Duct-Taped Banana Auctioned Off For $6.2 Million

Nov 21 2024

A unique artwork by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, featuring a banana duct-taped to a wall, has made headlines after being auctioned off for an outstanding $6.2 million at a New York auction.

The piece, titled ‘Comedian’, has sparked a range of discussions about art, culture, and the intersection of memes and cryptocurrency into the art world.

Cattelan described the banana work as a critical commentary on the art market, which he has previously criticized for being speculative and not offering sufficient support to artists.

According to Justin Sun, founder of the cryptocurrency exchange Tron, the sale represents not just art but a cultural phenomenon that bridges the worlds of fine art, internet memes, and the cryptocurrency community.

He believes the work will inspire future debate and become a significant part of art history.

The banana installation has had a notable history, including being eaten by performance artist David Datuna during a Miami exhibition, saying he felt “hungry” while inspecting it.

Sun, who purchased the piece, has stated he plans to honour its place in both art history and popular culture by eating the banana himself, turning his investment into a living part of the artwork’s legacy.

Cattelan also gave Sun instructions on how to replenish the banana to preserve the art piece as time goes by.

Before the auction, the banana was bought for just 35 cents from a Bangladeshi fruit seller on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.

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Malta’s Climate Action Authority Celebrated At COP29

Nov 21 2024

At the COP29 summit in Baku, Australian Energy Minister Chris Bowen praised Malta’s creation of a Climate Action Authority, calling it “best practice” and the “first in Europe.”

During a side event co-hosted by Malta, Australia, and the UAE, Bowen stated, “I want to congratulate Malta on its excellent new Climate Action Authority policy. It’s good governance, provides rigor, and Minister Dalli’s achievements deserve celebration.”

Malta’s delegation, led by Minister Miriam Dalli, showcased the country’s progress in establishing a unified governance framework for climate action.

Minister Dalli stressed the need for global collaboration to combat climate change. “This is a pressing issue that affects everyone. Bold and united responses are essential,” she said.

The discussion highlighted Malta’s efforts to integrate climate action across governance and society. Dalli emphasized, “Climate action must be central to every national agenda.”

Malta is advancing clean energy through offshore wind, solar initiatives, and the MED9 alliance, which unites nine EU Mediterranean countries to position the region as a clean energy hub.

Malta’s Climate Action Authority is key to these goals, uniting government, businesses, and society to achieve decarbonisation by 2050. CEO Abigail Cutajar highlighted the importance of collaboration, saying, “Our role goes beyond legislation—we must engage stakeholders to embrace long-term planning for everyone’s benefit.”

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Another Man Arrested In Connection With Free Port Drug Bust

Nov 21 2024

A 31-year-old man from Żejtun has been arrested in connection with the recent seizure of 146 kilograms of alleged cocaine, which were smuggled into Malta through the Freeport.

This arrest follows ongoing investigations into the case, which began after the drug shipment was intercepted earlier this month.

Less than a month ago, four men were arrested in connection with the same crime, and now a fifth individual has been identified, bringing the total number of arrests to five.

The police have confirmed that the man is suspected of being involved in an organized criminal network operating in the country. In addition to the drug haul, a significant amount of cash, luxury vehicles, and jewelry were seized during the operation.

The suspect is scheduled to appear before the courts later today, at 9:30 am, before Magistrate Dr. Astrid May Grima LL.D. He will face multiple charges, including drug trafficking, money laundering, and involvement in organized crime, among others.

This operation is part of the ongoing efforts by Maltese authorities to tackle drug trafficking and organized crime within the country.

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MCAST Brings Science & Art Onboard The International Space Station

Nov 21 2024

The ASTROBEAT project, a pioneering research experiment funded by Xjenza Malta and conducted by the Malta College of Arts, Science & Technology IET – Aviation, Transportation & Logistics Department, has reached new heights aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Installed by Astronaut Barry “Butch” Wilmore following its successful launch on the SpaceX CRS-31 mission last 5th November, ASTROBEAT investigates cold welding as a novel solution for spacecraft hull repair after hypervelocity impacts from space debris.

This project, spearheaded by aerospace engineering expert and pianist Dr Leonardo Barilaro, seeks to leverage the unique microgravity environment onboard the ISS to explore cold-welding applications for emergency hull repair on spacecraft. The experiment aims to achieve Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6 through its testing period, significantly advancing this innovation in real space conditions.

