- NASA's Concerning Blood Cell Research: A groundbreaking study reveals that human stem cells experience accelerated aging in space, as tracked during four SpaceX missions to the ISS. The research highlights DNA damage and shorter telomeres, although some damage appears reversible upon return to Earth. This vital information could inform strategies for protecting astronauts on long-duration missions to Mars.
- Upcoming Total Lunar Eclipse: Mark your calendars for a spectacular total lunar eclipse on September 7th and 8th, 2025, visible to over 7 billion people. The event will feature a stunning 65 minutes of totality, transforming the Moon into a deep red hue, while multiple livestreams will allow viewers worldwide to experience this celestial phenomenon.
- Murchison Widefield Array Upgrade: The Murchison Widefield Array in Australia has completed a major upgrade, doubling its antennas to 8,192. This enhanced capability will allow researchers to investigate fundamental questions in astronomy, including the epoch of reionization and mysterious odd radio circles.
- James Webb Telescope's Revolutionary Findings: The James Webb Telescope continues to challenge our understanding of the early universe, discovering massive galaxies that formed just 400 to 600 million years after the Big Bang, prompting astronomers to rethink galaxy formation models.
- Perseverance Rover's Insights into Ancient Mars: NASA's Perseverance rover has found evidence of a substantial ancient lake in Jezero Crater, along with organic compounds that could hint at past life. The rover has collected over 24 samples for future analysis, which may provide definitive answers about Martian life.
- The Ultimate LEGO Death Star: LEGO has unveiled the most expensive set ever, the Star Wars Ultimate Collector series Death Star, priced at $999.99. With 9,023 pieces and 38 minifigures, this interactive model promises to be a collector's dream, showcasing iconic scenes from the Star Wars universe.
- For more cosmic updates, visit our website at astronomydaily.io. Join our community on social media by searching for #AstroDailyPod on Facebook, X, YouTubeMusic Music, TikTok, and our new Instagram account! Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTubeMusic, iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- Thank you for tuning in. This is Avery and Anna signing off. Until next time, keep looking up and exploring the wonders of our universe.
Blood Cell Research in Space
[NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/)
Lunar Eclipse Information
[NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/)
Murchison Widefield Array Upgrade
[MWA](https://www.mwa.gov.au/)
James Webb Telescope Discoveries
[NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/)
Perseverance Rover Findings
[NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/)
LEGO Death Star Details
[LEGO](https://www.lego.com/)
Astronomy Daily
[Astronomy Daily](http://www.astronomydaily.io/)
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00:00:00 --> 00:00:03 Anna: Welcome to Astronomy Daily. Your go
00:00:03 --> 00:00:06 to source for the latest news from space and
00:00:06 --> 00:00:07 beyond. I'm Anna.
00:00:08 --> 00:00:11 Avery: And I'm Avery. We've got some absolutely
00:00:11 --> 00:00:13 fascinating stories for you today from
00:00:13 --> 00:00:15 groundbreaking research on how space travel
00:00:15 --> 00:00:18 affects our bodies to a spectacular lunar
00:00:18 --> 00:00:21 eclipse coming next year, and even the most
00:00:21 --> 00:00:23 expensive Lego set ever created.
00:00:24 --> 00:00:27 Anna: Oh, that Lego story is going to be fun.
00:00:27 --> 00:00:30 But first, let's dive into some serious
00:00:30 --> 00:00:31 science.
00:00:32 --> 00:00:34 NASA just published some pretty concerning
00:00:34 --> 00:00:36 findings about what happens to our blood
00:00:36 --> 00:00:39 cells in space. Avery. This study
00:00:39 --> 00:00:42 tracked human stem cells during four
00:00:42 --> 00:00:44 different SpaceX missions to the
00:00:44 --> 00:00:45 International Space Station.
00:00:46 --> 00:00:49 Avery: Yeah, and the results are pretty eye opening,
00:00:49 --> 00:00:52 Anna. Uh, these cells spent between 32 to
00:00:52 --> 00:00:54 45 days in space, and researchers found
00:00:54 --> 00:00:57 they started losing their ability to make
00:00:57 --> 00:00:59 healthy new cells. Basically, they began
00:00:59 --> 00:01:02 showing signs of accelerated aging up there.
