LEGO continues to celebrate women in the STEM fields with Women of NASA

Some time ago, we told you about the LEGO Research Institute set, which featured women working as a chemist, an astronomer, and a paleontologist.  This time, LEGO is featuring the Women of NASA.  The set features four women in three settings; LEGO introduces the four as:

  • Nancy Grace Roman’s build features a posable Hubble Space Telescope with authentic details and a projected image of a planetary nebula.
  • Margaret Hamilton’s build features a stack of book elements, representing the books of listings of Apollo Guidance Computer (AGC) onboard flight software source code.
  • Sally Ride and Mae Jemison’s build features a launchpad and Space Shuttle Challenger with 3 removable rocket stages.

The Women of NASA kit has 231 pieces, and it includes a booklet about the four featured women.  It’s $24.99 from LEGO.

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LEGO continues to celebrate women in the STEM fields with Women of NASA originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 7, 2017 at 8:00 am.

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The original fidget toy gets a makeover

Before fidget spinning was a worldwide phenomenon, people dealt with stress by using other methods that did not include a multi-colored 3-pronged spinner purchased from the gas station checkout line. Back in the day, we used ordinary clicky ink pens to fidget (and annoy our coworkers). If you miss those simpler times, you will rejoice when you get your clicky fingers on the Click Spin Fidget Pen from Jac Zagoory.

The 5.25 inch long aluminum and brass pen has a clicky mechanism if you want to fidget old school.

And there’s a knurled brass ring that you can spin with your thumb for some new school stress relief. The Click Spin Fidget Pen is priced at $64.95 which is pretty spendy for a fidget toy, don’t let that stop you. Head over to Cool Material to order one.

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The original fidget toy gets a makeover originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 6, 2017 at 1:53 pm.

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Morph: Pillow of the Gods review

 

If you’ve ever taken a long trip that involves public transportation, you’ve been there: you’re trying to catch a nap, but your head keeps bobbing around, or is rattling against the bulkhead or window. Travel pillows come in all shapes, materials, and sizes, from plushy inflatables to beanbags filled with soft foam pellets. Into this crowded market comes the Morph: Pillow of the Gods. They sent me one to put its divine powers to the test.

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There are three pieces to the Morph: a drawstring nylon stuff sack, a 2.5 foot long branded ribbon, and the pillow itself. The stuff sack is red, well-sewn, and thin, which adds little weight to your bag. (I’ve found that things like serged edges on fabric and turned-under seams show an attention to detail that often carries throughout the product.) The 1.5” wide ribbon has a grommet on one end with a locking S-hook of thin, stamped metal. The main piece, the pillow, is covered in a removable plush velour fabric with a zipper along one seam. The internal stuffing is a single ball of memory foam. This allows the pillow to be compressed and mold itself to you in infinite ways.


The ribbon has thick, rubberized printing along most of its length, which prevents it from sliding around if you pull it. And here is where the Morph’s superpower is revealed. You clip the ribbon onto the pillow cover’s zipper pull, and this lets you anchor the pillow in place. If you move, and the pillow slips out of place, it’s not going to go running three rows up under seats or be lost into the nooks and crannies of the under seat space of the person behind you. You simply pull it back by its tether and place it back where you had it.

In order to give the Gadgeteer community the best benefit from product testing, I have been taking naps during part of my lunch break with the Morph pillow for a few weeks now. (Here at The Gadgeteer, we really put our all into testing for you folks!) Comparing it to the wadded fleece jersey I had previously used during naps, I can say it’s much more comfortable and easier to find that perfect nap position. My testing budget did not allow for a quick overseas flight to give it a full battery of performance tests, but I think I can say it worked well.

While it is comfortable and easy to place into service, and I do like the addition of the tether, I can’t say that this pillow is truly the Pillow of the Gods, but it’ll give you a bit of comfort when you’re trying to relax in a cramped space.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Morph. Please visit the site for more info and Amazon to order.

 

Product Information

Price: usually $29.99, currently on sale for $9.99 on Amazon
Manufacturer: Morph
Retailer: Amazon
Pros:
  • memory foam
  • fluffy
  • washable outer shell
Cons:
  • not as compact as inflatables
  • round shape not easy to manage in some spaces

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Morph: Pillow of the Gods review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 6, 2017 at 11:00 am.

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The Cipher Bandana from Colter Co shows you how to get your message across

The Gadgeteer has shown you a series of bandanas from Colter Co. over the years that have taught you fly-tying, nautical and survival knots tying, helped you amuse yourself during downtime in the outdoors with a game board bandana, and even helped you find your place in the universe with a glow-in-the-dark star chart.  Now Colter Co. has a Cipher Bandana that will help you communicate your location or your message to others using four modes of communication: phonetic code, morse code, semaphore, sign language, and even how to use a signal mirror.  Like other Colter Co. bandanas, the Cipher is 22″ X 22″ and made of 100% machine-washable cotton.  The Colter Co. Cipher Bandana is available from Amazon for $14.00 plus $4.54 shipping.

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The Cipher Bandana from Colter Co shows you how to get your message across originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 6, 2017 at 10:00 am.

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A new tech-oriented backpack from Mission Workshop

With innovative, modern designs and bomb-proof construction, Mission workshop gets a lot of well-deserved love from cyclists and bag enthusiasts around the world. While most of their designs are geared (pardon the pun) towards multi-purpose use, I’m particularly excited about their newest release because it’s designed specifically for the tech-heavy user. 

The Rhake Backpack incorporates all the features of Mission Workshop’s excellent roll-top backpack designs but adds a host of features for managing your gadgets and accessories. You’ve got a laptop compartment accessible from the side of the bag, a dedicated lower pocket for chargers, and two clever panels on the back face open like wings to organize all of your assorted accessories. There’s also a pop-out water bottle cradle and a built-in key lanyard (Yay!). This is all wrapped around a 22-liter storage capacity that, like other Mission Workshop bags, should take anything the elements can deliver.

Mission Workshop has been on my wishlist for a long time now, and I’m excited for this one. Retail price is set at $365. Check it out at Mission Workshop’s website.

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A new tech-oriented backpack from Mission Workshop originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 6, 2017 at 9:00 am.

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