‘Juno: New Origins’ indie game lets you launch rockets and build planets

A new game hopes to help you test out your rocket creations with the help of a fast-growing community. “Juno: New Origins,” which was created by the small company Jundroo, launched on Steam Thursday (Jan. 26) after three years as an Android app.  The space game is billing itself as a virtual “sandbox” for people interested in designing rockets, high-performance aircraft or unique cars and says it will appeal to a similar audience as the Kerbal Space Program. “The community is one of the key aspects of the game, with…

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James Webb Space Telescope discovers water ice at ringed asteroid Chariklo ‘by remarkable luck’

The most comprehensive plans need a sprinkle of luck, even in space. In October 2022, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST or Webb) watched as Chariklo, a tiny ringed asteroid, eclipsed a star. This event, called an occultation, marked a first for Webb. At the month’s end, Webb turned toward Chariklo again and notched another victory: For the first time, astronomers analyzing the telescope’s data spotted clear signs of water ice, the presence of which was only hinted at until now. These observations will guide astronomers to better understand the…

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NASA funds nuclear probes for icy moons, huge new space telescopes and other far-out tech ideas

NASA has funded a new set of visionary concepts for space exploration that could one day prove useful — and perhaps even transformative. The NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program provides funding for early-stage studies into technologies that could support future missions. NIAC grants worth $175,000 apiece will be given to 14 researchers who are probing the boundaries of what is possible to allow NASA to evaluate potential new technologies, the agency announced earlier this month.  This year’s Phase 1 NIAC selections include ideas for space telescopes, such as a…

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Lego Icons Optimus Prime review

Essential info: Price: $179.99/£159.99 Model number: 10302 Pieces: 1,508 Finished dimensions (robot mode): 13.5 x 5 x 11 inches (35 x 12 x 27 cm) Finished dimensions (truck mode): 5.5 x 10.5 x 4.5 inches (15 x 27 x 12 cm) Recommended age: 18+ It’s been one of the biggest eyebrow-raisers of recent years in the toy industry – rivals the Lego Group and Hasbro teaming up to produce the first official Lego Transformer, and who else could this Cybertronian in brick form be but the valiant leader of the…

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