, and MJ Banias as they roundup the latest science and tech stories from the pages of The Debrief. From far-future technology to space travel to strange physics that alters our perception of the universe, The Debrief Weekly Report is mean ...
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That Washing Machine is a 3D Printer | LSD School, Night Vision Coating for Glasses, and 3D Printing in Space
29:10
In this week’s episode of the DWR, MJ and Kenna discuss the successful 3D printing of metal material on the ISS. The dynamic duo also dives into the first-ever Master’s Degree in Psychedelics offered at the University of Ottawa and a new metal coating that changes regular glasses into night-vision goggles. Every Tuesday, join hosts Stephanie Gerk, …
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In the fourth bonus episode of the DWR, Steph and Kenna discuss the Star Wars Expanded Universe and its impact on fan experiences. The dynamic duo also dives into how the expanded universe has helped bring in more fans, creating a multigenerational experience. Every Tuesday, join hosts Stephanie Gerk, Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, and MJ Banias as they…
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The War Waged Over Memories | False Memories and Disinformation, New Solar Energy Tech, and the lost Roanoke Colonists
28:25
On this week's episode of The Debrief Weekly Report, Kenna and Steph seek out the lost settlers of the Roanoke colony, and new research that may have solved the riddle of what happened there all those years ago. Things also get hot when they discuss a new solar power system that can generate tons of heat, and how false memories are becoming much mo…
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That Lava Tube is Full of Humans | Pollution Combatting Swarms, Lava Tube Archaeology, and Solar Storms
25:31
On this week's episode of The Debrief Weekly Report, Kenna and Steph dive head first into a lava tube in Saudi Arabia that once served as a human dwelling. They also discuss how a new swarming technology can be used to clean up microplastics and other pollutants in our oceans, and recap on the wild solar storm that hit Earth over the weekend. Every…
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Neanderthal Skull Puzzle | Roman Dodecahedrons, Long Lost Chinese Forests, and the Subtle Art of Building an Ancient Head
28:46
On today’s episode, Kenna and Stephanie stare into the eyes of an ancient Neanderthal, explore who she was, and how scientists were able to reconstruct her face. They also dive deep into underground Chinese forests inside giant sinkholes, and the mysterious Roman dodecahedrons. Every Tuesday, join hosts Stephanie Gerk, Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, and…
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Voyager's Whisper in the Darkness | Martian "Spiders," Advanced House Plants, and the Space Probe that Refuses to Quit
23:31
On today’s episode, Kenna and Stephanie open a channel to the Voyager 1 probe, and discuss how some clever NASA engineers have reestablished a link with the decades old system. They also chat about some fancy house plants that can clean your home's air, and the "spiders" that haunt Mars. Every Tuesday, join hosts Stephanie Gerk, Kenna Hughes-Castle…
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In the third bonus episode of the DWR, Steph and Kenna discuss the themes of environmentalism within science fiction. The dynamic duo also dives into how science fiction has helped and hindered environmental movements and how sci fi has inspired several different science fiction subgenres, such as cli-fi and solarpunk, and where things stand today.…
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On today’s episode, MJ Banias sits down with guest co-host, author, and historian Amy Shira Teitel from the History Channel's "The Proof is Out There: Military Mysteries." The two discuss their time on the show, and some bizarre moments from the halls of military history. They talk hypersonic missiles, lost cosmonauts, and the secret Soviet base, C…
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The Curious Case of the Vanishing Meteorites in Antarctica | Blue Energy Research, Muscle Tissue Powered Robots, and a Meteor Mystery
26:11
On today’s episode, Kenna and Stephanie ride the waves into "blue energy." They also hunt for clues to find the vanishing meteorites in the Antarctic, and work up the strength to take on a novel robot that utilizes biological muscle tissue. Every Tuesday, join hosts Stephanie Gerk, Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, and MJ Banias as they roundup the latest …
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Tweets of the Mind | Neuralink Mental Miracle, 2024 Solar Eclipse, and a New 'Natural' Weightloss Drug
32:51
On today’s episode, Kenna and Stephanie explore the power of the mind, and the recent news that a man 'tweeted' using Neuralink technology. They then stare too long at the sun and talk about the upcoming April solar eclipse, and how some computer science nerds are developing a 'natural' weightloss drug. Every Tuesday, join hosts Stephanie Gerk, Ken…
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O for A Muse of Fire | Shakespeare's Mysterious Sister, Nuclear Weapon Detection, and the Birth of a Star
29:21
On today’s episode, Kenna and Stephanie get all Shakespearean discussing a mysterious document written by William Shakespeare's sister. Speaking of stars hiding their fires, a novel discovery in outerspace has a young star finally being born, and a new test that seems to uncover secret nuclear tests being performed underground. Every Tuesday, join …
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In the second bonus episode of the DWR, Steph and Kenna highlight the importance of Women’s History Month by discussing various women within science fiction. The dynamic duo also dives into where science fiction got women wrong and how the genre is shifting to highlight more strong female leads. Every Tuesday, join hosts Stephanie Gerk, Kenna Hughe…
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On today’s episode, Kenna and Stephanie talk about new LSD policies that may alter how we deal with mental health in the future. The duo also dive into a new form of space sickness and the discovery of a 2,000 year old relic in the shape of hand. Every Tuesday, join hosts Stephanie Gerk, Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, and MJ Banias as they roundup the l…
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We're Not Saying It's Aliens: AARO's UFO Report, Glowing Plant Products, and Cuttlefish Sex Ink?
