Rocket glints mimic cosmic transients

Astronomers saw a brief brightening near GN‑z11 and considered a record‑breaking gamma‑ray burst, but the signal likely came from an intervening rocket booster flash. As launches and debris increase, such glints can fake deep‑space events and mislead transient surveys. Astronomy will need routine cross‑checks with space‑object catalogs and observation protocols that discount human artifacts. — Growing space traffic turns scientific false positives into a policy problem, pressing for space‑situational awareness and debris rules that protect high‑end research.