Metamaterials - The Black Vault

What the U.S. Military Now Says About TTSA’s Anomalous Artifact

John Greenewald — Thu, 29 May 2025 14:16:44 +0000

The U.S. Army has officially closed out its Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with To The Stars Academy of Arts & Science (TTSA), ending a five-year government-backed investigation into alleged anomalous materials that once captured headlines for their rumored connection to unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP). The final close-out report, obtained via the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and now published by The Black Vault (available below), provides an inside look into the results from the U.S. Army’s point of view.

The CRADA, designated Agreement #19-15 and titled “Novel & Emerging Technology Exploitation (NETE),” was initiated in 2019 between TTSA and the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Ground Vehicle Systems Center (GVSC). The project focused on analyzing a metallic sample referred to in the documents as “Artifact A1” which was provided by TTSA. The company claimed the material held promise for defense applications, including the potential to act as an electromagnetic (EM) waveguide based on theoretical designs published by Podolskiy et al. in Journal of Modern Optics.

It should be noted that the only sample provided by TTSA for testing under the CRADA was the Magnesium-Zinc-Bismuth Artifact designated as “A1.” No additional samples such as an A2, A3, etc. were submitted for analysis during the five-year partnership, despite TTSA’s previous public assertions that it had acquired multiple alleged artifacts from various witnesses and caretakers/investigators of exotic materials. Despite the organization’s broad claims about possessing a collection of anomalous items, the Army’s documentation confirms that only a single artifact was ever made available for government evaluation.

The Army, in partnership with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), conducted structural, compositional, and isotopic testing over a five-year span. Despite TTSA’s initial claims, the final verdict was clear: “The USG found that the physical and elemental properties of the A1 are incompatible in its current state to serve as an EM wave guide,” the report states. While the sample contained the right constituent materials, it lacked the necessary structure to function as theorized. The artifact was ultimately assessed as “likely a test object, a manufacturing product or byproduct, or a material component of aerospace performance studies to evaluate the properties of Mg alloys.”

Significantly, the Army’s close-out report contains no mention of UAPs, UFOs, or extraterrestrial origins — all terms that fueled widespread speculation when TTSA first announced the agreement. Instead, the report limits its scope to potential applications for “ground vehicle survivability and protection.”

The Army categorized the effort as scientifically worthwhile, stating the research “advanced the knowledge and science regarding novel materials of national security interest.” It also credited the effort for developing relationships between defense agencies, private industry, and legislative stakeholders. However, the Army concluded there was “no military or ground vehicle application” for the sample, and “no joint intellectual property” was generated.

AARO and Oak Ridge Publish Supporting Scientific Findings

The Army’s close-out report refers readers to the AARO website for additional documentation of the analysis. One key document now publicly accessible is titled “Synopsis of Analysis of a Metallic Specimen Conducted by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)” and was authored by AARO.

According to the AARO synopsis, ORNL received the sample in June 2021 and subjected it to a comprehensive suite of analytical methods, including light and scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, mass spectrometry, and other techniques.

The findings align with those summarized in the Army’s close-out report. ORNL concluded that the sample was composed of magnesium, zinc, and bismuth in a layered structure. However, the scientific review emphasized that while such materials have been of theoretical interest in metamaterials research, the sample lacked uniformity and precision manufacturing that would be required for it to function as a practical waveguide or exhibit anomalous behavior.

“The sample likely was made using commercial techniques,” the ORNL report states, noting “the interfaces between the layers were inconsistent and likely formed through basic casting or rolling methods.” Furthermore, the report states there was no indication that the object had properties beyond what is commonly achievable through known industrial processes.

The ORNL analysis echoes the Army’s position that the material was “not of unknown origin” and did not exhibit exotic capabilities. It categorizes the object as consistent with test materials used in conventional aerospace or academic research contexts.

Transparency Gap Between Army and TTSA

While the Army and AARO have now made available both the contractual documentation and supporting scientific findings, TTSA, which is now known as “To The Stars” (TTS), has offered only limited public response. In two brief press releases, TTS acknowledged the ORNL and AARO findings and defended its role in facilitating the analysis. However, beyond those posts, the organization has remained largely silent on the broader results of the CRADA and has not released any technical data or in-depth assessment of Artifact A1 from its own perspective.

Once promoted as a scientific and transparency-driven enterprise, TTSA has since shifted its public focus toward entertainment and media ventures, offering little to no substantive updates on the other alleged materials it once claimed to possess. Despite having acquired artifacts from various witnesses and custodians, the organization has not disclosed whether any further testing has occurred or if additional samples were ever evaluated independently.

Ironically, the very government entities TTSA once challenged for secrecy, namely the U.S. Army and AARO, have proven more transparent in this case. From the release of the full CRADA agreement to the final close-out report and supporting laboratory findings, the government has now provided the most comprehensive public record of the project.