00:01:02 --> 00:01:04 Anna: That's really troubling when you think about
00:01:04 --> 00:01:07 it. What specifically were they seeing?
00:01:07 --> 00:01:08 DNA damage.
00:01:09 --> 00:01:12 Avery: Exactly. The cells show DNA damage
00:01:12 --> 00:01:15 and something called shorter telomeres. Think
00:01:15 --> 00:01:17 of telomeres like the plastic tips on
00:01:17 --> 00:01:20 shoelaces. They protect our chromosomes. And
00:01:20 --> 00:01:22 when they get shorter, it's a sign of
00:01:22 --> 00:01:24 cellular aging. But here's the interesting
00:01:24 --> 00:01:26 part. So some of this damage actually
00:01:26 --> 00:01:29 reversed when the cells returned to Earth.
00:01:29 --> 00:01:32 Anna: M that's actually encouraging news. So our
00:01:32 --> 00:01:35 bodies might have some ability to recover
00:01:35 --> 00:01:37 from space induced aging, but this research
00:01:37 --> 00:01:40 is crucial for planning those long duration
00:01:40 --> 00:01:41 missions to Mars, right?
00:01:42 --> 00:01:44 Avery: Absolutely. A trip to Mars could take six
00:01:44 --> 00:01:47 to nine months each way. So we're talking
00:01:47 --> 00:01:49 about astronauts spending well over a year in
00:01:49 --> 00:01:52 space. Understanding how to protect them from
00:01:52 --> 00:01:54 the cellular damage is going to be essential.
00:01:55 --> 00:01:58 The research team led by SC from UC
00:01:58 --> 00:02:00 San Diego found that the space environment
00:02:00 --> 00:02:03 creates what they call a senescence like
00:02:03 --> 00:02:05 state in these stem cells. Basically,
00:02:05 --> 00:02:08 premature aging at the cellular level. Plus,
00:02:08 --> 00:02:10 this research might also help us understand
00:02:11 --> 00:02:14 aging here on Earth, potentially leading to
00:02:14 --> 00:02:15 new treatments for age related diseases.
00:02:16 --> 00:02:19 Anna: That's fascinating. So what exactly
00:02:19 --> 00:02:22 is it about the space environment that causes
00:02:22 --> 00:02:24 this damage? Is it the radiation
00:02:25 --> 00:02:27 or the microgravity or both?
00:02:28 --> 00:02:30 Avery: Great question, Anna. Uh, it's actually a
00:02:30 --> 00:02:33 combination of multiple stressors. First,
00:02:33 --> 00:02:36 there's the cosmic radiation. High energy
00:02:36 --> 00:02:38 particles that constantly bombard astronauts
00:02:38 --> 00:02:41 outside Earth's protective magnetosphere.
00:02:41 --> 00:02:44 Then there's microgravity, which affects how
00:02:44 --> 00:02:46 cells distribute nutrients and waste
00:02:46 --> 00:02:48 products. The researchers also noted that the
00:02:48 --> 00:02:50 confined space environment and altered
00:02:50 --> 00:02:53 circadian rhythms could contribute to
00:02:53 --> 00:02:55 cellular stress. It's like a perfect
00:02:55 --> 00:02:58 storm of conditions that our bodies simply
00:02:58 --> 00:02:59 didn't evolve to handle.
00:03:00 --> 00:03:02 Anna: M Are there any potential countermeasures
00:03:02 --> 00:03:04 being developed? I imagine this research is
00:03:04 --> 00:03:07 leading to Ideas about how we might protect
00:03:07 --> 00:03:09 astronauts on those long Mars missions?
00:03:10 --> 00:03:13 Avery: Absolutely. NASA and other space agencies
00:03:13 --> 00:03:15 are exploring several approaches. They're
00:03:15 --> 00:03:18 looking at pharmaceutical interventions,
00:03:18 --> 00:03:20 drugs that could protect cells from radiation
00:03:20 --> 00:03:23 damage or help maintain telomere length.
