Brendan Byrne
Verified- Adjunct Instructor, University of Central Florida
- Assistant News Director, Central Florida Public Media
- Podcast Host, Are We There Yet?
- Contributor, NPR
Orlando
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Central Florida Public Media | Host, 'Are We There Yet?' @AWTYspace | Contributor @NPR | bbyrne@cfpublic.org
Articles by Brendan Byrne
Declassified files reveal Catalina Island’s history of UFO sightings
The Pentagon’s recent release of the seventh installment of declassified UFO files reveals that Southern California’s Catalina Island was identified by the US government as a hotspot for sightings of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) or unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP). The location has attracted considerable speculation, particularly concerning sightings during the 1940s and 1950s. The files recount a number of mysterious incidents.
Spooky Sci-Fi’s and UAPs
It’s spooky season! There are many ways to celebrate this Halloween with things like pumpkin carving, dressing up and also, watching scary movies. Eric Deggans, NPR’s critic at large and Knight Professor of Journalism and Media Ethics at Washington and Lee University in Virginia, shared his recommendations for some spooky, space-themed horror flicks. A note: This story may contain spoilers for the films reviewed.
Japan to Issue Nationwide ‘Emergency Request,’ Urging Citizens to Stockpile Survival Supplies
Statements from Japan’s Disaster Management Minister indicate that Japan is preparing to issue a national “emergency request” on November 2, 2026. The announcement coincides with the official launch of Japan’s National Disaster Management Agency on November 2, 2026. The emergency request aims to urge all households to stockpile essential survival supplies.
Bill Gates Warns AI and Robots Could Replace White-Collar and Manual Workers
In a series of recent statements, Bill Gates has warned that artificial intelligence could trigger an economic crisis. Appearing on the Decoder podcast, he emphasized that advanced robotics could trigger up to 20 years of severe economic and social upheaval. This could adversely impact both white-collar office staff and blue-collar manual workers.
North Korea hit by widespread internet blackout as state websites go dark
North Korea’s state-run internet infrastructure has experienced blackouts for consecutive days. Virtually all websites using the country’s .kp top-level domain are experiencing widespread outages. This has cut off access from outside the country to North Korea’s official platforms and state media. More than 40 official North Korean websites have been affected. These include major portals such as the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the Rodong Sinmun newspaper, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Internet Archive down, Wikipedia hit by outages amid PHP issues
The Internet Archive went offline and thousands of Wikipedia users reported access problems on Wednesday, October 21, as the Wikimedia Foundation said it was addressing newly discovered security vulnerabilities in PHP. The foundation, which operates Wikipedia, told Mashable that the Wikipedia disruption was related to the vulnerabilities. It said several systems had been taken offline as a precaution while security patches were being applied.
The Message
When we discover life in the universe, how will we find out? Most likely, through the news. An example of that is from a CBS radio broadcast from October 30, 1938. A series of news bulletins chronicled the discovery of something unusual happening on Mars. As the broadcast continued, the event escalated, and there’s reports of an invasion by aliens. It was described as the night America panicked. But it wasn’t real. It was The War of the Worlds, a radio play.
A mission to control space debris and capturing the launch of a new telescope
Space Junk Space Junk, or space debris, is primarily human-made objects that are left in low Earth Orbit. NASA estimates there are millions of pieces of space debris flying around uncontrolled. Some pieces can reach speeds of 18,000 miles an hour, about seven times faster than a bullet. In an effort to clean up Earth’s orbit, companies like AstroScale are trying to step in. The company is working on a mission that will grab a piece of junk – part of a used rocket -- and remove it safely from orbit.
UK Care Home Residents ‘Sacrificed’ to Protect NHS During COVID Pandemic, Damning Inquiry Finds
The UK Covid-19 Inquiry’s Module 6 report, released on October 20, 2026, reveals shocking details of how the adult social care sector was treated. The inquiry was led by its chairwoman, Baroness Heather Hallett. The report’s findings indicate that all four UK governments prioritized protecting NHS capacity at the expense of the care sector. The report records 43,000 deaths among care home residents between March 2020 and July 2022.
Video of woman handcuffed after feeding pigeons in London resurfaces
An old video showing a woman being arrested by Metropolitan Police officers in London “has resurfaced and gone viral on social media. The woman was allegedly handcuffed for feeding pigeons. The footage has reignited widespread online debate, as onlookers questioned whether the police response was proportionate. The video shows a woman in her 40s being surrounded by at least six Metropolitan Police officers and council enforcement workers on a busy street.
A Green Star? Astronomers Uncover a Rare Cosmic Mystery
Astronomers have discovered the first-ever genuinely green star. The white dwarf, named WD J1330+6435, is located about 326 light-years away. The study, titled ‘White Dwarfs Really are White, But Few are Green, Pink or Vivid Blue,’ was published in RAS Techniques and Instruments (RASTI). Led by Dr. Mark Hollands at the University of Warwick in England the research relied on unique white dwarf spectral models.
The Wrap: Is healthcare on the ballot? Voters say it’s a top priority
"The Wrap" brings you Central Florida headlines, deep reporting dives, and insightful conversations from Central Florida Public Media. This week, asthe general election looms closer, some voters are looking toward politicians who are prioritizing healthcare. Plus, more than half of Orange County Public Schools 8,000 pupil enrollment drop comes from immigrant students.
Mysterious object near Sun fuels claims of giant alien mothership
The Daily Mail reports on claims made by a prominent ufologist regarding a giant “UFO mothership” allegedly spotted near the sun. Scott C. Waring, a UFO researcher, argues that an image captured by NASA’s Solar Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) on October 3 shows a massive alien craft. The image captures a white, cylinder-shaped object cutting through the sun’s outer atmosphere. These claims come amid NASA’s long-standing stance that there is no evidence of alien life in our solar system.
