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Morning Edition May 26th, 2026 at 12:22am GMT

The Ars Bulletin

Keeping you up to date with the latest crawl

Whatever the mirror test tells us, beluga whales pass it

Beluga whales have passed the mirror test, a cognitive assessment that indicates self-awareness. Researchers observed the whales' behavior in front of a mirror, and they demonstrated an understanding of their own reflection, similar to that of humans and some other animals. This finding suggests that beluga whales possess a level of consciousness and cognitive ability.

SpaceX’s Starship V3—still a work in progress—mostly successful on first flight

SpaceX's Starship V3, a prototype of the company's reusable spacecraft, has successfully completed its first flight, but the mission is still considered a work in progress. The test flight, which took place on May 23, 2026, was mostly successful, with the spacecraft reaching its intended altitude and velocity. However, the mission was not without issues, and further testing is needed to fully evaluate the performance of the Starship V3.

Two space shuttle-era spacewalkers enter Astronaut Hall of Fame

Two space shuttle-era spacewalkers, Joseph "Joe" Tanner and Thomas "Tom" Akers, have been inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony took place at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Both Tanner and Akers have extensive experience in space exploration, having participated in missions to the International Space Station and the Hubble Space Telescope.

China’s shark finning could lead to US seafood sanctions

China's shark finning practices are under scrutiny, with the US considering seafood sanctions against the country. The US has been monitoring China's deep-sea fishing activities, which have been linked to overfishing and shark finning. If sanctions are imposed, it could have significant economic implications for China's seafood industry.

Four Russian satellites are now within striking distance of an ICEYE radarsat

Four Russian satellites have entered a region where they could potentially intercept signals from an ICEYE radar satellite. The satellites are part of the Russian space program and are believed to be used for surveillance purposes. The ICEYE radar satellite is a commercial satellite that provides imaging services.

Ebola outbreak now third largest recorded and “spreading rapidly”

The Ebola outbreak in Uganda has become the third largest recorded in history, with cases spreading rapidly. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the outbreak has resulted in a significant number of deaths and continues to pose a major public health threat. The WHO and other health organizations are working to contain the outbreak and provide support to affected communities.

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