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It's a crime these Lego Star Wars sets are being retired but you can save big before they go

24 June 2026 at 13:42

Lego is amazing, and Lego Star Wars in particular. The fact that you can spend $1000 on a gigantic Death Star set is a clear sign it's not just for kids.

But there's a catch; Lego retires sets, meaning that, unless you're willing to pay silly prices on eBay, they're forever out of your reach. Oh, sure, Lego might need space for new sets, and stores likewise, but that's no excuse to rob builders of the best Lego Star Wars sets, especially with Star Wars' 50th anniversary next year.

I've rounded up the best deals on retired or retiring Lego sets. Some of these sets have been this price before Prime Day but don't count on them sticking around much longer.

Save $24 on this Lego model of the first ship you see in Star Wars, pursued by a Star Destroyer right after the opening crawl. View Deal

Save $42 on this Lego Star Wars Guard Gunship, a particularly cool variant of the Republic Gunship.View Deal

Get $10 off this Attack of the Clones troop carrier, which was bumped out by the Venator in Return of the Sith. View Deal

This isn't reduced but it's such an awesome set, a mini-sized model of the original trilogy's biggest vessel, you need this on your shelves. View Deal

Save 20% on the Galactic Empire's heavy-hitter, the Tie Bomber, complete with three minifigures. View Deal

Save $12.00 on this N-1 Starfighter, The Mandalorian's second favorite ship. It's been replaced by the far pricier UCS N-1 set but you can still grab this if you're fast. View Deal

Get $10 off the helmet worn by Captain Rex, a Clone Commander who managed to outlive many of his manufactured brethren. View Deal

This Clone Wars walker is another set that's not reduced but it's such a brilliant, play-friendly build that Lego should be ashamed for retiring it. View Deal

France Identifies First Case of Ebola

24 June 2026 at 12:36
The patient had traveled to the Democratic Republic of Congo, the health ministry said. Workers are racing to trace those who may have had contact.

This might be your last chance to pick up a retired Lego Star Wars set before it flies off forever, and it's under $100 on Amazon for Prime Day

23 June 2026 at 18:30

Star Wars' Clone Wars-era Republic Gunship may not be a miracle of practicaliy but I think it's cool as heck and that alone is reason enough to pick up this Lego Star Wars Coruscant Guard Gunship, $42 off for Amazon Prime Day.

Save $42 on this Lego Star Wars Coruscant Gunship set

The other reason? This set has already been retired by Lego meaning that not only are you saving big, this could be your last chance to buy the Lego Star Wars Coruscant Guard Gunship, before scalpers start selling it for silly money on eBay.

On top of looking seriously imposing, this Lego set has major play potential. You can swoosh it round the living room, loaded it up with the five included mini figures and accidentally drop Chancellor Palpatine because there's something off about that guy.

If this set isn't to your taste (maybe you're one of those evil Separatists), we've rounded up the Best Lego Star Wars sets. And don't forget to check out our other Prime Day deals.

Save $42 on this Lego Star Wars Guard Gunship, a troop-carrier which, on Coruscant, has been commandeered for Chancellor Palpatine's non-sinister agenda. View Deal

LEGO Star Wars: The Clone Wars Coruscant Guard Gunship
The Lego Star Wars: The Clone Wars Coruscant Guard Gunship is now retired and this might be your last chance to buy it.Lego
LEGO Star Wars: The Clone Wars Coruscant Guard Gunship
Lego
LEGO Star Wars: The Clone Wars Coruscant Guard Gunship
Lego

This is a real Prime Day deal double-whammy. Not only is this Lego Star Wars Coruscant Guard Gunship $42 off, the cheapest it has ever been, but as a retired set this could be your last chance to own it. Without paying silly money to eBay scalpers, that is; it's already sold out on Lego's website.

Not only does this set look good on a shelf, but it has got real potential, with opening and closing doors, firing missiles and a special handle to swoosh it around your living room!

It also boasts five minifigures: Three Clone Troopers, Chancellor Palpatine and Senator Padme Amidala. Go on, Padme, give Palpatine a push. It'll save you a lot of trouble in the long run.

If you love the Clone Wars era of Star Wars, this is a superb offer but you'll have to move fast.