The science behind ASTROBEAT: In Space, metallic surfaces that lack oxide layers due to vacuum exposure can bond under high contact forces, forming a weld at ambient temperatures. This natural cold-welding phenomenon has previously been a challenge in space environments, causing equipment malfunctions since the 1960s. However, ASTROBEAT turns this adverse reaction into a potential advantage by examining how cold welding could be applied to fix hull perforations caused by micrometeoroids and space debris from within the spacecraft. When high-speed micrometeoroids or space debris strike the outer shell of a spacecraft, they can leave dangerous penetration holes that compromise crew safety and mission integrity. ASTROBEAT’s experimental test rig, now onboard the ISS, simulates these conditions, exploring whether cold welding can seal perforations quickly and safely from inside the spacecraft, offering a safer, more efficient solution than extravehicular activity (EVA) repair.

Space Art meets Science with ASTROBEAT: In addition to the scientific objective, ASTROBEAT embodies a unique cultural mission through its Space Art initiative, coordinated by Dr Leonardo Barilaro, known also as The Space Pianist, and developed in collaboration with Grammy-nominated cellist Tina Guo and world-renowned composer Steve Mazzaro. Known for their work alongside composer Hans Zimmer, Guo and Mazzaro bring an exceptional artistic dimension to ASTROBEAT, transforming the experiment into a global outreach project. Dr Barilaro, who composed the music for this mission, will broadcast these new compositions directly from Space – ‘Moon Seeds’ and ‘Black Sun’ – uniting audiences worldwide through the powerful language of music.

“I wanted to broaden opportunities for engagement.” said Dr Barilaro. “I believe that in Space there is space for everyone, literally and figuratively. Space should no longer be viewed as accessible only to a privileged few. Despite the challenges of sending experiments to space, Space Art is an essential tool that brings people together, highlighting how art can make space more relatable and inclusive.”

Following the completion of the cold-welding trials, two live streaming events will premiere these compositions from the ISS (25th and 27th November), a milestone anticipated to captivate a global audience.

ASTROBEAT’s global collaborations network: This groundbreaking research is made possible by a consortium of academic and industry leaders, including MCAST’s Institute of Engineering and Transport – Aviation, Transportation & Logistics Department, South East Technological University (SETU) in Ireland, and Skyup Academy in Italy. Moreover, MCAST initiated a prestigious partnership with New York University Abu Dhabi’s Center for Astrophysics and Space Science, supported by Director Prof. Andrea Macciò.

This space art initiative has grown significantly in recent months. In partnership with NYUAD’s Arts and Humanities Division and in collaboration with Prof. Carlos Guedes, Dr Barilaro launched a space music contest, blending art with space exploration. The contest allowed NYUAD students to create music to be sent into space as part of the ASTROBEAT mission. A judging panel, which included Tina Guo and Steve Mazzaro, selected two students for this unique opportunity. The experiment also features a composition by Prof. Guedes, adding research value, alongside the two compositions by Dr Barilaro. His pieces were recorded at the NYUAD Arts Center under the guidance of Prof. Matteo Marciano, head of the student label Gazelien Records. Additionally, for ‘Black Sun’, Dr Barilaro collaborated with dancer and quantum physicist Dr Merritt Moore.

This Space Art initiative not only enhances ASTROBEAT’s technical value but also amplifies its global outreach by bridging academic, scientific and artistic communities.

The MCAST team comprises Dr Leonardo Barilaro, Mark Spiteri, Steve Buhagiar and Luke Falzon. The SETU team includes Dr Mark Wylie, co-author of the cold-welding adhesion concept for space applications, and Theeba Shafeeg.

In October 2024, Dr Barilaro presented ASTROBEAT and his broader ‘Music from Space’ project at the Yuri’s Night of the 75th International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2024) in Milan and on the 6th November 2024 at the Arts Center of NYU Abu Dhabi. These presentations showcased the convergence of aerospace innovation and artistic exploration, highlighting ASTROBEAT as a model of interdisciplinary research with international relevance.

Paving the way for spacecraft repair and terrestrial innovations: As ASTROBEAT progresses, the data from this cold-welding research will not only advance space-based repair techniques but may also have profound implications for cold-welding applications here on Earth. By testing this technology in microgravity, the project hopes to pave the way for robust, efficient and rapid repair methods for spacecraft, addressing critical issues in crew safety and mission sustainability.

ASTROBEAT has been recognized as one of five experiments promoted by the ISS National Lab’s public outreach, with payload access provided by Nanoracks (Voyager Space) through its partnership with NASA’s U.S. National Lab. This strategic support allows ASTROBEAT to bring cutting-edge science and cultural engagement to the forefront of space exploration.

For more information on ASTROBEAT and to follow the project’s updates, please visit:

ASTROBEAT website – mcast.edu.mt/astrobeat

The Space Pianist website – www.thespacepianist.com

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