00:03:23 --> 00:03:26 There's also research into better spacecraft
00:03:26 --> 00:03:28 shielding, artificial gravity systems using
00:03:28 --> 00:03:31 rotating modules, and even the possibility
00:03:31 --> 00:03:34 of using stem cell therapy to refresh an
00:03:34 --> 00:03:36 astronaut's blood supply during long
00:03:36 --> 00:03:38 missions. Some scientists are even
00:03:38 --> 00:03:40 investigating whether certain dietary
00:03:40 --> 00:03:43 supplements or exercise regimens might help
00:03:43 --> 00:03:44 counteract these effects.
00:03:45 --> 00:03:47 Anna: That's a great point. Space research often
00:03:47 --> 00:03:49 leads to medical breakthroughs for everyone.
00:03:50 --> 00:03:52 But speaking of things we can all look
00:03:52 --> 00:03:55 forward to, let's talk about this amazing
00:03:55 --> 00:03:58 lunar eclipse coming up. Avery, tell me about
00:03:58 --> 00:03:59 this blood Moon event.
00:03:59 --> 00:04:02 Avery: Oh, this is going to be spectacular.
00:04:02 --> 00:04:05 On September 7th and 8th, 2025,
00:04:05 --> 00:04:08 we're getting a total lunar eclipse that will
00:04:08 --> 00:04:11 be visible to over 7 billion people around
00:04:11 --> 00:04:14 the world. That's like 85% of the
00:04:14 --> 00:04:16 global population. Anna. Uh, the eclipse will
00:04:16 --> 00:04:19 be best seen from Europe, Africa, Asia, and
00:04:19 --> 00:04:22 Australia. The total phase will last for
00:04:22 --> 00:04:25 about 65 minutes, making it one of the longer
00:04:25 --> 00:04:27 total lunar eclipses we'll see this decade.
00:04:28 --> 00:04:31 Anna: That's a long duration. Can you walk us
00:04:31 --> 00:04:33 through what viewers will actually see during
00:04:33 --> 00:04:35 those 65 minutes of totality?
00:04:35 --> 00:04:38 Avery: It's going to be amazing. The eclipse will
00:04:38 --> 00:04:40 begin with a subtle dimming as Earth's
00:04:40 --> 00:04:43 penumbral shadow starts covering the moon.
00:04:43 --> 00:04:46 Then, around 1826 UTC,
00:04:46 --> 00:04:49 the partial eclipse begins as Earth darker
00:04:49 --> 00:04:51 umbral shadow starts taking a bite out of the
00:04:51 --> 00:04:54 Moon. The real magic happens at 19:30
00:04:54 --> 00:04:57 UTC, when the moon will turn that beautiful
00:04:57 --> 00:04:59 deep red or copper color. During
00:04:59 --> 00:05:02 totality, viewers might also see stars that
00:05:02 --> 00:05:04 are normally washed out by the Moon's
00:05:04 --> 00:05:07 brightness. The whole event will last about
00:05:07 --> 00:05:09 five and a half hours from start to finish.
00:05:10 --> 00:05:12 Anna: Wow, that's incredible reach. But
00:05:12 --> 00:05:15 unfortunately, we here in the US Won't be
00:05:15 --> 00:05:17 able to see it directly, right?
00:05:18 --> 00:05:20 Avery: That's right. But don't worry. There are
00:05:20 --> 00:05:22 going to be multiple free livestreams
00:05:22 --> 00:05:25 available. The Virtual Telescope project in
00:05:25 --> 00:05:27 Italy and Time and Date from Cyprus are both
00:05:27 --> 00:05:30 planning coverage. So we can still experience
00:05:30 --> 00:05:32 that beautiful blood Moon effect from our
00:05:32 --> 00:05:32 computers.
00:05:33 --> 00:05:36 Anna: For our listeners who might not know, can
00:05:36 --> 00:05:38 you explain what creates that dramatic red
00:05:38 --> 00:05:40 color during a total lunar eclipse?