Key features: 1083 pieces, builder's age 9+, 27.5 × 5.5 × 14.5 × 16 in. / 15 × 37 × 41 cm size

Product launched: September 2023

Price history: We've seen the price drop a little, but this is the lowest it's ever been and likely your last chance to buy it.

Price comparison: Amazon: $98

Reviews consensus: We loved the UCS Lego Star Wars Republic gunship, and this smaller model is also extremely cool, albeit with just five figures. Its Amazon reviews are near unanimous; few complain about the price tag and this price cut addresses that.

✅ Buy it if: You want a brilliant, play-friendly set to go with your other Clone Wars Lego sets.

❌ Don't buy it if: You're not a fan of the Clone Wars era. Instead, consider something like this Lego Star Destroyer, also reduced for Prime Day.

Check out our other guides to the best telescopes, binoculars, cameras, star projectors, drones, lego and much more.

Ignite a child's imagination with the stars: Our expert-picked Astronaut Galaxy Star Projector is a Prime Day steal at just $25

23 June 2026 at 15:07

Are you scratching your head, wondering what to buy for a child? Our expert Tantse recommends this Astronaut Galaxy Projector and right now, during Prime Day, it's just $25.

Enjoy stunning, starry displays with this Astronaut Galaxy Projector, now $25 at Amazon

Faced with buying a present for her nephews, and having been suitably impressed when she reviewed this Astronaut Galaxy Projector, Tantse (our long-time star projector reviewer), settled on this gift and she's had no complaints!

We rank it one of the best star projectors and best star projectors for kids because, despite its budget price tag, it creates some amazing, room-filling displays that'll leave children wide-eyed. Adults are just as likely to be delighted, too!

Looking for more savings? Check out our other Prime Day deals.

Save 17% on this compact but powerful star projector, which is capable of transforming children's bedrooms with its starry displays. View Deal

Astronaut Starry Sky Projector review photo
It may be cheap but there's nothing nasty about this projector, which can light up a whole room. Tantse Walter
Astronaut Starry Sky Projector review photo
The astronaut's power pack has its own power port, a cute design feature.Tantse Walter
Astronaut Starry Sky Projector review photo
The star projector, disassembled.Tantse Walter

As challenges go, one of the biggest trials in life is buying a gift for someone else's child. Assuming you like their respective adults, a drum set or a Nerf gun is right out. Fortunately, our expert Tantse Walter has the answer, with this impressive but pocket-friendly Astronaut Galaxy Projector.

Despite the name, this cool projector, which Tantse gifted to her nephews, projects both stars and galaxies. It's not scientifically accurate, but it punches well above its price tag.

In Tantse's review of the Astronaut Galaxy Projector called it "a well-made novelty star projector that every kid, or space fan, will love to have in their bedroom," and even if the kids in question aren't skywatchers, it could well kindle their interest in the cosmos.

With its remote control, customizable displays and 45-90 minutes sleep timer, adults will find it a handy meditation tool or relaxation tool too. At $25, this Astronaut Galaxy star projector is a superb gift that can transform any room.

Key features: Remote control, projects light shows, sleep timer, compact

Price history: This model tends to retail for between $29.99 and $34.99. We've sometimes seen it dip cheaper, though there are also several versions of this projector.

Price comparison: Amazon: $25

Reviews consensus: In our review of the Astronaut Star Projector, expert Tantse awarded it four stars out of five and Amazon purchasers rank it even higher.

Space: ★★★★

Featured in guides: Best star projectors, best star projectors for kids

✅ Buy it if: You want a star projector that, despite its novelty appearance, offers excellent performance and won't cost you a fortune.

❌ Don't buy it if: You want scientific accuracy because, as impressive as they are, this projector's displays don't match the night sky. Instead, consider the Sega Toys Homestar Flux.

Check out our other guides to the best telescopes, binoculars, cameras, star projectors, drones, lego and much more.

Ancient plague was already deadly 5,500 years ago, study reveals

21 June 2026 at 12:12

Plague is often linked to medieval Europe, crowded cities, and rats carrying infected fleas. However, a new study published in the journal Nature shows that the disease was already killing people thousands of years earlier. Researchers have discovered that plague caused deadly outbreaks among hunter-gatherers in Siberia about 5,500 years ago, long before cities and […]

The post Ancient plague was already deadly 5,500 years ago, study reveals appeared first on Knowridge Science Report.

