Why Conspiracy Theories Flourish During Pandemics

Enlarge / A meeting of the UN Security Council on April 14. (credit: Fatih Aktas/Anadolu via Getty Images) Russia vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution Wednesday that would have reaffirmed a nearly 50-year-old ban on placing weapons of mass destruction into orbit, two months after reports Russia has plans to do just that. Russia's vote against the resolution was no surprise.

Enlarge / Tech brands love hollering about the purported thrills of AI these days. (credit: Getty) Logitech announced a new mouse last week. A company rep reached out to inform Ars of Logitech’s “newest wireless mouse.” The gadget’s product page reads the same as of this writing. I’ve had good experience with Logitech mice, especially wireless ones, one of which I'm using now.

Enlarge / Drops of the blood going onto an HIV quick test. (credit: Getty | BRITTA PEDERSEN) Trendy, unproven "vampire facials" performed at an unlicensed spa in New Mexico left at least three women with HIV infections. This marks the first time that cosmetic procedures have been associated with an HIV outbreak, according to a detailed report of the outbreak investigation published today. Ars reported on the cluster last year when state health officials announced they were still identifying cases linked to the spa despite it being shut down in September 2018.

The HMD Pulse base model. [credit: HMD ] HMD has been known as the manufacturer of Nokia-branded phones for years now, but now the company wants to start selling phones under its own brand. The first is the "HMD Pulse" line, a series of three low-end phones that are headed for Europe.

Enlarge (credit: Getty Images) In the world of AI, what might be called "small language models" have been growing in popularity recently because they can be run on a local device instead of requiring data center-grade computers in the cloud. On Wednesday, Apple introduced a set of tiny source-available AI language models called OpenELM that are small enough to run directly on a smartphone.

Eight Colorado hotels won the new Michelin Keys on Wednesday, according to the Michelin Key hotel guide. Each of these Colorado hotels received one Michelin Key. Three of the winning hotels are in Denver — the Clayton Hotel and Members Club, Four Seasons Denver and the Crawford Hotel. Three hotels in Aspen — Hotel Jerome, part of the Auberge Resorts Collection, the Little Nell and Mollie Aspen — and two in Vail — Four Seasons Vail and Sonnenalp Hotel — were also awarded the distinction. “Michelin is a prestigious organization and being one of only eight hotels in Colorado to receive a Key is a great honor,” Thierry Kennel, Four Seasons Hotel Denver regional vice president and general manager, said. According to Michelin, hotels with One Michelin Key offer a very special stay.