00:05:41 --> 00:05:43 Avery: Sure. So during a total lunar eclipse,
00:05:44 --> 00:05:47 Earth passes directly between the Moon and
00:05:47 --> 00:05:50 the Sun. But Earth's atmosphere acts like a
00:05:50 --> 00:05:53 lens, bending sunlight around our planet.
00:05:53 --> 00:05:55 The red wavelengths of light get through more
00:05:55 --> 00:05:58 easily than blue ones. So the Moon takes on
00:05:58 --> 00:06:01 this eerie reddish glow. It's the same Reason
00:06:01 --> 00:06:02 sunsets look red.
00:06:02 --> 00:06:05 Anna: I love how astronomy connects these
00:06:05 --> 00:06:06 everyday phenomena.
00:06:07 --> 00:06:09 Now let's shift gears to some exciting
00:06:09 --> 00:06:12 telescope news. The Murchison
00:06:12 --> 00:06:14 Wildfield Array in Western Australia
00:06:14 --> 00:06:17 just completed a major upgrade.
00:06:17 --> 00:06:20 Avery: This upgrade is massive, Anna. Uh, they've
00:06:20 --> 00:06:22 completed what they're calling phase three,
00:06:22 --> 00:06:24 which doubled the telescope from
00:06:24 --> 00:06:27 4 antennas to
00:06:27 --> 00:06:30 8 antennas spread
00:06:30 --> 00:06:32 over a 30 square kilometer area. That's
00:06:32 --> 00:06:34 quadrupled their data output and
00:06:34 --> 00:06:36 significantly improved their resolution.
00:06:37 --> 00:06:40 Anna: That's an incredible scale. What are they
00:06:40 --> 00:06:41 planning to study with all this new
00:06:41 --> 00:06:42 capability?
00:06:43 --> 00:06:44 Avery: They're focusing on some of the most
00:06:44 --> 00:06:47 fundamental questions in astronomy. They want
00:06:47 --> 00:06:49 to study the epoch of reionization,
00:06:49 --> 00:06:52 basically the period when the first stars and
00:06:52 --> 00:06:54 galaxies lit up the universe after the dark
00:06:54 --> 00:06:57 ages, about 13 billion years ago.
00:06:57 --> 00:06:59 This upgrade will let them map hydrogen
00:06:59 --> 00:07:02 signals from that era with unprecedented
00:07:02 --> 00:07:04 detail. They're also looking at transient
00:07:04 --> 00:07:07 events like fast radio bursts and something
00:07:07 --> 00:07:10 really mysterious called odd radio circles,
00:07:10 --> 00:07:13 or orcs. Plus, they'll be
00:07:13 --> 00:07:15 doing advanced studies of pulsars, which are
00:07:15 --> 00:07:17 like cosmic lighthouses that can help us
00:07:17 --> 00:07:19 understand extreme physics.
00:07:19 --> 00:07:22 Anna: Odd radio circles. That sounds
00:07:22 --> 00:07:25 intriguing. Are these like crop circles
00:07:25 --> 00:07:25 but in space?
00:07:27 --> 00:07:29 Avery: Not quite, but they are mysterious.
00:07:29 --> 00:07:32 Orcs are these huge circular
00:07:32 --> 00:07:34 radio structures that we can see with radio
00:07:34 --> 00:07:37 telescopes, but they don't appear in visible
00:07:37 --> 00:07:39 light, X rays, or infrared.
00:07:40 --> 00:07:43 We're not exactly sure what causes them. They
00:07:43 --> 00:07:45 might be shockwaves from galactic collisions
00:07:45 --> 00:07:48 or something even more exotic. The
00:07:48 --> 00:07:51 upgraded MWA should help us figure out what
00:07:51 --> 00:07:51 they really are.
00:07:52 --> 00:07:54 Anna: And this is all preparation for an even
00:07:54 --> 00:07:56 bigger project, right?
00:07:56 --> 00:07:59 Avery: Exactly. This upgrade is helping prepare for
00:07:59 --> 00:08:01 the Square kilometer array, or
00:08:01 --> 00:08:04 SKA, which will eventually have
00:08:04 --> 00:08:07 131 antennas.