Conheça o Koenigsegg feito com 327.906 peças de Lego que envergonha alguns carros a sério

20 June 2026 at 15:05

Com 327.906 peças, mais de 9,400 horas de montagem e 111 km/h de velocidade máxima. Conheça o carro de Lego mais rápido de sempre, o Koenigsegg Sadair’s Spear, que foi construído à escala real, para celebrar o lançamento do novo conjunto 1/8 com 4.104 peças.

The post Conheça o Koenigsegg feito com 327.906 peças de Lego que envergonha alguns carros a sério appeared first on Tek Notícias.

Go eyes robotaxis and acquisitions after Japan’s biggest IPO of 2026 — here’s why it matters

19 June 2026 at 22:45
Go's IPO — Japan's biggest so far this year — has done more than provide a much-needed boost to the country's languishing listing season. It has also supplied the taxi-hailing app with the capital required to address an existential issue: Japan's shortage of drivers.

Setor tecnológico português abranda contratações, mas mantém-se como o segundo com melhores perspectivas no país

18 June 2026 at 09:58

Segundo o Experis Tech Talent Outlook, a Projeção para a Criação Líquida de Emprego no setor das TI em Portugal fixa-se nos 32% para o terceiro trimestre de 2026, uma queda de 18% face ao trimestre anterior. A automação surge como o principal motivo apontado pelas empresas que preveem reduzir equipas.

The post Setor tecnológico português abranda contratações, mas mantém-se como o segundo com melhores perspectivas no país appeared first on Tek Notícias.

Decoding the Genetic Blueprint Behind Our Three-Dimensional Body

17 June 2026 at 19:23

In a groundbreaking series of experiments conducted by researchers at the University of Jena, scientists have revisited and expanded upon a century-old discovery that shapes our understanding of embryonic development. Originally unearthed by Hans Spemann and his student Hilde Mangold in 1924, the concept of the “organiser” is a pivotal developmental mechanism that directs the formation of body axes during the early stages of an embryo’s growth. Spemann and Mangold’s pioneering work involved tissue transplantation between amphibian embryos, revealing the presence of a group of cells within the blastopore that orchestrate the development of a secondary body axis. This discovery earned Spemann a Nobel Prize in 1935 but tragically Mangold passed away young, never witnessing the lasting impact of their findings.

The new research from Jena not only reaffirms these foundational insights but extends them dramatically into the early evolutionary origins of metazoans. Using delicate microsurgical manipulation, the team studied the ribbed comb jelly Mnemiopsis leidyi, a member of the ancient phylum Ctenophora. This lineage diverged from that of other animals approximately 700 million years ago, according to the latest evolutionary models. By transplanting small portions of blastoporal tissue from one comb jelly embryo into another, Jena researchers induced a secondary body axis, effectively recapitulating Spemann and Mangold’s classic findings but now in one of the earliest-diverging animal lineages. The experiment demonstrated that the organiser’s developmental blueprint is deeply conserved across vast evolutionary time frames.

What makes these experiments particularly astounding is the technical difficulty involved. Comb jelly embryos measure only about 120 micrometers in diameter—just a fraction larger than the width of a human hair—while the transplanted tissue samples were barely 20 micrometers in size. Dr. Stanislav Kremnyov, the lead experimentalist, had to master an extraordinary level of manual dexterity to integrate these tiny groups of cells into host embryos without triggering rejection or other developmental derailments. To an outside observer, it appeared as if the researchers were “dissecting clouds,” a vivid metaphor used by Prof. Andreas Hejnol, who leads the research team at Jena.

The functional transplantation of organising tissue between individuals of the same species was spectacular enough. Yet the Jena team dared to push further by performing xenotransplantations, transferring organiser tissue across animal orders into the sea anemone, a cnidarian species that diverged from ctenophores roughly 60 million years later. Remarkably, the transplanted organiser tissue also initiated axis formation in the sea anemone embryos. This unprecedented success underscores the extraordinary evolutionary conservation of developmental mechanisms underpinning animal body plans. Xenotransplantation of organiser tissues across distinct phyla had never before been demonstrated, marking this as a historic advance in developmental biology.

