Given how much I enjoyed the Project Hail Mary movie, I was beyond hyped to get my hands on the Lego Project Hail Mary set. And now that I've built it, I'm thrilled to say it does not disappoint. You could even say that it's amaze, amaze, amaze!
The titular Hail Mary is the spaceship from "Project Hail Mary", the Andy Weir novel-turned-Hollywood blockbuster that carries Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling) across the stars to save humanity. While the design of the ship is certainly described in the book, this is definitely a Lego rendition of the movie version. So, if you're an Andy Weir fan who imagined it looking a little different, you can blame the studio.
Coming in at $99.99 with just under 900 pieces, it's a lot smaller than we expected (and hoped for). If you're after something comparable to the hefty NASA Artemis Space Launch System or gargantuan Venator-Class Republic Attack Cruiser sets, then you'll be disappointed. However, the Lego Project Hail Mary has a heck of a party trick to make up for its diminutive size: A spinning mechanism that simulates the centrifugal gravity system of the ship.
Price: $99.99/£99.99
Model number: 11389
Number of pieces: 830
Dimensions: 12 x 9.5 x 8.5 inches / 30 x 25 x 22 cm
Recommended age: 18+
The Lego Project Hail Mary is constructed from 830 pieces, split across six numbered paper bags, with a few large pieces in a separate plastic bag. I built the kit over the course of two nights, but you could easily smash it out in a single evening if you wanted to.
The build starts with a little diorama, showcasing the Ryland and Rocky minifigures on either side of a window (the barrier that separates them when they first meet and learn to communicate in the movie). It's a cool little display that can work well on its own or can be attached to the stand of the ship itself.
From there on, four out of the six bags are almost entirely dedicated to the display stand and the incorporated spinning mechanism, with the final section of bag four attaching the ship’s crew module to the spinning mechanism. Thanks to the intricate mechanism inside it, the stand not only spins, but also retracts and extends the crew section of the ship, simulating the centrifugal gravity system from the movie. While it's a complicated mechanism that means a lot of Technic pieces, but the build itself is straightforward thanks to the clear instructions.
At last, the final two bags will see you constructing the ship itself. This consists of the main body where the thruster is housed, the three fuselage sections, and the solar panel array that provides power to the ship. Some builders might be disappointed that the actual spacecraft is a remarkably small part of the build process, but I think the spinning display stand is cool enough to offset that. Also, there are no stickers, which is always a huge win for me.
As I mentioned earlier, the display stand is surprisingly hefty and draws the eye away from the beautiful ship – a bit more than you might want from a display piece. That's the downside, but the upside is that it's an awesome party piece. Turning the handle on the front of the stand in either direction rotates the entire ship, simulating its spin in the movie. If you turn the handle clockwise, the crew module extends outward, while turning it counterclockwise retracts it.
The ship itself is a great recreation of Grace's eponymous craft, the Hail Mary. It's quite small, as Lego spaceships go, so there are no interior details or easter eggs hiding within the construction. Despite that, it captures the distinctive silhouette of the craft well, and includes all the major details, like the astrophage-powered engines that make the whole mission possible. From the three main pillars of the ship, which are the fuel tanks that store the astrophage, to the solar panel arrays that stick out from the main body, it all looks great.
I really love the little mini-diorama scene that you can create between Grace and Rocky, recreating their tentative first contact. It's a clever bit of design too, as you can attach their individual plinths to the main display and tuck the glass divider away in the stand. The minifigures themselves are great too. Grace has a custom red NASA flight suit, while Rocky is barely a minifigure — he's an eccentric collection of pieces mashed together, but I can't deny the end result is unmistakable Rocky.
Overall, the Lego Project Hail Mary is a wonderful set that should thrill fans of the movie (more so than fans of the book, although I’m sure they’ll enjoy it too). The ship looks fantastic, and the spinning mechanism is wonderful to see in motion. There are actually some enterprising companies out there selling motorized mod kits for it, which is something I'm seriously considering checking out myself.
With that said, the prominent nature of the stand and somewhat gimmicky spinning feature does limit its appeal as a display model. Plus, those who aren’t big into technic-like builds may want to pass on this one and just admire it from afar.
