In this note, we prove that the moduli stack of vector bundles on a curve with a fixed determinant is ${\mathbb A}^1$-connected. We obtain this result by classifying vector bundles on a curve up to ${\mathbb A}^1$-concordance. Consequently, we classify ${\mathbb P}^n$-bundles on a curve up to ${\mathbb A}^1$-weak equivalence, extending a result in [3] of Asok-Morel. We also give an explicit example of a variety which is ${\mathbb A}^1$-h-cobordant to a projective bundle over ${\mathbb P}^2$ but does not have the structure of a projective bundle over ${\mathbb P}^2$, thus answering a question of Asok-Kebekus-Wendt [2].

We show how the techniques of Voevodsky’s proof of the Milnor conjecture and the Voevodsky–Rost proof of its generalization the Bloch–Kato conjecture can be used to study counterexamples to the classical Lüroth problem. By generalizing a method due to Peyre, we produce for any prime number $\ell $ and any integer $n\geq 2$, a rationally connected, non-rational variety for which non-rationality is detected by a non-trivial degree $n$ unramified étale cohomology class with $\ell $-torsion coefficients. When $\ell = 2$, the varieties that are constructed are furthermore unirational and non-rationality cannot be detected by a torsion unramified étale cohomology class of lower degree.