The Debrief Weekly Report | A Science and Technology News Podcast

The Debrief Weekly Report | A Science and Technology News Podcast

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 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 technology to space travel to strange physics that alters our perception of the universe, The Debrief Weekly Report is meant for the dreamers who love the science and technology of the future. Visit The Debrief at: https://thedebrief.org/ Follow The Debrief on X https://twitter.com/Debriefmedia Follow MJ Banias on X: https://twitter.com/mjbanias Follow Stephanie Gerk on X: https://twitter.com/stephgerk Follow Kenna Hughes-Castleberry on X: https://twitter.com/kennaculture Have something to tell us? Email the show at: weeklyreport@thedebrief.org

Episodes

Frankenstein's Electric Organism | Burnt Ancient Scrolls, Sleeping While Awake, and a Shocking New Organism Discovery

April 29, 2025 • 28 mins
On this week's episode of The Debrief Weekly Report, Kenna, Steph and their producer Beemo, unravel ancient burnt scrolls, and explore how AI can be used to read them. They then zone out a bit and discuss a new study related to our brains and what is going on when we "blank." Finally, they get zapped by a new organism that can conduct electricity like a wire. Shocking!
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Lucy in the Sky with Asteroids | NASA's Trojan Flyby, Self-Healing Fungal Building Material, and Historical Colossal Squid Footage

April 22, 2025 • 30 mins
On this week's episode of The Debrief Weekly Report, Kenna, Steph and their producer Beemo, look for Jupiter's Trojan asteroids with Lucy, NASA's far-out spacecraft. They then dive into a news story about a self-healing fungus that can be used as a building material, and then swim down into the depths to discuss the historic footage that captured our first glimpse of a colossal squid. 

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"Psycho Salmon, Qu'est-ce que c'est?" | Pharmaceutical Water Pollution, 3D Interactive Holograms, and E-Taste

April 15, 2025 • 27 mins
On this week's episode of The Debrief Weekly Report, Kenna and Steph, along with their feline producer, Beemo the Cat, run far far far far away from the "psycho salmon" that seem to be appearing due to pharmaceutical pollution in waterways. Next they play with some 3D holograms that have becoming interactive, and taste the latest research into 'digital flavour."

Every Tuesday, join hosts Step...

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The Night is Dark and Full of Dire Wolves | De-extinction, AI, and Space Miso

April 8, 2025 • 29 mins
On this week's episode of The Debrief Weekly Report, Kenna and Steph howl about dire wolves, de-extinction, and the recent news that the long lost species has just been brought back to life. They then talk artificial intelligence and their knack for humanlike bias. Lastly, they take a big bite out of space miso aboard the ISS.

Every Tuesday, join hosts Stephanie Gerk, Kenna Hughes-Castleberry...

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Pew Pew Pew! | Lasers Transform Matter, Cannabis Catastrophe, and Transparent Wood

April 1, 2025 • 21 mins
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 chemicals. Lastly, they take a "voyage home" to find transparent wood? 

Every Tuesday, join hosts Stephanie Gerk, Kenna Hu...

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Way Down We Go | Most Accurate Ocean Map Ever, Fighting Pain, and a Revolutionary Stroke Medicine

March 25, 2025 • 22 mins
On this week's episode of The Debrief Weekly Report, Kenna and Steph dive deep into the darkness of the ocean with NASA and France's space agency to understand how they were able to build the tools to generate ocean floor maps with incredible accuracy and detail. They then play a few brain games a new study says we can use to master pain, and talk about a new drug that may have significant impact f...

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Can We 'Grow' Space Stations? | DARPA's Weird New Space Project, Mass Extinction, and How Sleep Impacts Beliefs

March 18, 2025 • 31 mins
On this week's episode of The Debrief Weekly Report, Kenna and MJ chat about the subtle art of growing space structures with living organisms. They then chuck an asteroid at Earth to test the latest mass extinction findings, and then take a nap because lack of sleep is directly correlated to belief in conspiracies.

Every Tuesday, join hosts Stephanie Gerk, Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, and MJ Ban...

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A Billion Year Old Life Giving Mystery | Ancient Impact Craters, Autonomous Farming, and Robotic Arms

March 11, 2025 • 23 mins
On this week's episode of The Debrief Weekly Report, Kenna and Stephanie spelunk into a billion-year-old crater and discuss new theories regarding life on Earth. They then plow a quick news story regarding autonomous farming, and handle a great story about robotic arms being controlled by the mind.
 

Every Tuesday, join hosts Stephanie Gerk, Kenna Hughe...

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When Brains Turn to Glass | Mount Vesuvius Remains, California's Bigfoot, and Lithium-Ion Recycling

March 4, 2025 • 31 mins
On this week's episode of The Debrief Weekly Report, Kenna and Stephanie exercise their little grey cells as they turn to glass in the fires of Mount Vesuvius. They then go squatching in California to understand why the state wants to have an official cryptid. Lastly, they recharge on a new process to efficiently recycle lithium-ion batteries.
 