Finally, while the build itself is only suitable for older teens and adults due to the complex nature of the internal workings, the finished model will definitely delight younger kids thanks to the interactivity it offers.
Three missing rulers reveal that Assyria’s official royal chronology may have concealed a more contested political history. For nearly a century, historians have treated the Assyrian King List (AKL) as the standard chronology of Assyria’s rulers, particularly during the empire’s later history. But evidence drawn from inscriptions, tablets, and damaged monuments suggests that this official [...]WARSAW, Poland — The Lithuanian space laser communications company Astrolight has signed a memorandum of understanding with ATMOS Space Cargo, to demonstrate in-flight optical communications link between a reentry spacecraft […]
The post Astrolight, ATMOS Space Cargo eye first in-flight laser link between reentry vehicle, satellite appeared first on SpaceNews.
For 35 years, the Hubble Space Telescope has looked out into the Universe. Now, Lego is inviting builders to look inward with its latest model of the orbiting observatory.
The new Lego Icons Hubble Space Telescope (set no. 11382) was released on August 1 for $140 at the toy company's stores and its online shop. The 1,252-piece kit builds a 15-inch-long (38-cm) desktop model that is about twice as large as the previously released Lego Hubble models.
The Icons Hubble is the first to be sized in comparison to a Lego minifigure, such that the included astronaut provides a sense of scale for the telescope.
© LEGO
Se você gosta de jogos de tabuleiro e quer se divertir, conheça e veja como instalar o jogo Nine men's morris no Linux via Snap.
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The Air Force Research Laboratory increased by $11.7 million Blue Origin’s contract to study the use of space rockets for point-to-point deliveries
The post U.S. Air Force expands Blue Origin rocket cargo contract appeared first on SpaceNews.
Se você quer jogar ou criar jogos baseados no Quake 3, conheça e veja como instalar o jogo ioquake3 no Linux via Flatpak.
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As Pokémon Go celebrates its 10th anniversary, its devoted players explain how the game has created a vibrant intergenerational community spanning the globe
Most Pokémon obsessives count rare, absurdly expensive playing cards or pristine, fully boxed game cartridges that have survived decades in the attic among their most prized possessions. But for Mairead Ralph, her Pokémon-related crown jewel is a bit different. “Technically, it’s my husband!” she says.
The pair first locked eyes amid decks of Pokémon playing cards and Pokéballs at a fan event 16 years ago and the rest is history. Ralph was among hundreds of Pokémon fans who flocked to Shoreditch, east London, on Saturday afternoon for a pop-up celebrating the 10th anniversary of Pokémon Go, the massively successful augmented reality smartphone game that has seen millions of players physically venture to all corners of the earth to catch ’em all in person. In that spirit, the surrounding area was full of Pokéheads wandering the streets, their heads in their phones, seeking to catch exclusive Pokémon that had been released.
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© Photograph: Teri Pengilley/The Guardian
© Photograph: Teri Pengilley/The Guardian
© Photograph: Teri Pengilley/The Guardian
Researchers demonstrated that braiding and fusing particles known as non-Abelian anyons can perform every operation required by a quantum computer. A quantum computer becomes broadly useful only when it can perform any computation rather than a limited set of specialized tasks. Physicists have now demonstrated that unusual quantum objects called non-Abelian anyons can provide that [...]Playmobil is known for crafting imaginative playsets, taking kids (and adults) on big adventures from the comfort of their homes. When it comes to the exploration of space, they've got a lot to offer. Not only has Playmobil created two mega Star Trek sets, releasing the Playmobil USS Enterprise long before LEGO released its own version and the Playmobil Klingon Bird of Prey back in 2023 (both of which we've reviewed and loved), but they've even collaborated with the real-life European Space Agency (ESA).
As Nadia Lüders, ESA's partnership and brand licensing officer, said in a statement: “This partnership ensures that the curiosity and wonder of space continue to spark young imaginations — nurturing a new generation ready to explore, innovate and shape the Europe of tomorrow.”
Playmobil's dedication to weaving space exploration and learning into imaginative play is demonstrated in the sheer amount of space and sci-fi sets they have to offer, of which we'll jump into all 13 of them below. Ranging in price from the Playmobil Space Ranger for $15 to the Star Trek USS Enterprise for $354, there are playsets for a range of ages, interests, and budgets.
