An article published in “The Astrophysical Journal” reports the results of observations of the star R Leporis conducted using the ALMA radio telescope with its receivers at their highest frequencies and an antenna array configuration spread over an area with a diameter of 16 kilometers. R Leporis, or simply R Lep, is a so-called carbon star, a red giant whose atmosphere is particularly rich in carbon in a phase in which oxygen is normally in greater quantities. Unprecedented observations made it possible to detect details of a natural maser around a star that is reaching the end of its life.