Scientists 3D Print LEGOs from 4.5-Billion-Year-Old Meteorite to ‘Mimic’ Building Future Moon Structures

Scientists have been constantly puzzling out the possibilities of building structures on an extraterrestrial world – the Moon or Mars.

Are you wondering what this has to do with your kids’ favorite LEGO brick toys? There is a very interesting twist in it from the scientists of the European Space Agency (ESA).

Since it is unthinkable to carry building materials to the Moon from the Earth anytime in the future, the ESA scientists have outsmarted by designing LEGO bricks from the dust of a 4.5-billion-year-old meteorite found somewhere in Africa in 2000.

They have mixed the dust from the meteorite with a bit of regolith stimulant (the loose, sand-like layer of the moon) and polylactide to design fully functional, snappable LEGO bricks, but they are not for playing. These grayish bricks are for viewing only.

You can have a look at the ‘extraterrestrial’ LEGO creations as they will be on display at the Lego House in Billund, Denmark, or in some select stores until September 20, 2024.

“Right now, ESA is investigating the different technologies and approaches that can be used to make building on a planetary surface a reality,” an ESA spokesperson told the media.

The News Reference: FastCompany
Photo Credit: LEGO.COM