Not a fan of Playmobil, or can't find the right set? We've also rated and ranked the best Lego Star Wars, Lego space, and Lego Marvel sets you can buy.
A sizeable Playmobil model of the original Enterprise, a treat for TOS fans.
Age rating: 10+ | Pieces: 150 | Figures: 6 | Dimensions: 39.4 x 18.9 x 13.4 in (100 x 48 x 34 cm) | Weight: 4.72 kg (10.4 lbs)
Playmobil launched the Star Trek USS Enterprise years ahead of LEGO’s November 2025 release date, and it made us ask the question: Playmobil versus Lego, which is the best USS Enterprise set? For starters, the Playmobil set comes in cheaper. And while it’s got 150 pieces in comparison to Lego’s 3,600, it’s still a lot bigger, measuring over 3 feet (1 meter) in length.
When our expert testers gave the Playmobil Star Trek USS Enterprise a full review, it earned a whopping 4 ½ stars, delighting with its authentic light and sounds, and an ease of build that results in a gorgeous replica. Yes, it’s expensive and it has a lot of stickers, but if you’re a fan of both Star Trek and Playmobil, it’s an excellent model you can keep in your home forever. Recommended for ages 10 years and up.
This set is considered a collectable but it's worth tracking down
Age rating: 10+ | Pieces: 94 | Figures: 6 | Dimensions: 19.5 x 23 x 7.25 in (49.5 x 58 x 18 cm) | Weight: 4.4 lbs (2 kg)
Playmobil followed up its Star Trek USS Enterprise with another impressive model, the Klingon Bird of Prey. Now considered a collectible, it’s a little harder to get your hands on, though we found it at an online toy store for $350.
If you’re wondering whether it’s worth the investment, in our expert Playmobil Klingon Bird of Prey review, we called this set “among the most impressive toys and models Space.com has had the pleasure of reviewing.” Impressive detail, great lights and sounds, and figurines that are a lot of fun are just some of the reasons we gave it 4.5/5 stars. And after the build is done, it looks fantastic on its included display.
It’s on the larger side, though (19.5 x 23 x 7.25 inches / 50 x 58 x 18 cm), so make sure you have room to display it before you buy. Recommended for ages 10 years and up.
This set is handy if you just want your own Playmobil away team.
Age rating: 10+ | Pieces: 10 | Figures: 4 | Dimensions: 9.76 x 5.59 x 1.81 in (24.79 x 14.20 x 4.60 cm) | Weight: 0.26 lbs (120 g)
To accompany your Star Trek investments, or just to have as part of a wider Playmobil space collection, you can also secure the four Playmobil Star Trek figurines. James T. Kirk, Mr. Spock, Dr. Leonard McCoy and Nyota Uhura all come in this pack alongside individual accessories.
Kirk comes with his phaser, Spock a tricorder disguised as a bag, McCoy with a so-called hypospray and Uhura with a skirt to change outfits. For any Trekkies, it's an affordable addition for any ultimate fan's collection. This one's recommended for ages 10 and up.
Roam the lunar surface with this Playmobil rover
Age rating: 4+ | Pieces: 57 | Figures: 1 | Dimensions: 9.76 x 7.36 x 2.84 in (24.79 x 18.69 x 7.21 cm) | Weight: 0.48 lbs (216 g)
Playmobil and ESA have built a partnership, and an accompanying six different play sets, to inspire a love of intergalactic exploration. And the Starter Pack Space Mission is a great introduction to building out a Playmobil collection dedicated to all things space, especially as the sets can be mixed, matched and expanded.
In the pack, you get an astronaut figure, lunar rover with two lights, antenna, solar panel, satellite dish, rock samples and other accessories. Recommended for ages 4 years old and up, it's a gift for any space lover, whether they're a kid or adult.
There's also a nod to the ESA with the organization's logo emblazoned on both the rover and astronaut's spacesuit. As the production description states: "The astronaut discovered unusual soil samples during a tour with the lunar vehicle. The samples now have to be analyzed very quickly in the mobile station and the results transmitted via satellite. What will the results be?"