27:45
On today’s episode, Kenna and Stephanie talk about the latest report from the government concerning the UFO/UAP phenomenon. Next, they dive into a new glowing plant product and the weird mating habits of the cuttlefish. Every Tuesday, join hosts Stephanie Gerk, Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, and MJ Banias as they roundup the latest science and tech stor…
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Our Stressed Out Little Planet: Giant Snakes, Mental Health, and Life Seeking Satellite Swarms
28:07
On today’s episode, MJ and Stephanie dive into mental health studies and the future of work. The pair also get into a satellite swarm that astronomers want to build to look for life, and the discovery of a giant creature in the Amazon. Every Tuesday, join hosts Stephanie Gerk, Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, and MJ Banias as they roundup the latest scien…
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Ancient Bacteria is Coming Back to Life: DARPA's New Marine Experiment, Universal Anti-Venom Progress, and the Ancient Bacterial Problems
27:47
On today’s episode, Kenna and Stephanie unleash the bacterial beast as ancient and dormant bacteria are waking up. They also dive into DARPA's new marine project, and take a bite out of the snake venom situation. Every Tuesday, join hosts Stephanie Gerk, Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, and MJ Banias as they roundup the latest science and tech stories fro…
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In the first bonus episode of the DWR, Steph and Kenna discuss the 50th anniversary of Dungeons and Dragons, including how it almost disappeared entirely and its current resurgence. The dynamic duo also dives into how the Satanic Panic of the 1980s almost killed off DND and how Netflix’s Stranger Things has been increasing its player database. Ever…
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That 'Death Star Moon' is Fully Operational!: Deep Sleep Science, Blueberry Mysteries, and Saturn's Eeriest Moon
29:01
On today’s episode, Kenna and Stephanie explore Saturn's "Death Star" moon and the recent findings that could hint at what lurks beneath its dark surface. The dynamic duo also dive into the deep sleep science of hibernation and why blueberries are blue. How did we not know this? Turns out, we just figured it out. Every Tuesday, join hosts Stephanie…
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On today’s episode, Kenna and Stephanie get into some cool spacesuits because the European Space Agency and a video game company are teaming up to make some sweet spacesuit designs. Also, a new sound sensor that may just be a battery-killer, and AI-image generation tool Midjourney is accidentally creating images with nudity. Every Tuesday, join hos…
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The Road to Hell Chickens is Paved With Good 'Egg-tentions:' Tiniest Robots Ever, Exoplanet Water Discovery, and the Rise of the Hell Chicken
31:46
On today’s episode, Kenna and Stephanie descend into the darkest depths of the underworld, also known as South Dakota, and do combat with the "Hell Chicken," a new ancient creature that roamed during the Cretaceous. We also dive into how engineers built the tiniest robots ever, and how the Hubble Space Telescope recently spotted a water-laden exopl…
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To 'Pew' or Not to 'Pew,' That is the Question: Japanese Space Lasers, Undiscovered Amazon Civilizations, and a Mysterious Aircraft Incident
28:41
On today’s episode, the team travels deep into the Amazon rainforest in search of a hidden and elusive 2,500 year old civilization. They then discuss a curious air incident where a Boeing 747 suffered a strange and unknown collision with an object, and a new Japanese company building a space laser to shoot at debris. Pew pew! Every Tuesday, join ho…
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That Dark Energy is Really Killing My Vibe: Better Blue Light, Vegetable Mind Control, and the Density of Dark Energy
29:11
On today’s episode, Kenna and Stephanie roll out of bed with some news about a better type of blue light that can aid sleep. They also get a full helping of veggie and try to understand why humans tend to not like the green stuff. Later, they explore dark energy and new research that is helping shed some light on the mysterious cosmic force. Every …
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The Art of Shooting Crows with Lasers: Novel Scarecrow Tech, Hypnosis Breakthrough, and Giant Carnivorous Worms
32:01