Beyond the cellular choreography, the study also zeroed in on genetic underpinnings. The team identified, for the first time, the specific gene responsible for organiser formation in the sea anemone, bridging molecular mechanisms across species boundaries. This gene appears to regulate the signalling networks critical to early embryonic axis determination, providing a molecular anchor to the organiser’s functional role. Such findings hint that the genetic toolkit necessary for complex body plan organisation was already present in the earliest multicellular ancestors of modern animals.

These discoveries overturn previous assumptions that organiser-driven axis formation was a feature exclusive to more recently evolved animal groups such as bilaterians. Instead, the findings position the organiser as a primordial control system in multicellular organism development, dating back to the dawn of animal evolution itself. It suggests a remarkable evolutionary continuity where the fundamental blueprints for constructing the three-dimensional architecture of multicellular animals remained largely stable across hundreds of millions of years.

The implications of this research extend far beyond ctenophores and sea anemones. Since the organiser guides the spatial coordination of cell fate during development, understanding its origins and conservation sheds light on the evolutionary emergence of animal diversity and complexity. It also offers potential new perspectives for biomedical research, particularly in regenerative medicine and congenital defect studies, where guiding axis formation and tissue patterning is critical.

Technical mastery was central to these findings. The researchers employed advanced microscopy and vital cell staining techniques allowing them to trace transplanted cells dynamically within host embryos. Coupling this with precise microsurgical transplantation provided not only functional but also visual confirmation of organiser activity. This combination of cutting-edge experimental methods enabled insights previously thought unattainable in such fragile and inaccessible embryonic systems.

Prof. Andreas Hejnol reflects on the evolutionary significance with enthusiasm: “Our data demonstrate that this organizer mechanism coordinates the entire body axis and is conserved among one of the earliest-diverging animal lineages, suggesting that complex body plan organisation arose very early in metazoan evolution.” His team’s work bridges developmental biology with evolutionary biology, providing a vivid example of how ancient developmental principles underpin the incredible diversity of life forms on Earth today.

This research, published in the prestigious journal Nature, represents a milestone in understanding early animal evolution and embryogenesis. It dramatically shifts the paradigm surrounding the origins of the organiser and prompts reconsideration of the molecular and cellular processes foundational to animal multicellularity. As scientists continue to explore these ancient mechanisms, further revelations about the building blocks of life’s complexity are eagerly anticipated.

Subject of Research: Animals
Article Title: A blastoporal organiser in a ctenophore
News Publication Date: 17-Jun-2026
Web References: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41586-026-10643-z
Image Credits: Lisa-Marie Barf
Keywords: embryonic development, organiser, blastopore, ctenophore, Mnemiopsis leidyi, evolutionary biology, axis formation, multicellularity, xenotransplantation, sea anemone, cnidaria, developmental genetics

Baidu Apollo Go wins Level 4 robotaxi approval in Switzerland as AmiGo

16 June 2026 at 13:40

Baidu’s Apollo Go has received a Level 4 autonomous driving permit in Switzerland for AmiGo, a robotaxi service it is running with Swiss Post’s PostBus, putting the Chinese tech giant ahead of Waymo and Tesla in deploying driverless vehicles into European public transport.

The Federal Roads Office (FEDRO) special permit covers an 80 km² service area across three eastern cantons, and Baidu says the project is on track to become the largest planned automated public transport operation of its kind in Europe.

Quest for Fire: New Technique Pushes First Intentional Use of Fire to Over One Million Years Ago

16 June 2026 at 13:07


An international team of researchers led by Dr. Liora Kolska Horwitz of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s National Natural History Collections, working at the site of the oldest dated intentional use of fire by ancient human ancestors, South Africa’s Wonderwerk Cave, has found new evidence pushing that date even earlier into prehistory.

The research team behind the potentially history-altering findings said the discovery, which suggests that ancient hominins intentionally controlled fire, resulting in charred animal bones sometime between 1.07 and 1.79 million years ago, provides researchers with previously unavailable insights into how our ancestors first began to harness one of the most important tools in the evolution of human society and culture.