A small, pocket-friendly Mars set with plenty of play value
Age rating: 4+ | Pieces: 42 | Figures: 1 | Dimensions: 3.66 x 5.59 x 1.77 in (9.30 x 14.20 x 4.50 cm) | Weight: 0.20 lbs (90 g)
A smaller set that works alongside the others in the Playmobil/ESA range, the Astronaut with Robot is a two-figure build consisting of 42 pieces. As the pack explains: “Together with his reliable companion robot and a nimble Mars crawler, the astronaut collects fascinating soil samples on the Red Planet.”
And you don’t only get a robot and astronaut (able to sit and stand) with the set, but a backpack, ground scanner analysis station, rock samples, base plate, gripper arm and more, too. Suitable for young explorers from age 4 years and up, it's an excellent addition to the larger Mars mission, working alongside the rest of the themed Playmobil sets.
Playmobil's own version of the Mars Pathfinder, with astronaut friend
Age rating: 4+ | Pieces: 76 | Figures: 1 | Dimensions: 7.36 x 5.59 x 2.84 in (18.69 x 14.20 x 7.21 cm) | Weight: 0.64 lbs (290 g)
With the Playmobil ESA Mars Rover, you can launch your own mission to Mars in this 76-piece set. It comes with drill, cameras and high-tech sensors, as well as rock samples and other accessories to build your great space exploration adventure. And it's also focused on the types of powerful scientific instruments you'd find on the actual Mars Rover, as well as reenacting the way you'd store and analyze the samples.
As with any of these sets, imagination is key, but that's helped along with the inclusion of everything you need to bring authentic space exploration to life. The Playmobil ESA set is perfect for fans and includes rotating drills, movable cameras and a sturdy six-wheel drive to make discovery possible.
A cool little space vehicle that offers a lot of fun for its pricetag
Age rating: 4+ | Pieces: 48 | Figures: 1 | Dimensions: 5.59 x 5.59 x 2.6 in (14.20 x 14.20 x 6.60 cm) | Weight: 0.40 lbs (180 g)
This speedy space glider is the perfect way to zip around on the surface of Mars, using its in-built claw to retrieve rock samples and even crystals. With a rotating turret and powerful blasters, there's a lot of fun to be had at only $25.
The set comes with a female astronaut, accessories, tools, projectiles, a gripper arm and glowing rock samples to dream up your own adventure. One of the smaller Playmobil ESA collaboration playsets, it has 48 pieces and is recommended for ages 4 years and up.
An older playset but loaded with things to do
Age rating: 6+ | Pieces: 173 | Figures: 2 | Dimensions: 20.28 x 15.16 x 4.92 in (51.51 x 38.51 x 12.50 cm) | Weight: 3.50 lbs (1.59 kgs)
Less widely available is the Playmobil Mars Expedition playset. Recommended for ages 6 and up, it's an older playset with plenty to do, with 173 pieces and a whole lot of accessories.
Inside the playset, you get a full Mars Rover with drill attachment and various other tool attachments, including an extendable, moveable arm, gripper and blaster. The rover also includes functioning light and sound effects, as well as gripper arm action, driving sounds and an alarm.
A play-friendly vehicle with space for up to four Playmobil figures
Age rating: 6+ | Pieces: 74 | Figures: 1 | Dimensions: 13.7 x 9.76 x 4.92 in (34.80 x 24.79 x 12.50 cm) | Weight: 1.85 lbs (840 g)
Alongside Playmobil's ESA collaboration and the Star Trek playsets, Playmobil also has its own themed collection dedicated to space, including their own Mars Research Vehicle. Thanks to a removable roof, you can get inside the vehicle with space for four adult figures. You can also enter and exit the side via the ramp, and the movable arm can hold three different attachments, including a claw gripper, drill and laser gun.
Recommended for ages six and up, there are 74 pieces to build, as well as the opportunity to enjoy the functioning lights and sound effects (though you'll need to buy 2 x AAA batteries separately).
