Astronomers have observed unusual changes in the atmosphere of Betelgeuse, a massive and bright red supergiant star in the constellation Orion. Recent studies using the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA), a powerful radio telescope in Chile, reveal that Betelgeuse’s inner atmosphere has become more uneven and asymmetric over the past several years. This includes the appearance of "hot spots" on its surface—areas significantly hotter than their surroundings, with some reaching around 800 degrees hotter than the surrounding regions. These findings, set to be published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics, suggest that Betelgeuse's surface is marked by large convective cells, which are regions of rising and falling gas that transfer heat. Typically, stars like Betelgeuse have a relatively uniform distribution of these convective cells. However, the team led by Bill Dent from the University of Manchester found that Betelgeuse has a smaller number of very large convective cells, which may explain the observed unevenness. These findings are part of a broader effort to understand the complex and dynamic nature of red supergiant stars, which are among the most massive and luminous stars in the galaxy. The alignment of the hot spots has raised intriguing possibilities. Astronomers believe they may be influenced by the gravitational pull of a smaller, closely orbiting companion star. Earlier in 2026, scientists found strong evidence for the existence of such a companion, which orbits Betelgeuse at a relatively close distance. If this companion's orbit is aligned with Betelgeuse’s equatorial plane, it could explain why the brightest and most persistent hot spots appear near the star’s polar regions. This alignment might indicate that convection is more active and stable in those areas, possibly due to the gravitational influence of the companion star. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for astronomers studying how massive stars like Betelgeuse evolve and eventually die. Red supergiants are known to shed their outer layers in dramatic events, such as supernovae. The new observations could offer valuable insights into the processes that lead to such stellar explosions, helping scientists better predict when and how these stars might end their lives.