Japanese weather satellite accidentally watched Betelgeuse go dim
Observations say that two main explanations for the star's fading are both right.
Science // Science & Exploration
Ars Frontiers, the first Ars Technica conference, comes to DC
We're holding a conference in May—and if you want to come, read on!
Heat-driven photovoltaic device hits 40 percent efficiency
Efficient device is meant to extract electricity from extremely high temperatures.
Autopsies suggest COVID’s smell loss is caused by inflammation, not virus
In 23 patients who died, researchers found olfactory nerve damage but little virus.
Ars takes a clean-room tour of JPL’s asteroid-orbiting Psyche spacecraft
The spacecraft will launch this August and reach its namesake asteroid in January 2026.
Trying to sound impressive, Putin says Russia will resume lunar program
Putin touts a decades-old program with limited ambitions.
Ancient Peruvian was buried with tools for cranial surgery
He was also buried with the partial skulls of two former patients.
Titanosaur nesting spot found in Brazil
Find suggests the titanosaurs didn't need to migrate to favorable nesting sites.
As gonorrhea becomes untreatable, a repurposed vaccine may prevent it
The effectiveness is modest but could still prevent a large number of infections.
Who cares about climate change? Biden brings back E15 gas
E15 is no better than gasoline for climate change, and it lowers fuel efficiency.
NASA to restart fueling test of SLS rocket, with key modifications
"We’re very comfortable with the path forward."
“Implausible:” Zero deaths in Shanghai’s COVID spike spurs skepticism
Low vaccination among elderly and reports of deaths in hospitals raise questions.
DC’s Gridiron COVID outbreak tally hits 72 as cases tick up nationwide
Washington's wave shows how BA.2 is exploiting relaxed health measures.
Company that aims to race SpaceX to Mars plays with fire
"We knew better as untrained college students."
Researchers home in on possible “day zero” for Antikythera mechanism
arXiv preprint suggests December 23, 178 BCE; others think it was summer 204 BCE.