A fun, accessory-packed set for fans of the red planet
Age rating: 4+ | Pieces: 60 | Figures: 1 | Dimensions: 9.8 x 2.6 x 6.3 in (24.89 x 6.60 x 16 cm) | Weight: 0.89 lbs (404 g)
Not to be confused with the ESA Space Mission set, the Mars Mission Play Box comes with a large research station that can be opened via two front panels, with an accompanying astronaut and robot who work together to study the water crystals found on Mars.
The beauty of this playset is that it’s ready for on-the-go play as all the pieces can be stored inside the research station, while the top can be used as a handle. As well as the figures, it also comes with a satellite, walkie-talkie and other accessories. Recommended for ages 4 years and up.
Head off into the cosmos with this mini set
Age rating: 4+ | Pieces: 57 | Figures: 1 | Dimensions: 9.76 x 5.59 x 2.76 in (24.79 x 14.20 x 7.01 cm) | Weight: 0.47 lbs (213 g)
The Mission Space Drone set comes with a space drone, astronaut figure with spacesuit and space shoes, space rock and other accessories for a full space flight adventure. Even better, under the drone are two fully-functioning cannons which shoot out launch missiles.
Create your own space mission by exploring alien planets with your astronaut and space drone at the ready. With 57 pieces, it's recommended for ages 4 years and up, meaning space exploration can start early. Right now, it's on offer at Amazon, but at time of writing, there were only 4 left in stock.
Worried about Playmobil asteroids? This set has the answer
Age rating: 6+ | Pieces: 42 | Figures: 1 | Dimensions: 11.18 x 7.36 x 3.66 in (28.40 x 18.69 x 9.30 cm) | Weight: 0.90 lbs (410 g)
With an astronaut quite similar to the Mission Space Drone set, instead of a drone, you're equipped with a functioning meteoroid laser. As the pack says: “Keep the mission on track and destroy any space debris that blocks your way with the satellite meteoroid laser!”
To use, you lay the meteoroid in front of the laser, simultaneously pressing in the center on both sides to shatter it into pieces. You can even connect your astronaut straight to the vessel with a connected arm attachment. The set includes an astronaut, satellite, break-apart meteoroid, laser darts and other accessories. Recommended for ages 4 years and up.
A streamlined space vehicle you can even personalize
Age rating: 4+ | Pieces: 64 | Figures: 2 | Distance: 7.36 x 5.59 x 1.85 in (18.69 x 14.20 x 4.70 cm) | Weight: 0.33 lbs (150 g)
Expand your Playmobil space sets with this affordable Space Ranger kit, consisting of 64 pieces and recommended for ages 4 years and up. The set includes one figure, speedster, helmet, vest and lots of other space gear for your other figures to wear and play with.
When you're ready to fly the speedster, Playmobil has even designed it so the landing feet fold up, ready to make it as streamlined as possible for flight. As a gift set, it has a label that can even be personalized to the space fan in your life.
A recent Focus Issue of the Astrophysical Journal Letters describes the fourth version of the catalog of gravitational wave events (GWTC-4.0) from the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO), the Virgo interferometer, and the Kamioka Gravitational Wave Detector (KAGRA).
This catalog contains transient gravitational wave events recorded through January 2024, during the observatories’ fourth observing run, which concluded in November 2025. GWTC-4.0 displays the results of significant improvements to our suite of gravitational wave detectors, including higher-powered lasers and reduced quantum noise. A fifth catalog of gravitational wave events was released in Spring 2026, with the accompanying scientific articles being submitted to the Astrophysical Journal and the Astrophysical Journal Letters.
This Monthly Roundup consists of short descriptions of each of the currently published research articles in the LIGO–Virgo–KAGRA Gravitational Wave Transient Catalog (GWTC): Release 4 Focus Issue. Each snippet links to the corresponding research article, and the Focus Issue landing page is linked at the bottom of this post. Be sure to revisit the landing page to catch new articles as they’re published!
A timeline showing observing runs between 2015 and 2024. Click to enlarge. [LVK Collaboration 2025]
After these detectors record subtle spacetime squiggles from compact objects colliding millions to billions of light-years away, the collaboration converts the raw signals into the data contained in catalogs like GWTC-4.0. This process involves modeling the gravitational wave signals, filtering them to identify candidate transients, and pinpointing the most significant events.
