Artemis II Broke Fred Haise's Distance Record, but He Is Happy to Pass It On
Artemis II’s crew set a new human‑distance record, traveling 252,756 miles (406,771 km) from Earth—surpassing the Apollo 13 benchmark that stood for 56 years. The record was achieved on a free‑return trajectory that took the Orion capsule farther beyond the Moon’s far side than any prior mission. NASA’s recent decision to cancel the Gateway station shifts focus to a lunar surface base, meaning future Artemis flights may not exceed this distance except under special orbital configurations. Veteran astronaut Fred Haise, the last living Apollo 13 crew member, reflected on the record’s modest significance and the funding challenges that delayed lunar return efforts.
FCC: Router Ban Includes Portable Hotspots, but Not Phones with Hotspot Features
The FCC clarified that its ban on foreign‑made consumer routers now also covers portable MiFi hotspot devices, while mobile phones with hotspot capabilities remain exempt. The agency’s FAQ defines the ban to include consumer‑grade routers, LTE/5G CPEs, and residential gateways,...
Report: Samsung Execs Worried Company Could Lose Money on Smartphones for the First Time
Samsung's mobile division warned it could post its first net loss on smartphones in 2026 despite strong Galaxy S26 sales. The loss is driven by soaring DRAM and NAND prices, which now account for a larger share of component costs,...
Our Newsroom AI Policy
Ars Technica has released a reader‑facing policy outlining how it employs generative AI in its editorial workflow. The policy emphasizes that all reporting, analysis, and commentary are authored by humans, with AI tools limited to assistance in editing, research, and...
RFK Jr. Won't Back CDC Director on Vaccines as Agency Scraps Positive Data
U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. declined to pledge non‑interference with the incoming CDC director, Erica Schwartz, raising concerns about political meddling in vaccine policy. At the same time, the CDC scrapped a peer‑reviewed study that showed a 50% drop in emergency‑room visits...
You Want Your Moon Landings in HD? So Does NASA—Here's How It's Happening.
NASA’s Artemis II crew used an experimental optical‑laser communications terminal that boosted data rates from a few megabits per second to 260 Mbps, enabling near‑real‑time high‑definition video from lunar orbit. The system outperformed the traditional S‑band radio link, which tops out at...
Pentagon Wants $54B for Drones, More than Most Nations’ Military Budgets
The Pentagon’s FY 2027 budget request includes a historic $53.6 billion for drone production, operator training, logistics and counter‑drone systems, plus an additional $20.6 billion for one‑way attack drones and the MQ‑25 refueler. This investment would outpace the defense spending of most nations,...
Supreme Court Arguments Make It Clear that FCC Fines Are "Nonbinding"
The Supreme Court heard AT&T and Verizon argue that FCC forfeiture orders violate their Seventh Amendment right to a jury trial. The carriers were fined $104 million for selling real‑time location data without consent, but justices signaled that FCC penalties are...
Framework's CEO on the RAM Crisis and Creating a "MacBook Pro for Linux Users"
Framework unveiled an updated Laptop 13 Pro featuring Intel’s Core Ultra 3 processor and a new motherboard that slots into the existing 13 chassis. The model is the first pre‑built Framework laptop to ship with Linux, earning official Ubuntu certification and positioning...
Clarifying HEVC Licensing Fees, Royalties, and Why Vendors Kill HEVC Support
OEMs such as Dell, HP, and Synology are disabling hardware‑based HEVC support to sidestep rising patent‑pool royalties and litigation risk. HEVC licensing is handled by Access and Velos, with Access planning up to a 20% royalty increase after five years...
Man with @Ihackedthegovernment Instagram Account Tells Judge, “I Made a Mistake"
A 25‑year‑old Tennessee man, Nicholas Moore, pleaded guilty to unauthorized access of the U.S. Supreme Court’s electronic filing system, AmeriCorps, and the Veterans Administration Health System, then posted victims' personal data on his Instagram account @ihackedthegovernment. The court sentenced him...
$25,000 Buys Plenty of Used EVs: Here Are some Options
The used‑electric‑vehicle market now offers a robust selection in the $20,000‑$25,000 price range, despite the Trump administration’s repeal of the used clean‑vehicle tax credit. A Deloitte report notes that EV residual values lag behind expectations, but this depreciation translates into...
Artemis II Pilot Talks About What It Was Really Like to Fly and Land in Orion
NASA astronaut Victor Glover, pilot of Artemis II’s Orion spacecraft, detailed his experience flying the lunar‑orbit mission. He praised Orion’s translational hand controller and noted the real vehicle’s thrusters felt more like a “rumble” than the simulated whine, delivering smoother handling...
Meta's AI Spending Spree Is Helping Make Its Quest Headsets More Expensive
Meta announced a $50‑$100 price hike (12‑20%) for its Quest VR headsets, effective April 19, citing a global surge in memory‑chip costs. The increase coincides with Meta’s aggressive AI capital‑expenditure plan, targeting $115‑$135 billion in 2026, up sharply from $72 billion in...
Florida Surgeon Charged with Killing Man After Removing Liver Instead of Spleen
A Florida grand jury indicted surgeon Thomas Shaknovsky on second-degree manslaughter charges after he mistakenly removed a 2,100‑gram liver instead of a patient’s spleen, severing the inferior vena cava and causing fatal bleeding. The 70‑year‑old patient, William Bryan, died during...