The study also introduced the archaeological community to a promising new method for analyzing burned bone samples by monitoring its light-emitting properties.

Intentional Use of Fire Provided Human Ancestors with a Critical Tool

According to a statement announcing the study, Dr. Horwitz, who is co-director of the Wonderwerk Cave project with Prof. Michael Chazan at the University of Toronto, and colleagues note the historical significance of fire, ranging from warmth and predator protection to extended daylight and the cooking of meat. However, historians have struggled to identify a single moment or historical period where humanity’s ancient ancestors first started to use fire intentionally.

“Evidence of fire from such ancient sites is often subtle and difficult to detect,” Dr. Horwitz explained.

Before the new analysis, the oldest agreed-upon evidence for intentional fire use also came from Wonderwerk Cave. Situated within the Kalahari Desert of South Africa, the cave provided evidence placing fire use to approximately 1 million years ago.

first intentional use of fire
Wonderwerk Cave Entrance. Image Credit: Wonderwerk Cave Project.

While that study used the most advanced techniques available, the team behind the new study decided to employ a non-invasive process that involves illuminating ancient bone fragments with specific wavelengths of light to determine whether they had been exposed to intense heat. In cases where bones have been heated to fire-like temperatures, the right wavelength of light will cause them to glow.

Remains Likely Left by Homo Erectus

Because evidence from ancient sites is scarce, the team’s non-invasive technique allowed them to study tiny fossilized rodent bones left in the cave by owls without damaging them. The team noted that using remains that accumulated naturally on the ancient cave floor provides an “independent, non-anthropogenic record” of ancient events within the local area.

first intentional use of fire
White (#5 on right) is the most burnt, while yellow-beige (on left #1) is unburnt. Image Credit: Wonderwerk Cave Project.

After exposing the ancient bone to specific wavelengths of light, the team found what they described as “clear signs of burning.” Dr. Horowitz confirmed the findings, noting that the team’s analysis reveals “fire was repeatedly present deep inside Wonderwerk Cave.”

Because the deposits were found over 30 meters deep in the cave, the team ruled out wildfires as a possible source of combustion. The layer also lacked bat guano remains, which the team noted “rules out spontaneous combustion.”

A chemical analysis of the charred bones dated them to between 1.07 and 1.79 million years ago, redating the 2012 findings. Critically, the evidence for ancient fire use was in an archaeological layer “associated with artifacts” from the initial Acheulean period, which is consistent with the dating. If correct, this would make the likeliest early human ancestor that used fire Homo erectus.

Although the findings appear to extend the chronology of one of the earliest known records of fire use associated with hominins by as much as 790,000 years, the research team said the findings do not suggest that these early proto-humans could create fire “at will.” Instead, the likeliest scenario involves early human ancestors collecting fire from natural sources, such as lightning-induced wildfires on the African savanna, and bringing it into the cave.

“The early humans introduced this fire into the cave on multiple occasions and maintained it there before it eventually died out,” the team’s statement explained.

The team did not immediately pinpoint what methods these early hominins used to maintain a burning fire. However, they suggested that burning owl pellets as additional fuel may inadvertently have scorched the rodent bones.

A New Tool for Identifying Traces of Burning

When discussing the implications of the new, earlier date for the first intentional use of fire, Dr. Horwitz said the discovery shows that early human ancestors “were not simply passive observers of natural fires,” but instead were “actively engaging with fire and incorporating it into their lives.”

Beyond offering an earlier date range for early fire use, the work provides clues into how our ancestors used fire before they could make it on their own. The study also debuted a new, non-invasive, portable tool for investigating early fire use, which the study authors note “can be applied to large collections of fossils without damaging them.”

“Our study provides new tools for identifying traces of ancient burning,” Dr. Horwitz explained, with the team adding that application of this new technique to sites around the world “may help clarify the origins and development of one of the most consequential technologies in human history.”

The study “New evidence for Early Pleistocene use of fire at Wonderwerk Cave (South Africa)” was published in PLOS One.

Christopher Plain is a Science Fiction and Fantasy novelist and Head Science Writer at The Debrief. Follow and connect with him on X, learn about his books at plainfiction.com, or email him directly at christopher@thedebrief.org.

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