NASA's women space pioneers to star in new Lego set wnRenderDate('Wednesday, March 1, 2017 7:19 AM EST', '', false); wnRenderDate('Wednesday, March 1, 2017 8:47 AM EST', '', false); By Ben Westcott HONG KONG (CNNMoney) -- Five women scientists will receive the rare honor of being immortalized as inch-tall plastic figures with claws for hands.Lego announced Tuesday that a new set will feature some of the pioneering women who played vital but sometimes under-appreciated roles in the U.S. space program.The figures have been commissioned under the toy maker's Lego Ideas series that allows fans to propose concepts for new sets.The "Women of NASA" set was designed by science writer Maia Weinstock, the deputy editor of MIT News, and pitched with the headline "Ladies rock outer space!"Among Weinstock's figures are Sally Ride, the first American woman in space; Nancy Grace Roman, who's known as the "mother" of the Hubble Space Telescope; and Mae Jemison, the first African-American woman in space.
Also included are Margaret Hamilton and Katherine Johnson, whose work helped put the first people on the moon.Weinstock said the set celebrates the NASA scientists' careers and "provides an educational building experience to help young ones and adults alike learn about the history of women" in science and technology.Lego has been criticized in the past for a lack of professional female characters, most famously in a letter from a 7-year-old fan in 2014."All the girls did was sit at home, go to bed and shop, and they had no jobs but the boys went on adventures, worked, saved people," Charlotte Benjamin wrote.In response, Lego released a limited edition "Research Institute" set designed by geophysicist Ellen Kooijman that featured three female scientists -- a paleontologist, an astronomer and a chemist.Lego said it's still figuring out the final design and price for the "Women of NASA" set.It's planning to release it late this year or early in 2018. But it's not clear if it will be a limited edition set like the "Research Institute."
The National Weather Service said Thursday that two EF-1 tornadoes touched down in Putnam County on Wednesday, bringing the total number of tornadoes to five.More than 45 buildings in Wilson County were damaged after an EF-1 tornado hit Wednesday morning. On Thursday, people sorted through what's left.Lawyers for a man accused of causing a Tennessee bus crash that killed six school students say they want civil litigation against their client put on hold to protect his constitutional rights during his criminal case. Lawyers for a man accused of causing a Tennessee bus crash that killed six school students say they want civil litigation against their client put on hold to protect his constitutional rights during his criminal case.Gov. Bill Haslam is lauding lawmakers for advancing his plan to begin tackling Tennessee's more than $10 billion backlog in road and bridge projects, but the Republican wants to see his bill returned to its...Gov. Bill Haslam is lauding lawmakers for advancing his plan to begin tackling Tennessee's more than $10 billion backlog in road and bridge projects, but the Republican wants to see his bill returned to its original...
Tennessee's state attorney general says bills in the General Assembly that would outlaw abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected by ultrasound may not be able to stand up in court. Tennessee's state attorney general says bills in the General Assembly that would outlaw abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected by ultrasound may not be able to stand up in court.Two new skating rinks are going to be part of the One Bellevue Place development. The rinks will be used for Predators team practices, youth leagues and community skating. The rinks will be used for Predators team practices, youth leagues and community skating. The baby leopard will be hand-raised by zookeepers and will stay at the Nashville Zoo. Zoo staff members hope to eventually introduce him to a potential mate. Zoo staff members hope to eventually introduce him to a potential mate. Two Saint Thomas nurses, Ashley Brown and Tiffany Ferguson, were found dead just months apart. Two Saint Thomas nurses, Ashley Brown and Tiffany Ferguson, were found dead just months apart.
Former Vice President Joe Biden's youngest son is in a romantic relationship with his sister-in-law and the widow of Beau Biden, the vice president's older son who died in 2015 after a prolonged fight with brain cancer. Former Vice President Joe Biden's youngest son is in a romantic relationship with his sister-in-law and the widow of Beau Biden, the vice president's older son who died in 2015 after a prolonged fight with brain cancer. LuLaRoe, a popular clothing line among millennial women, is catching heat after many people are claiming the company is allegedly overcharging customers. LuLaRoe, a popular clothing line among millennial women, is catching heat after many people are claiming the company is allegedly overcharging customers.The highly-anticipated live-action remake of "Beauty and the Beast" will feature an openly gay character for the first time in Disney movie history. The highly-anticipated live-action remake of "Beauty and the Beast" will feature an openly gay character for the first time in Disney movie history.