00:08:07 --> 00:08:09 When that's complete, it'll be the world's
00:08:09 --> 00:08:12 largest radio telescope. The MWA
00:08:12 --> 00:08:14 is basically a testing ground for the
00:08:14 --> 00:08:16 technologies and techniques they'll need for
00:08:16 --> 00:08:17 that massive project.
00:08:18 --> 00:08:20 Anna: Speaking of groundbreaking discoveries, we
00:08:20 --> 00:08:23 should talk about some recent James Webb
00:08:23 --> 00:08:25 Telescope findings that are literally
00:08:25 --> 00:08:27 rewriting astronomy textbooks.
00:08:28 --> 00:08:30 Avery. The Webb Telescope has been finding
00:08:30 --> 00:08:33 galaxies that are much more massive and
00:08:33 --> 00:08:35 mature than we expected in the early
00:08:35 --> 00:08:36 universe.
00:08:36 --> 00:08:39 Avery: Oh, yes, this is absolutely revolutionary
00:08:39 --> 00:08:42 stuff. Anna Webb is seeing galaxies that
00:08:42 --> 00:08:45 formed just 400 to 600 million years
00:08:45 --> 00:08:47 after the Big Bang. That's when the universe
00:08:47 --> 00:08:50 was only about 3 to 4% of its current age.
00:08:50 --> 00:08:53 But these galaxies are surprisingly large and
00:08:53 --> 00:08:55 well structured. Some are as massive as our
00:08:55 --> 00:08:58 Milky Way, which, according to our previous
00:08:58 --> 00:09:00 models, shouldn't have been possible so early
00:09:00 --> 00:09:03 in cosmic history. It's like finding a fully
00:09:03 --> 00:09:05 grown oak tree in what you expected to be A
00:09:05 --> 00:09:06 nursery of seedlings.
00:09:07 --> 00:09:10 Anna: That's such a perfect analogy. So
00:09:10 --> 00:09:12 what does this mean for our understanding of
00:09:12 --> 00:09:15 how the universe evolved? Are astronomers
00:09:15 --> 00:09:16 having to revise their models?
00:09:17 --> 00:09:19 Avery: Absolutely they are. These discoveries
00:09:19 --> 00:09:21 suggest that galaxy formation and growth
00:09:21 --> 00:09:23 happened much faster than we thought
00:09:23 --> 00:09:26 possible. Astronomers are now reconsidering
00:09:26 --> 00:09:28 how efficiently the first black holes and
00:09:28 --> 00:09:30 stars formed and how quickly they could
00:09:30 --> 00:09:32 accumulate matters. Some theories propose
00:09:32 --> 00:09:34 that the universe's early dark matter
00:09:34 --> 00:09:36 structures were more massive and formed more
00:09:36 --> 00:09:38 rapidly than our standard models predicted.
00:09:39 --> 00:09:41 It's also possible that the first stars were
00:09:41 --> 00:09:43 much more massive and short lived than we
00:09:43 --> 00:09:45 assumed, leading to faster chemical
00:09:45 --> 00:09:46 enrichment of the early universe.
00:09:47 --> 00:09:50 Anna: It's incredible how much Webb is changing our
00:09:50 --> 00:09:51 perspective on the cosmos.
00:09:51 --> 00:09:54 And speaking of discoveries that challenge
00:09:54 --> 00:09:56 our assumptions, let's talk about some
00:09:56 --> 00:09:59 exciting news from Mars. The Perseverance
00:09:59 --> 00:10:01 rover has made some remarkable discoveries in
00:10:01 --> 00:10:04 Jezero CR that are giving us new
00:10:04 --> 00:10:07 insights into ancient Martian water activity.
00:10:07 --> 00:10:10 Avery: Yes, this is really exciting. Perseverance
00:10:10 --> 00:10:12 has been analyzing sedimentary rocks that
00:10:12 --> 00:10:15 clearly show evidence of a substantial lake
00:10:15 --> 00:10:17 that existed in Jezero Crater buildings of
00:10:17 --> 00:10:19 years ago. But what's particularly
00:10:19 --> 00:10:22 interesting is the chemistry they're finding.