Even so, the Army expressed appreciation for the collaboration, calling TTS “an excellent partner” and endorsing the potential for future work with AARO given their “mutual interests, aims and ends.”

But the final conclusion is clear. The lone material analyzed under the TTSA CRADA did not exhibit any exotic functionality, yielded no new military applications, and was assessed as a conventional industrial or aerospace sample… not evidence of a recovered anomalous vehicle.

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Correction 5/29/25 – 4:15PM Pacific: This article was updated to reflect that To The Stars (TTS) did publish limited commentary on the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and AARO findings in early 2025. While the original text stated the organization had remained silent, TTS did acknowledge the results in two brief press releases. However, the organization has not released technical data or substantive updates regarding any additional materials it once claimed to possess. The Black Vault regrets the mischaracterization.

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CRADA Final Close-Out Report [4 Pages, 0.5MB]

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FOIA Release Unveils DIA Report on Metamaterials in Cloaking Applications

John Greenewald — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 18:50:26 +0000

In response to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request submitted on March 23, 2022, the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) has released a redacted document titled “Technology Forecast: Metamaterials In Cloaking Applications,” originally published, but classified SECRET, in 2010. The request originally filed by The Black Vault in March 2022, received the final response via email on July 25, 2024, with the letter dated July 24, 2024.

The six-page document, though significantly redacted, provides intriguing insights into the potential applications of metamaterials for cloaking purposes. According to the DIA’s letter, the redactions were made under FOIA Exemptions 1, 3, and 6. Exemption 1 pertains to classified information under Executive Order 13526, Exemption 3 involves statutes that specifically exempt certain information, and Exemption 6 protects personal privacy.

The released document highlights several critical aspects of metamaterials and their applications in cloaking technology. Despite the extensive redactions, some significant points are discernible.

The document discusses the theoretical and experimental work on using metamaterials to achieve “invisibility cloaks.” It references a presentation by Professor C.T. Chan from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology at the META’10 conference in Cairo, Egypt. Chan’s work demonstrated the use of metamaterials to create optical illusions and achieve cloaking effects without completely surrounding the object.

One of the key techniques mentioned is Transformation Optics, which involves transforming the equations of wave propagation to design metamaterials capable of creating illusions. This method was used to make objects appear invisible or to alter their appearance, such as making an apple look like a banana.

The document notes that Professor Chao Li’s group at the Chinese Academy of Sciences successfully demonstrated a proof-of-concept of Chan’s theoretical work using a transmission-line simulator. This simulator operates at 51 MHz over a 10% bandwidth, showing practical progress in the field of metamaterials.

The document also outlines various international advancements in metamaterials, including efforts by researchers at Duke University, UC Berkeley, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, and the University of Utah. These efforts have focused on creating cloaking devices that work across different frequencies and wavelengths, highlighting the global interest and progress in this area of research.

While the redacted portions limit the full understanding of the content, the disclosed information provides a glimpse into the ongoing advancements and international collaborations in the field of cloaking technology.

The document released can be downloaded below.

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U.S. Army Releases Agreement with To The Stars Academy of Arts & Science

John Greenewald — Fri, 18 Oct 2019 16:49:09 +0000

By John Greenewald, Jr. – The Black Vault – Originally Published: October 18, 2019

To The Stars Academy of Arts & Science (TTSA), a public benefit corporation led by rock star Tom DeLonge, announced a collaborative agreement with the U.S. Army this week. The original press release sent out by TTSA was vague, and offered few details. However, the Army spoke with The Black Vault to discuss the agreement, and offer a copy of the entire document, nearly in full (understandably, a few phone numbers were removed for privacy reasons).

The news broke on October 17, 2019, wherein TTSA stated in a press release, “[TTSA] announced today a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command [CCDC] to advance TTSA’s materiel and technology innovations in order to develop enhanced capabilities for Army ground vehicles.” The press release continued, “TTSA will share its discoveries with Ground Vehicle System Center (GVSC) and Ground Vehicle Survivability and Protection (GVSP) and the U.S. Army shall provide laboratories, expertise, support, and resources to help characterize the technologies and its applications.”

Doug Halleaux, Public Affairs Officer for the Army’s CCDC GVSC, responded to The Black Vault with statements and a copy of the executed agreement. In addition, on behalf of the Army, he helped address still lingering questions about the overall situation, though some still remain.

“TTSA has a set of different materials, the properties of which they’re interested in investigating the properties. As materials research in general is of key interest to Army research, the Army is interested in any insights gained from investigating the properties of these materials, too,” Dr. Halleaux stated in an e-mail to The Black Vault. “In this case, the Army is providing the expertise and facilities to analyze the materials, and TTSA is providing the materials themselves; both parties receive the results of the analysis. Just as there is no financial compensation to TTSA for the use of the materials, there is no financial compensation to the Army for the use of the facilities.”

Although TTSA has its share of supporters, it is the part about “sharing” with the military that got other members of the social network universe up in arms.