On today’s episode, we jump into the world of hypnosis, why we should use lasers to scare crows, and the weird discovery of a giant worm creature that wants to eat you. Every Tuesday, join hosts Stephanie Gerk, Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, and MJ Banias as they roundup the latest science and tech stories from the pages of The Debrief. From far-future …
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How to Reboot a Probe 15 Billion Miles from Earth: Mystery Binary Codes, a Rembrandt Mystery, and NASA's New Space Plane
26:44
On today’s episode, MJ and Steph discuss a curious new discovery in a 500 year old Rembrandt painting. They also provide some details about NASA's latest space plane, The Dream Chaser, and why Earth is being pinged with a binary code from 15 billion miles in deep space. Every Tuesday, join hosts MJ Banias and Stephanie Gerk as they roundup the late…
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Mischief Managed: Chinese Invisibility Cloaks, Exomoon Blunders, and Building Organic Solar Cells
34:01
On today’s episode, MJ and Steph talk about the recent news that the exomoons we discovered were never moons at all. The duo also explore the art of building solar cells out of wood and that students in China have built a functioning invisibility cloak. Every Tuesday, join hosts MJ Banias and Stephanie Gerk as they roundup the latest science and te…
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Left Abandoned in the Devil's Church Cave: Fusion Reactor Update, Dinosaur Death, and an Acoustic Mystery
36:44
On today’s episode, we dive into the Devil's Church cave in Finland and seek out the science behind a weird phenomenon. We also get into what may have actually killed the dinosaurs, according to a new study, and we cover a new fusion reactor that just booted up in Japan. Every Tuesday, join hosts MJ Banias and Stephanie Gerk as they roundup the lat…
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AI Can Read Cuneiform Now: Ancient Wearable Technology, Deciphering Tablets, and Growing Food on the Moon
34:29
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. Every Tuesday, join hosts MJ Banias and Stephanie Gerk as they roundup the latest science and tech stories from the pages of The Debrief. From far-future t…
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Do Not Read the Mysterious Ancient Tablet Out Loud. Ever.: Exoplanet WASP-107b, Mystery Lunar Crash, and an Unknown Ancient Tablet Discovery
29:06
On today’s episode, the team wanders into some bizarre mysteries. From a strange crash on the lunar surface, to exoplanet WASP-107b and its bizarre planetary evolution, and the discovery of a 3000-year old tablet containing a long forgotten language, the game is definitely afoot at The Debrief Weekly Report. Every Tuesday, join hosts MJ Banias and …
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On today’s episode, guest co-host and Debrief veteran Kenna Hughes-Castleberry joins MJ Banias and Stephanie Gerk to talk about the resurgence of an ancient mystery, a new study that seems to prove cannabis improves empathy, and the historic launch of the first quantum drive into outer space. Check out Kenna's website here: https://kennacastleberry…
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The Starfish Are Eating My Brain: Technological Telepathy Research, Bizarre Starfish Evolution, and Ancient Middle Ages Discovery
31:13
On today’s episode, Stephanie and MJ discuss the strange and wacky world of undersea evolution of marine invertibrates. They also explore a wild discovery from a medieval tomb, and a new study that tests out human telepathic abiltity. Every Tuesday, join hosts MJ Banias and Stephanie Gerk as they roundup the latest science and tech stories from the…
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What Lies Beneath All That Antarctic Ice?: Ancient Roman Science, Solar Glass, and a Cool Antarctic Discovery
30:03
On today’s episode, we get into how solar glass could revolutionize the solar power game, examine the mystery of what lies beneath all that ice in Antarctica, and jump into a curious Ancient Roman discovery that may alter how we build our technology. Every Tuesday, join hosts MJ Banias and Stephanie Gerk as they roundup the latest science and tech …
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The Neanderthal Kama Sutra: Frictionless Materials, 3D Printing Space Rockets, and a New Neanderthal DNA Discovery
40:44
On today’s episode, we dive into NASA's new RAMFIRE project to 3D print novel rocket parts. We also discuss a novel frictionless material built on the nano-level, and a new historical model that explains why Neanderthal DNA is so varied in the modern human population. Every Friday, join hosts MJ Banias and Stephanie Gerk as they roundup the latest …