00:10:22 --> 00:10:24 The rover has detected organic compounds,
00:10:24 --> 00:10:27 carbon based molecules that could potentially
00:10:27 --> 00:10:30 be biosignatures. Now these could also have
00:10:30 --> 00:10:33 non biological origins, but they're exactly
00:10:33 --> 00:10:35 the kind of molecules that life as we know it
00:10:35 --> 00:10:35 would produce.
00:10:36 --> 00:10:38 Anna: And Perseverance is collecting samples from
00:10:38 --> 00:10:41 these promising locations. Right, for
00:10:41 --> 00:10:42 eventual return to Earth.
00:10:43 --> 00:10:45 Avery: Exactly. Perseverance has now collected over
00:10:46 --> 00:10:48 24 samples in sealed tubes. And several
00:10:48 --> 00:10:50 of them are from these particularly
00:10:50 --> 00:10:53 intriguing locations. The Mars sample return
00:10:53 --> 00:10:56 mission is still being planned. But when
00:10:56 --> 00:10:57 those samples eventually make it back to
00:10:57 --> 00:11:00 Earth, hopefully Sometime in the2030s,
00:11:00 --> 00:11:02 scientists will be able to analyze them with
00:11:02 --> 00:11:05 laboratory instruments that are far more
00:11:05 --> 00:11:07 sophisticated than anything we can send to
00:11:07 --> 00:11:09 Mars. That's when we might finally get
00:11:09 --> 00:11:11 definitive answers about whether life ever
00:11:11 --> 00:11:12 existed on Mars.
00:11:12 --> 00:11:15 Anna: The possibility of finding life on Mars,
00:11:15 --> 00:11:18 that would be the ultimate discovery.
00:11:18 --> 00:11:20 But while we wait for those samples to
00:11:20 --> 00:11:23 return, let's bring things back to Earth with
00:11:23 --> 00:11:26 something that's sure to delight space fans
00:11:26 --> 00:11:28 of all ages. And it's going to cost you
00:11:28 --> 00:11:31 nearly $1 if you want it.
00:11:31 --> 00:11:33 Avery: Ugh. You're talking about the new LEGO Death
00:11:33 --> 00:11:35 Star. Anna. Uh, this thing is absolutely
00:11:35 --> 00:11:38 incredible. Lego just announced their new
00:11:38 --> 00:11:40 Star Wars Ultimate Collector series, Death
00:11:40 --> 00:11:43 Star, and it's the most expensive LEGO set
00:11:43 --> 00:11:44 they've ever made at
00:11:44 --> 00:11:46 $999.99.
00:11:47 --> 00:11:49 Anna: Nearly a thousand dollars for LEGO
00:11:49 --> 00:11:52 blocks. But I have to admit, when I saw the
00:11:52 --> 00:11:55 specs, I was Pretty impressed. How many
00:11:55 --> 00:11:56 pieces are we talking about here?
00:11:57 --> 00:11:59 Avery: Get this. 9
00:11:59 --> 00:12:02 pieces and 38 minifigures. The completed
00:12:02 --> 00:12:05 Death Star measures 28 inches high,
00:12:05 --> 00:12:08 32 inches wide, and 11 inches deep.
00:12:08 --> 00:12:11 It's got this amazing cross sectional design
00:12:11 --> 00:12:13 that shows all the famous locations from the
00:12:13 --> 00:12:15 Star wars films inside the Death Star.
00:12:15 --> 00:12:18 Anna: So you can see the throne room where Luke
00:12:18 --> 00:12:21 confronted the emperor, the trash compactor,
00:12:21 --> 00:12:23 all those iconic scenes.