TTSA has had a primary message that the military is hiding information about UAPs, and that has resonated with many of their fans along with their investors. However, now that TTSA has allegedly acquired physical pieces of the “phenomena,” to some, they are now just walking it all back through the doors of the military and sharing the discoveries with those they claim are hiding secrets from the public. Although TTSA did not respond to questions submitted by The Black Vault, the Army did weigh in on how they may benefit from the research results, and what they thought about the provenance of the material itself.

“As far as the materials– the Army’s interest is in the potential for novel materials and exploring the edges of materials science, any speculation as to their origin is (pardon the pun) immaterial. Our team is always excited to look at something new, whether it’s materials or technologies, capabilities or processes,” said Dr. Halleaux. “As materials research in general is of key interest to Army research, the Army is interested in any insights gained from investigating the properties of these materials, too. In this case, the Army is providing the expertise and facilities to analyze the materials, and TTSA is providing the materials themselves; both parties receive the results of the analysis. Just as there is no financial compensation to TTSA for the use of the materials, there is no financial compensation to the Army for the use of the facilities.”

Attorney and TTSA investor, Nathan Hendrickson, is not surprised by the news. “I knew that at the last shareholder meeting, TTSA was discussing their desire to own their own lab. One of the constant gripes has been the high cost of lab testing meta-materials,” Hendrickson told The Black Vault. “It appears that they have solved this problem by letting the US Army test their material so long as the Army gets to see and use any results.”

Although this news was expected by attentive shareholders, at least one of them is not keen on the apparent secrecy involved with the news. Hendrickson added, “While I am glad that a high-end Army research facility is going to look at the metal, I would’ve never known this by reading the TTSA press release. I wish I didn’t have to rely on others to do the investigating to answer questions that the company should be answering. In keeping with military tradition, TTSA is very ‘coy’, and that is infuriating to me.”

As for the metamaterial currently in the possession of TTSA, some of it is referenced as being “on loan” in recent SEC filings. The Black Vault reached out to someone associated with at least one of the pieces in TTSA’s possession, seeking comment on the news about this new agreement. This person requested they remain anonymous, and respectfully declined to comment due to the fact they signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with TTSA, which prohibits them from doing so.

This arrangement between TTSA and the Army is clearly unclassified. However, that seemingly does not take away from many elements of secrecy surrounding the agreement. Until curators of some of the material are able to talk; TTSA answers looming questions; and peer-reviewed scientific results are published… we may just be left to wonder on what is now going on inside Army laboratories.

The Agreement

U.S. Army Releases CRADA with To The Stars Academy of Arts & Science [26 Pages, 7MB]

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Full Quotes from the Army Used Above

Initial Statement:

A CRADA is a mechanism for cooperative work between a government agency and another agency, either internal to the government or external, non-government. Our colleagues at Army Research Lab have a pretty good synopsis on their website (https://www.arl.army.mil/www/default.cfm?page=14) but CRADAs aren’t limited to ARL, they’re used across the various government R&D agencies and facilities. In essence, a CRADA brings together researchers for truly cooperative work between the agency and its partner without an exchange of funds, property, or other exchanges that would otherwise require a traditional contracting mechanism. Typically, CRADAs are used for out-of-the-box type work or leading-edge technologies where both parties have an interest in conducting research together for mutual information or investigatory benefit. An example I like to use is the CRADA that the Army enjoys with General Motors, specifically with regards to Fuel Cell research. General Motors’ Fuel Cell technologies are of interest to the Army, and the Army’s experience with off-road vehicles and operation is of interest to GM; the CRADA between the two afforded an opportunity to investigate the use of Fuel Cells for rugged, austere, off-road environments, providing insights that both GM and the Army benefit from.

A CRADA isn’t an endorsement mechanism– just as the Army doesn’t endorse General Motors or any other automobile manufacturer, the Army also doesn’t endorse its other cooperative partners. Specific to the To The Stars Academy CRADA, TTSA has a set of different materials, the properties of which they’re interested in investigating the properties. As materials research in general is of key interest to Army research, the Army is interested in any insights gained from investigating the properties of these materials, too. In this case, the Army is providing the expertise and facilities to analyze the materials, and TTSA is providing the materials themselves; both parties receive the results of the analysis. Just as there is no financial compensation to TTSA for the use of the materials, there is no financial compensation to the Army for the use of the facilities.

CRADAs can be built with just about any external entity within the limits of the law and reason, and when there’s an interest to both parties to do so. The Army forms CRADAs after careful consideration of the cost to the Army in terms of time and resources to the mutual research and the potential value to the Army of the research results.

Follow Up Statements:

As far as the materials– the Army’s interest is in the potential for novel materials and exploring the edges of materials science, any speculation as to their origin is (pardon the pun) immaterial. Our team is always excited to look at something new, whether it’s materials or technologies, capabilities or processes.

The post U.S. Army Releases Agreement with To The Stars Academy of Arts & Science first appeared on The Black Vault.