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What Are We Going to Do With All These People's Brains?: Electron Beams, "Artificial Photosynthesis," and AI Brain Scans
28:45
On today’s episode, we discuss how electron beams weirdly heal fissures in crystals, how AI is being used to fight brain diseases, and how "artificial photosynthesis" may save humanity from a climate dystopian hellscape. Every Tuesday, join hosts MJ Banias and Stephanie Gerk as they roundup the latest science and tech stories from the pages of The …
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What You Gon' Do With All That Space Junk?: NASA's New Space Laser Project, FCC Space Fines, and a Stonehenge Secret
29:25
On today’s episode, we dive into NASA's new project to build space lasers, how the FCC fined a telecom provider for failing to properly deorbit a satellite, and how a new discovery at Stonehenge is re-writing what we know about the mysterious structure. Every Friday, join hosts MJ Banias and Stephanie Gerk as they roundup the latest science and tec…
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Go Home OSIRIS-REx, You're Drunk: Beer Goggles, Trappist-1 Ghost Signals, and Robbing an Asteroid
35:17
On today’s episode, we discuss a new study that says "beer goggles" aren't a real phenomenon, "ghost signals" from the Trappist-1 Star System, and the recent return of OSIRIS-REx, a probe carrying little bits of a nearby asteroid. Every Friday, join hosts MJ Banias and Stephanie Gerk as they roundup the latest science and tech stories from the page…
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Remember That Time America Misplaced a Stealth Fighter?: Cannabis Brain Science, WiFi Spies, and a Missing Fighter Jet
28:51
On today’s episode, we dive into the brain's weird ability to produce its own cannabinoids, new WiFi research that allows it to watch you, and the curious case of a missing stealth fighter plane. Every Friday, join hosts MJ Banias and Stephanie Gerk as they roundup the latest science and tech stories from the pages of The Debrief. From far-future t…
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Can AI Actually Create Art?: Music and Dreams, Europe's New Fire Ant Problem, and AI Artists Target Congress
44:33
On today’s episode, we discuss a new study that says music can unlock our creativity while we lucid dream, Europe's new war with Fire Ants, and how a ragtag group of AI artists are taking their concerns to Congress, demanding a seat at the policymaking table surrounding artificial intelligence. Every Friday, join hosts MJ Banias and Stephanie Gerk …
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Runes, Robots, and Replicating Hydrogen: Humanoid Robots, Ancient Rune Research, and the Future of Hydrogen Power
34:07
On today’s episode, we discuss Apollo, a new humanoid robot that could be your new coworker. We also dive into research concerning an ancient runic langauge known as Futhark, and the future of hydrogen power as scientists develop a novel method to extract the element from water. Every Friday, join hosts MJ Banias and Stephanie Gerk as they roundup …
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Is There Life on Mars?: China's Sub Spotting Technology, T-Cells in Space, and Why Human's May Have Killed Life on Mars
33:28
On today’s episode, we discuss China's claim that they can detect US submarines, how long term living in space will kill you, and why one researcher thinks the 1976 Viking landers on Mars did collect evidence of life on the Red Planet, and then accidentally killed it. Every Friday, join hosts MJ Banias and Stephanie Gerk as they roundup the latest …
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Liar, Liar, AI on Fire: Origins of Life on Earth, Hacking Starlink Satellites, and a new AI-powered Disinformation System
28:35
On today’s episode, podcaster Kennedy Chappel joins MJ Banias as a guest co-host to discuss a new study into the origins of life on Earth, how Russia is using a novel malware tool to hack into Starlink satellites, and a new AI-powered disinformation experiment called "CounterCloud." Follow Kennedy Chapel on Twitter: https://twitter.com/kcath23 Ever…
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Taylor Swift is My Giant Brain Virus: Martian Soil Samples, Giant Viruses, and Medical Micro-Robots
27:20
On today’s episode, we discuss mysterious giant viruses discovered in Massachusetts, NASA's plan to rocket Martian soil samples back to Earth, and new research into tiny robots that can be sent inside the body to perform laser surgery. Every Friday, join hosts MJ Banias and Stephanie Gerk as they roundup the latest science and tech stories from the…