After collecting and cleaning the signals, the collaboration undertakes a critical step: making their data accessible to researchers and the public. The data are available through the Gravitational Wave Open Science Center, and the Focus Issue article on open data describes how to navigate the online portal, how the datasets archived online are structured, and how the data were calibrated.
This fourth version of the gravitational wave transient catalog greatly expands the sample of gravitational wave transients recorded by detectors across the globe. Including events from previous catalogs, GWTC-4.0 brings us to 218 events for which the probability of the source being astrophysical in nature is more than 50% and for which there is little chance of the signal being an instrumental artifact. This represents a more than 100% increase in the number of recorded gravitational wave events fulfilling this criterion, broadening our understanding of colliding compact object pairs. This release also includes some superlative signals, such as the most massive black hole binary with a low false-alarm rate and the highest signal-to-noise ratio for a gravitational wave event thus far.
Detected in November 2023 by both LIGO Hanford and LIGO Livingston, GW231123 is in many ways an exceptional gravitational wave transient. The total mass of the merging components appears to be between 190 and 265 solar masses, and the false-alarm rate for this signal is less than one per year. This makes it the most massive merger event with such a low false-alarm probability. The two components also appear to have high spins, which complicates the interpretation of the signal with existing models. A binary black hole merger in which one or more components lies within the pair-instability mass gap is the likeliest explanation for this signal, but the authors also present alternative scenarios, such as a core-collapse supernova or a gravitationally lensed gravitational wave signal.
Representations of the GW230814 gravitational wave signal. Click to enlarge. [LVK Collaboration 2026]
Plot of the differential merger rate as a function of the mass of the more massive of the two merger components. This shows overdensities at 10, 35, and possibly 20 solar masses. Click to enlarge. [LVK Collaboration 2026]
The full list of articles in the GWTC-4.0 Focus Issue can be found here.
“GWTC-4.0: An Introduction to Version 4.0 of the Gravitational-Wave Transient Catalog,” A. G. Abac et al 2025 ApJL 995 L18. doi:10.3847/2041-8213/ae0c06
“GWTC-4.0: Methods for Identifying and Characterizing Gravitational-Wave Transients,” A. G. Abac et al 2026 ApJL 1004 L21. doi:10.3847/2041-8213/ae447b
“Open Data from LIGO, Virgo, and KAGRA Through the First Part of the Fourth Observing Run,” A. G. Abac et al 2026 ApJ 1004 232. doi:10.3847/1538-4357/ae211e
“GWTC-4.0: Updating the Gravitational-Wave Transient Catalog with Observations from the First Part of the Fourth LIGO–Virgo–KAGRA Observing Run,” A. G. Abac et al 2026 ApJL 1004 L22. doi:10.3847/2041-8213/ae2c74
“GW231123: A Binary Black Hole Merger with Total Mass 190–265 M⊙,” A. G. Abac et al 2025 ApJL993 L25. doi:10.3847/2041-8213/ae0c9c
“GW230814: Investigation of a Loud Gravitational-Wave Signal Observed with a Single Detector,” A. G. Abac et al 2026 ApJL 1004 L23. doi:10.3847/2041-8213/ae2ad3
“GWTC-4.0: Population Properties of Merging Compact Binaries,” A. G. Abac et al 2026 ApJL 1005 L51. doi:10.3847/2041-8213/ae771e
The post Monthly Roundup: The Fourth Catalog of Gravitational Wave Events from LIGO, Virgo, and KAGRA appeared first on AAS Nova.
An international team of paleontologists has identified a new species of early sauropodomorph dinosaur in Zimbabwe, adding to growing evidence that southern Africa hosted a richer diversity of dinosaurs during the Late Triassic epoch than previously recognized.
The post New Species of Triassic Dinosaur Discovered on Shores of Zimbabwe’s Lake Kariba appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.
Baidu’s Apollo Go started robotaxi road testing in London today, and it’s doing it with both of ride-hailing’s biggest names at once — Uber and Freenow by Lyft.
The launch lands days after Apollo Go ran the first fully driverless trial in any right-hand-drive market, in Hong Kong. Two milestones in one week, on opposite ends of the world.
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