LastWeekIn.Tech — week ending 2026-04-20

Number 1. General Tech Ars Technica

Blue Origin's rocket reuse achievement marred by upper stage failure

Blue Origin’s third New Glenn launch marked the first successful reflight of an orbital‑class booster, but the mission ended with a setback for the company’s flagship rocket, which is slated to carry NASA’s Artemis crew to the moon. The 321‑ft vehicle lifted off from Cape Canaveral at 7:25 am EDT, the BE‑4 methane engines powered the lift‑off and the first‑stage booster shed its engines after three minutes, separating from the upper stage that used BE‑3U liquid hydrogen/oxygen engines. The booster followed a parabolic trajectory, re‑ignited for two braking burns, and landed safely on a ship in the Atlantic, becoming the second flight of the “Never Tell Me The Odds” booster. While the successful recovery demonstrates progress toward reusable, high‑volume launches, the flight also exposed challenges in New Glenn’s larger, more complex design—highlighting that, unlike SpaceX’s rapid Falcon 9 refurbishment, Blue Origin still has hurdles to overcome before it can match the rapid reflight cadence needed for the Artemis program.

Number 2. General Tech WIRED

The Best Hybrid Mattresses for Couples, Back Pain, and More (2026)

Hybrid mattresses combine springs and foam layers with a wide array of additional materials—latex, different foam densities, fabrics and cooling covers—to deliver a balance of softness, support and breathability; the key to choosing the best one is personal testing, as no single model suits everyone, which is why Wired reviewers spend weeks on each mattress, noting fit for height, weight, sleep position and specific needs such as cooling. The article reviews a spectrum of hybrids, from side‑sleep‑focused to back‑pain relief and organic options, and as of April 2026 has added the Tiami Luxury Hybrid and Saatva HD to the lineup, with updated prices.

Number 3. General Tech The Register

Blue Origin nails the landing, but puts the payload satellite in the wrong orbit

Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket successfully landed its reused first stage on the Jacklyn platform during its April 19 launch, but the mission failed to place AST SpaceMobile’s satellite Bluebird 7 into a usable orbit; the second stage delivered the satellite to a lower‑than‑planned, off‑nominal orbit that its own thrusters could not correct, forcing AST to de‑orbit the payload and recover its cost through insurance. The incident leaves the second stage’s performance unclear and raises questions about Blue Origin’s upcoming schedule—including a Starlink competitor, additional AST payloads and a lunar cargo lander for a potential Artemis‑III demonstration—while underscoring that the successful landing and reuse of the rocket was outweighed by the loss of the critical payload.

Number 4. General Tech Ars Technica

I’ve fired one of America’s most powerful lasers—here’s what a shot day looks like

The Texas Petawatt (TPW), a 17‑story‑deep, high‑power laser facility beneath the University of Texas at Austin’s Physics, Math, and Astronomy building, was a DOE‑funded research center that produced petawatt‑level pulses—brief bursts of light carrying more power than the U.S. electrical grid for a trillionth of a second—by stretching, amplifying, and then compressing laser pulses. As lead laser scientist from 2020‑2024, I oversaw “shot days” where targets ranging from ultra‑thin metal foils to gas jets were irradiated to probe stellar physics, fusion, and even medical applications. The process involved hours of meticulous preparation, culminating in a 10‑second window of near silence during the actual pulse, before the facility was shut down due to funding cuts.

Number 5. General Tech WIRED

There’s New Evidence for How Loneliness Affects Memory in Old Age

A new six‑year longitudinal analysis of 10,217 European adults aged 65–94, published in *Aging & Mental Health*, shows that loneliness is linked to lower baseline memory performance—both immediate and delayed recall—but does not accelerate the rate of cognitive decline; age itself remains the strongest predictor of memory loss, with sharper drops after 75 and especially after 85, while depression, chronic illness, and loneliness further lower initial scores. Physical activity, however, lifts the baseline memory level, acting as a cognitive buffer without altering decline speed. Though the study does not pinpoint causality, it highlights loneliness as a significant factor in initial memory deficits, underscoring the need to address social isolation as part of strategies to mitigate cognitive decline in an aging population projected to grow substantially by 2050.

Number 6. General Tech WIRED

Best Meta Glasses (2026): Ray-Ban, Oakley, AR

Meta’s Ray‑Ban‑styled AR glasses—sold in over seven million pairs by 2025—have become a ubiquitous sight at outdoor events, offering a single, stylish device that doubles as sunglasses, headphones, and a camera, thanks to a partnership with EssilorLuxottica. While the tech lets users capture content and enjoy an integrated experience, it also raises serious privacy concerns, as Meta’s history of questionable data practices and the potential for covert recording make many people uneasy about wearing “pervert glasses.” Despite these issues, the latest model upgrades the original design with a 12‑MP camera, up to eight hours of battery life, and options for clear, prescription, or transition lenses, making it a practical choice for those who value convenience and style over the broader societal implications.

Number 7. General Tech WIRED

Hisense U7SG TV Review (2026): Better Design, Great Value

Hisense’s new U7SG mid‑range TV blurs the line to premium with a sleek industrial stand, matte anti‑reflective panel, and bright mini‑LED backlighting that rivals Samsung’s high‑end models; it ships with a top‑tier gaming setup, a Google TV interface, and a wide range of sizes up to 116 inches. While the latest U8 (UR8) pushes RGB LED technology for more vivid colors and higher brightness, the U7SG still feels a touch “budget” due to side‑view performance quirks and some software quirks that can make demanding scenes look odd—though these are fixable. Overall, its eye‑catching colors and improved image clarity make it a solid budget choice, especially as its price is expected to drop soon.

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