Every T...

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Hydrogen Mining the Misty Mountains | Embryonic Robots, "Smartphone Brain," and Mining Mountains

February 25, 2025 • 26 mins
On this week's episode of The Debrief Weekly Report, Kenna and MJ climb to the mountain top and talk about mining hydrogen. They also get weird with shapeshifting embryonic robots, and then remember a time before smartphones made us dumb.

Every Tuesday, join hosts Stephanie Gerk, Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, and MJ Banias as they round up the latest science and tech stories from the pages of The...

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The Devil's Money? | Ancient Cult Discovery, Medical Music, and Mysterious Aussie Space Data

February 18, 2025 • 22 mins
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.

Every Tuesday, join hosts Stephanie Gerk, Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, and MJ Banias as they round up the latest sc...

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Bone Appétit | Ancient Chinese Bone Powder Discovery, Gut Science, and the Power of Flea Robots

February 4, 2025 • 24 mins
On this week's episode of The Debrief Weekly Report, Kenna and Stephanie grind up some news about an ancient discovery, and the use of bone powder in early Chinese hunter-gatherer societies. Next, they take a punch to the gut discussing a new study related to stomachs and sugars, and their impact on health. Lastly, they jump into a new robotics study concerning fleas and shrimp, and how scientists ...

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In Science We Trust | Giant Strange Interstellar Objects, Stretchable Solar Cell Fabric, and the Public Trust in Science

January 28, 2025 • 29 mins
On this week's episode of The Debrief Weekly Report, Kenna and Stephanie bump into a large mysterious interstellar object that may have shaped the orbit of the planets in our solar system. They then put on a fashion show and try on a new solar cell material that could alter wearable technology. Lastly, they fortify society's faith in science, and a new study that indicates the public still puts tru...

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From Orbit with Love | Mysterious Kenyan Space Ring, WeaRo Exoskeletons, and Bats!

January 14, 2025 • 29 mins
On this week's episode of The Debrief Weekly Report, Kenna and Stephanie put on the one space ring to rule them all, and examine a mysterious object that fell from Earth's orbit and into a small Kenyan village. Also in this episode, they discuss a new finding concerning how bats cruise through storms. Rounding it out, things get robotic when they chat about a new exoskeleton developed in Korea call...

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Spill the DMTea Baby! | New Ayahuasca Research, NASA's Dragonfly Mission, and Turning Trash into Treasure

January 7, 2025 • 28 mins
The first episode of 2025! This week, Kenna and Stephanie take a trip and discuss the latest Ayahuasca research, and its impact on our understanding of this ancient drug. They then take on Titan, and NASA's newest mission to the giant moon, codenamed "Dragonfly." Lastly, a story about gold, and how researchers have developed an environmentally friendly solution to extract it from recycled electroni...

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Finding New Life in the Down Deep | Very Old Guns, Ai Learning, and Ocean Life Discoveries

December 3, 2024 • 24 mins
On this week's episode, Kenna and Stephanie take shots at the story of America's oldest gun, a 500 year old bronze canon, found by archaelogists in Arizona. They then light up the darkest parts of the ocean, and discuss the discovery of a brand new lifeform. Lastly, they talk about AI, and the frontiers of how computer scientists have developed a method to more precisly mimic actual biological lear...

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Please Wear Earplugs While Playing the Aztec "Death Whistle." | "Red Monster" Space Discovery, Motion-Based Electricity, and Scary Ancient Sounds

November 26, 2024 • 26 mins
On this week's episode, Kenna and Stephanie learn to play an ancient Aztec "death whistle" and freak everyone out. They then go to battle some giant "Red Monsters" discovered by astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope. They then shake down a new electrical technology that uses motion to power everyday devices.
 

Every Tuesday, join hosts Stepha...

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The Oceans of Mars | Movie Brain Science, Ancient Terror Birds, and China's Martian Discovery

November 12, 2024 • 26 mins
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. 
 

Every Tuesday, join hosts Stephanie Gerk, Kenna Hughes-Cas...

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Transmissions Into Deep Space | Mayan Discoveries, Swamp Monster Fossils, and Optical Connections into Outer Space

November 5, 2024 • 22 mins
On this week's episode, Kenna and Stephanie root around the swamp looking for mysterious "Swamp Dweller" fossils. They then discuss how a new discovery in Mexico using LIDAR has uncovered Mayan ruins, and a new opitical technology that could transform how we communicate in deep space.
 

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Soon May The Well-Man Come | Healing Power of Music, Tasmanian Tiger De-extinction, and the Mystery of the "Well-Man"

October 29, 2024 • 29 mins
On this week's episode, Kenna and Stephanie dive deep into Norse mythology and the "Well-man." They then sing a tune and discuss how music, according to a new study, seems to have some healing capabilities, and that the now extinct Tasmanian Tiger may not be extinct for much longer.
 

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