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UFOs Go to Washington | "Rain Panels," Planetary Geoarchaeology, and the Congressional Hearing on UFOs
35:14
On today’s episode, we discuss whether solar panels will be replaced by "rain panels," a new idea for a form of archaeology for all the artifacts left in space by humans, and a deep dive into the congressional hearing on UFOs. Every Friday, join hosts MJ Banias and Stephanie Gerk as they roundup the latest science and tech stories from the pages of…
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You're A Wizard, Einstein!: Time Dilation, Lockheed Martin's New Plane, and Academic Research into Magic
27:26
On today’s episode, we discuss Lockheed Martin's latest secret aircraft, a German university's deep dive into magical texts, and new research that proves time moved slower in the early days of the universe. Every Friday, join hosts MJ Banias and Stephanie Gerk as they roundup the latest science and tech stories from the pages of The Debrief. From f…
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Riding the Gravitational Waves of Your Mind: Gravitational Wave Background Discovery, Settling a Consciousness Bet, and the Psychology of Bullshit
34:19
On today’s episode, we discuss the GWB discovery, a 25-year-old bet over the theory of human consciousness, and the realization that you may actually suck at detecting "bullshit." Every Friday, join hosts MJ Banias and Stephanie Gerk as they roundup the latest science and tech stories from the pages of The Debrief. From far-future technology to spa…
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Amino Acid Slow Jams: Mysterious Lunar Objects, Speeding White Dwarf Stars, and Life's Building Blocks Floating Around Intersteller Space
29:51
On today’s episode, we discuss a lunar mystery, a discovery of an ultrafast white dwarf star yeeting across the Milky Way, and the discovery of life giving amino acids hanging out in a gaseous cloud in deep space. Every Friday, join hosts MJ Banias and Stephanie Gerk as they roundup the latest science and tech stories from the pages of The Debrief.…
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Does ChatGPT Really Want to Save Humanity, or is This a Trap?: AI Built Robots, Solar Probes, and the Search for Exoplanets
23:13
On today’s episode, NASA’s Parker Solar Probe made its closest run at the Sun scanning for solar winds, scientists believe there are more Earth-like exoplanets out there than we think, and ChapGPT built a tomato picking robot to save humanity from collapse. Every Friday, join hosts MJ Banias and Stephanie Gerk as they roundup the latest science and…
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Stephanie has finally gotten her wish. With the help of the prolific Tony Harris, former CNN news anchor and host of the History Channel's The Proof is Out There, she has managed to strongarm MJ into talking about UFOs. On today’s episode, MJ, Stephanie, and guest co-host Tony Harris get into the recent story concerning a former intelligence offici…
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We Can’t Stop Here. This is Emu Country!: Australian Combat Lasers, New LSD Research, and Brain Activity After Death.
27:35
On today’s episode, scientists have released a new study concerning LSD’s positive effects on the learning process, Australia’s latest project to develop a laser gun that can stop a tank, and a preliminary study into what happens to consciousness in the human brain during death. Every Friday, join hosts MJ Banias and Stephanie Gerk as they roundup …
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Saint Fetch, The Patron Robot of Lost Things: Air Force Energy Weapons, Studying Salamanders to Reverse Aging, and the Robot Who Helps You Find the Remote
28:50
On today’s episode, researchers are trying to figure out how to utilize salamander cells to slow human aging, robots are being developed to aid dementia patients with finding lost items in their homes, and the US Air Force is testing a directed energy weapon to take down drone swarms. Every Friday, join hosts MJ Banias and Stephanie Gerk as they ro…
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"Now, I Am Become AI, the Destroyer of Worlds." | Updating the Nuclear Arsenal, Secret Chinese Spacecraft, and the Anomaly Detecting AI
24:04
On today’s episode, guest host Micah Hanks joins the show to talk about a new AI tool being utilized by the government to monitor the internet for anomalies, how the Air Force is modernizing its nuclear weapon platforms, and everything we know about a super secret Chinese spacecraft that has just returned home after spending 276 days in Earth’s orb…
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