A car that can drive on the moon is being developed by Toyota

Jan 29 2022

Yes, you read that correctly. Car manufacturer Toyota is working on developing a vehicle which can roam the surface of the moon.

In the age of space travel, as billionaires and philanthropists race to develop the latest space-faring technology, Toyota partnered up with Japan’s space agency Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to develop a car that is, literally, out of this world.

Named the Lunar Cruiser, it is a play on the name of Toyota’s popular Land Cruiser SUV. The company aims to launch it late in 2020s, based on the idea that daily life – like eating, sleeping and driving – can be done in space. JAXA plans on sending the vehicle to the moon on its own before it automatically travels to meet astronauts. Head of the project Takao Sato said that they see space as an area for our once-in-a-century transformation.

‘By going to space, we may be able to develop telecommunications and other technology that will prove valuable to human life.’ Toyota President Akio Toyoda said that the ‘automotive industry is now responding to such matters as environmental issues of global scale, the concept of ‘home planet’, from which all of us come, will become a very important concept.’

Saying that the car could help people live on Mars by 2040, he said that the project goes beyond the frameworks of countries or regions. He believes that the industry shares the same aspirations of international space explorations.

#MaltaDaily

Pieta’ man dies from mysterious incident and injuries

Jan 29 2022

A 54-year-old man sadly succumbed to his injuries after being found outside a garage complex in Pieta’ early on Friday morning.

Having been found at around 6:30am at Hookham Frere Street in Pieta’, police said the man was a resident of the same locality but released no details as to the nature of the injuries. Foul play is currently being excluded, say sources, as most probably the man fell and hit his head.

A number of blood spots were also found on the ground. CCTV cameras are expected to be used in the investigation to determine what led to his sustaining of the injuries.

A medical team assisted the man and took him to Mater Dei Hospital, where he was certified as suffering from serious injuries and a critical condition. Magistrate Astrid May Grima was informed of the incident and is leading an inquiry into the case. Investigations are still ongoing.

#MaltaDaily

Warnings of strong winds ahead for the weekend

Jan 29 2022

The Meteorological office is issuing warnings as Malta is set to be bombarded by strong gusts of wind over this weekend.

Winds from the North and Northwest are set to hit the areas which are most susceptible with intense force, with the same office forecasting Force 5 and 6 winds.

This prediction is set to carry on until 10:00pm of today Saturday 29th January 2022. This same forecast is backed up by the Malta International Airport’s 7 Day Forecast, which is also indicating temperatures between 13 and 7 degrees Celsius set to feel like 10.

Such weather always comes with safety warnings, especially for those venturing out and/or driving.

#MaltaDaily

ECDC recommends quarantines as short as four days for positive cases

Jan 29 2022

The EU’s infections agency is recommending patients with mild COVID-19 cases to end their quarantines as early as four days after the symptoms or positive testing are registered.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) presented a series of updates in its latest technical report a series of updates on the ending of quarantine.

Factoring in vaccination uptake as well as the rapid spread of the Omicron variant, the agency outlines how fully jabbed patients who test positive for COVID may exit quarantine as early as four days after experiencing symptoms or testing positive.

Currently, Malta’s quarantine rules state that those who are infected must isolate for 10 days if fully vaccinated. The ECDC now states that those with no symptoms can take a first test three days after the first positive test.

If this results negative and they do not develop any symptoms, they can retest after 24 hours, being able to exit quarantine if this second test also comes out negative.

If there are symptoms, the ECDC recommends that the positive patient must not have a fever for 24 hours and symptoms show improvement before allowed to test.

In this case, a minimum of three days must pass before any testing is carried out just as with the asymptomatic patients. The ECDC also recommends infected patients exit quarantine after one negative result carried out six days after the onset of symptoms in cases where testing capabilities are limited.

In Malta however, self-testing kits are still illegal. Those who end quarantine as outlined in the latest report must also wear a mask until what would have been the tenth day of quarantine.

People who have severe cases of the virus or are considered immunocompromised are also eligible for such rules, although in cases where two negative tests are not obtained, quarantine is extended. For severe cases, it goes up to 14 to 20 days while for the immunocompromised it goes up to 20 days.

For the unvaccinated, quarantine may also be ended after two consecutive negative results from tests carried out 24 hours apart from the third day onwards as long as symptoms have died down. Those who opt not to carry out any testing after the first positive result, a quarantine of 10 days must be adhered to.

#MaltaDaily