00:12:24 --> 00:12:26 Avery: Exactly. And, um, LEGO really knows their
00:12:26 --> 00:12:29 audience. It goes on sale October 1st for
00:12:29 --> 00:12:32 LEGO Insiders, and then everyone else can get
00:12:32 --> 00:12:34 it starting October 4th. What's really
00:12:34 --> 00:12:37 impressive is that this isn't just a display
00:12:37 --> 00:12:39 model. It's designed to be highly
00:12:39 --> 00:12:41 interactive. The cross sectional design lets
00:12:41 --> 00:12:43 builders recreate famous scenes from the
00:12:43 --> 00:12:46 movies. And with 38 minifigures, you
00:12:46 --> 00:12:48 can populate all those detailed interior
00:12:48 --> 00:12:51 spaces. I have a feeling this is going to
00:12:51 --> 00:12:53 sell out pretty quickly, especially with the
00:12:53 --> 00:12:54 holidays coming up.
00:12:54 --> 00:12:57 Anna: The engineering that goes into these massive
00:12:57 --> 00:13:00 LEGO sets is incredible, too. Uh, I
00:13:00 --> 00:13:03 imagine supporting a structure that size and
00:13:03 --> 00:13:05 weight with LEGO bricks requires some
00:13:05 --> 00:13:07 serious architectural planning.
00:13:08 --> 00:13:10 Avery: Oh, absolutely. Lego's designers are
00:13:10 --> 00:13:13 basically architects and engineers. This
00:13:13 --> 00:13:16 Depth Star uses advanced building techniques
00:13:16 --> 00:13:18 like technic beams for internal structure,
00:13:18 --> 00:13:20 specialized connector pieces to handle the
00:13:20 --> 00:13:23 weight distribution, and clever use of
00:13:23 --> 00:13:26 overlapping plates to ensure stability. The
00:13:26 --> 00:13:28 fact that it can support its own weight while
00:13:28 --> 00:13:30 still allowing access to all those detailed
00:13:30 --> 00:13:33 interior sections is really a masterpiece of
00:13:33 --> 00:13:36 toy engineering. It's estimated to take about
00:13:36 --> 00:13:38 20 to 30 hours to complete for most builders.
00:13:39 --> 00:13:42 Anna: I can see this becoming a serious collector's
00:13:42 --> 00:13:44 item, though. At that price point,
00:13:44 --> 00:13:47 it's definitely more of an investment piece
00:13:47 --> 00:13:50 than a casual purchase. But for Star wars
00:13:50 --> 00:13:52 fans who also love building, it sounds like
00:13:52 --> 00:13:54 it could be worth every penny.
00:13:55 --> 00:13:57 Avery: Absolutely. And you know what I love about
00:13:57 --> 00:14:00 stories like this? It shows how space and
00:14:00 --> 00:14:03 science fiction continue to inspire people in
00:14:03 --> 00:14:05 so many different ways. From serious research
00:14:05 --> 00:14:08 about aging in space to incredibly
00:14:08 --> 00:14:10 detailed recreations of imaginary space
00:14:10 --> 00:14:11 stations.
00:14:11 --> 00:14:14 Anna: That's such a great point, Avery. Whether
00:14:14 --> 00:14:16 it's NASA studying how to keep
00:14:16 --> 00:14:18 astronauts healthy on Mars missions,
00:14:19 --> 00:14:22 radio telescopes, PE back to the dawn of
00:14:22 --> 00:14:25 time, or LEGO bringing the Death Star
00:14:25 --> 00:14:27 to our living rooms, it all stems from that
00:14:27 --> 00:14:30 same human fascination with what's out there
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 beyond our world.
00:14:31 --> 00:14:34 Avery: And we'll be here to bring you all of it.
00:14:34 --> 00:14:36 That's all for today's episode of Astronomy
00:14:36 --> 00:14:38 Daily. Don't forget to mark your calendars
00:14:38 --> 00:14:41 for that lunar eclipse in September 2025.
00:14:41 --> 00:14:43 Even if we can't see it directly here in the
00:14:43 --> 00:14:45 US Those live streams are going to be
00:14:45 --> 00:14:45 amazing.
00:14:46 --> 00:14:48 Anna: Thanks for joining us today, everyone. Keep
00:14:48 --> 00:14:51 looking up. And Steve and Hallie will be here
00:14:51 --> 00:14:54 on Monday with more news from the cosmos. I'm
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 Anna.
00:14:55 --> 00:14:58 Avery: And I'm Avery. Until next time, stay curious
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 about the universe around us.