Trump says bitcoin reserve will change everything. Crypto fans aren’t so sure.
Trump orders federal agencies to pool seized bitcoins in reserve.
After less than a day, the Athena lander is dead on the Moon
"The mission has concluded and teams are continuing to assess the data collected."
https://arstechnica.com/space/2025/03/after-less-than-a-day-the-athena-lander-is-dead-on-the-moon/
The Starship program hits another speed bump with second consecutive failure
Observers in Florida, the Bahamas, and the Turks and Caicos Islands spotted falling debris.
White House may seek to slash NASA’s science budget by 50 percent
"It would be nothing short of an extinction-level event for space science."
Rocket Report: Starship fails for a second time; what’s to blame for Vulcan delays?
"During Starship's ascent burn, the vehicle experienced a rapid unscheduled disassembly."
iPhone 16e review: The most expensive cheap iPhone yet
The iPhone 16e rethinks—and prices up—the basic iPhone.
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/03/iphone-16e-review-the-most-expensive-cheap-iphone-yet/
CMU research shows compression alone may unlock AI puzzle-solving abilities
New research challenges prevailing idea that AI needs massive datasets to solve problems.
“Literally just a copy”—hit iOS game accused of unauthorized HTML5 code theft
Web game illicitly "wrapped in a mobile shell" climbed the paid App Store charts.
Intuitive Machines’ second attempt to land on the Moon also went sideways
"I would like to get more data before we can determine the orientation."
No one asked for this: Google is testing round keys in Gboard
A lot of Gboard beta users are suddenly remembering they joined the beta.
https://arstechnica.com/google/2025/03/no-one-asked-for-this-google-is-testing-round-keys-in-gboard/
When Europe needed it most, the Ariane 6 rocket finally delivered
"For this sovereignty, we must yield to the temptation of preferring SpaceX."
Starlink benefits as Trump admin rewrites rules for $42B grant program
Trump admin decides fiber Internet won't be prioritized in BEAD grant program.
1Password offers geo-locating help for bad apps that constantly log you out
Get at that hard-to-remember app or garage pin with a new "Nearby" feature.
The most intriguing tech gadget prototypes demoed this week
Some of these ideas have genuine shots at making it into real products.
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/03/the-most-intriguing-tech-gadget-prototypes-demoed-this-week/
Saliva that fights norovirus? Experimental oral vaccine is nothing to spit at.
Phase I study showed vaccine was safe and spurred immune responses in older people.
Trump claims CFPB “destroys” people. Senators say killing it is a gift to Musk.
Trump’s efforts to shutter the CFPB sparks demand for Elon Musk ethics probe.
Prehistoric bone tool cache suggests advanced reasoning in early hominins
Tools "show evidence that their creators carefully worked the bones, chipping off flakes to create useful shapes."
VW is testing its robotaxis in snowy, icy Norway
A taxi service that only operates in good weather isn't a good taxi service.
https://arstechnica.com/cars/2025/03/vw-is-testing-its-robotaxis-in-snowy-icy-norway/
Who gets ownership of useful genetic data?
Digital sequence information alters how researchers look at the world’s genetic resources.
https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/03/who-gets-ownership-of-useful-genetic-data/
Massive botnet that appeared overnight is delivering record-size DDoSes
Eleven11bot infects video recorders, with the largest concentration of them in the US.