Space Jellyfish Florida: SpaceX rocket launch creates glowing sky display
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket created a glowing “space jellyfish” effect in the sky over Central Florida today. Thousands of residents across Florida woke up to a translucent, blue-and-white jellyfish-like shape drifting across the sky. The rocket responsible for this effect had lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. This flight was SpaceX’s 35th commercial resupply mission (CRS-35) to the International Space Station.
NASA's Mars rover Perseverance has broken a landmark distance record
NASA's Mars rover Perseverance has just hit a milestone — for the longest distance traveled by an off-Earth vehicle.
NASA's Perseverance rover won't quit
NASA's Mars rover Perseverance has just hit a milestone — for the longest distance traveled by an off-Earth vehicle.
Science on the space station and Maragret Hamilton’s legacy
Why test things in space? More science is headed to the International Space Station after SpaceX’s supply launch from Cape Canaveral on Tuesday. The astronauts aboard the station will conduct hundreds of research projects and science experiments. From cancer studies and Parkinson’s disease research to looking at how spaceflight affects the human body, the science will help future NASA missions in space and provide medical research for us here on Earth.
The Wrap: Our voter panel weighs in on midterm candidates
"The Wrap" brings you Central Florida headlines, deep reporting dives, and insightful conversations from Central Florida Public Media. This week, our voter insight panel weighs in on the candidates on the midterm ballot. Plus, public comments on Florida's plan to roll back vaccine mandates for students.
Search and confirm
As we continue to search for signs of life in the universe, how will we know we’ve found credible proof? For many scientists, they use the Sagan standard: Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. If there was ever a finding that could prove we’re not alone, the Sagan standard would require proof that was equally as strong to back it up.
US warns Americans in Russia as suspected plague death sparks health alert
The United States warned Americans in Russia on Tuesday that its ability to assist them is limited, as officials monitored reports of a suspected pneumonic plague death in Siberia and quarantine measures at local hospitals. In an October 6 health alert, the US Embassy in Moscow said it was following developments in the Irkutsk region. Its statement cited press reports of the suspected infection and hospital closures but did not independently confirm a plague outbreak.
Chinese AI Tool Used to Hack South Korean Banks, Exposing 68,000 Customers
A wave of sophisticated cyberattacks targeting approximately seven South Korean financial institutions has exposed the data belonging to more than 68,000 customers. South Korean authorities and cybersecurity experts claim that the hackers used Artex AI, a Chinese-developed tool. This marks one of the first major AI-driven intrusions into a domestic financial system.
Understanding the galaxy’s evolution and how and Earth amoeba is helping in the search for life elsewhere
Galactic timelines and cosmic webs NASA recently launched the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope to study things like dark energy, dark matter, and exoplanets. And soon, scientists will be using that same telescope for another survey -- to look at the evolution of galaxies. The project called the Grism Reionization and Cosmic Evolution Survey, or GRACE, will look at galaxies during key moments during their history to study how they’ve changed since their creation.
Video: Egyptian Man Catches Child Falling From Second-Floor Balcony
A video of an Egyptian man catching a child falling from the second-floor balcony in Giza is making the rounds on social media. In a heroic save, the man, identified as Ahmed Ragab caught a five-year-old boy. The incident occurred in the Ard El-Lewa area. Egyptian Man’s Quick Response Saves Child The child slipped over the edge of the balcony. While standing outside his father’s shop, Ragab heard shouting and quickly spotted the falling child.
SpaceX's Starship launches on first orbital mission from Texas
Updated September 28, 2026 at 5:10 PM EDT SpaceX launched its Starship spacecraft from the company's Starbase facility from Boca Chica Beach in Texas, on a critical test flight that sent the 171-foot-tall vehicle into orbit for the first time. At 7:48 a.m. CT,Starship's Super Heavy booster ignited its 33 rocket engines to send the spacecraft on its 14th flight. Two-and-a-half minutes after launch, Starship separated from the booster and continued into space.
Scientists debunk bizarre 1960 study predicting doomsday next month
Published in November 1960, a study titled “Doomsday: Friday, 13 November, A.D. 2026″ argued that humanity would reach its demographic breaking point by 13 November 2026. Written by Heinz von Foerster and his colleagues, the study caused considerable anxiety at the time. People feared that humanity would be squeezed to death, and Earth would run out of space to accommodate them. Scientists today have debunked these claims.
The Wrap: A road trip through a new Congressional district
"The Wrap" brings you Central Florida headlines, deep reporting dives, and insightful conversations from Central Florida Public Media. This week, a road trip through a new Congressional district. Plus, new proposed state science education standards raise concerns by some over the omission of the word 'evolution.'
Cornell Jane Doe's attorney says she told police in 2024: 'I was raped'
The woman who alleges she was gang raped by fellow Cornell University students in 2024 clearly stated in her statement to police two years ago that she was sexually assaulted. That's according to her attorney, Thomas Giuffra, who confirmed to NPR that his client told investigators, "I can say with 100% confidence I was raped," citing transcripts from Jane Doe's sworn statement in 2024.
New space station crew launches from Florida on SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. — Despite concerns about thunderstorms and gusty winds, SpaceX launched four people on NASA's Crew-13 mission to the International Space Station. The Falcon 9 rocket leaped off the launch pad at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and soared northeast, over the Atlantic Ocean. It will take the capsule about eight hours to catch up with and dock to the space station.
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