A NASA scientist has died under mysterious circumstances, with no cause of death or autopsy reported, prompting speculation about a possible trend of unexplained deaths among professionals linked to U.S. space and nuclear initiatives.
Michael Hicks, who contributed to numerous space science missions for NASA, passed away in July 2023 at the age of 59. He was employed at California’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) from 1998 until 2022.
His work included involvement in projects like DART, NEAT, the Dawn mission, and the NASA Deep Space 1 mission.
While there’s no clear indication of foul play in Hicks’ passing, his obituary requests donations to Alcoholics Anonymous in his memory. This adds him to a concerning list of eight other scientists or officials who have recently died or gone missing.
Monica Reza, who was previously the director of JPL’s materials processing group, has been missing since June 2025 after a hiking trip.
Retired Air Force General William Neil McCasland disappeared in February after leaving home in Albuquerque, New Mexico, without his glasses or phone.
In February, JPL astrophysicist Karl Grillmare was murdered at his doorstep, while fellow scientist Frank Maiwald died unexpectedly in July 2024—he had a long-standing professional relationship with Hicks.
Additionally, in 2025, two nuclear facility workers at Los Alamos National Laboratory vanished from their homes. Anthony Chavez, a veteran employee, and Melissa Casias, an administrative assistant, were last seen leaving sans critical personal belongings like wallets and phones.
In December 2025, Nuno Loureiro, a researcher focused on fusion energy, was killed in his home by a former classmate from Portugal, Claudio Neves Valente.
Moreover, pharmaceutical researcher Jason Thomas, who was investigating cancer treatments at Novartis, disappeared and was subsequently found dead in a Massachusetts lake.
Chris Swecker, a former FBI Assistant Director, remarked that these events warrant suspicion, as they involve scientists engaged in significant technological work.
He suggested that foreign intelligence agencies have been interested in U.S. technology for years and might hold insights into the disappearances of these scientific professionals.
According to Swecker, countries like China and Russia, along with allies like Pakistan and India, could be targeting valuable technology, which raises serious concerns.
Hicks primarily focused on asteroid missions, notably DART, designed to evaluate planetary defenses against near-Earth threats. He had a unique combination of interests, describing his passion for science as intertwined with a profound appreciation for the arts, including various forms of visual media and performances on the ukulele.
