Verstappen Claims 4th F1 World Title At Las Vegas Grand Prix

Nov 24 2024

Max Verstappen clinched his fourth consecutive Formula One world title at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, becoming the sixth driver in history to achieve this milestone.

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The 27-year-old Dutchman finished fifth, while Mercedes’ George Russell claimed victory, 7.3 seconds ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton. Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc completed the top four, with Verstappen’s sole title rival, Lando Norris, finishing sixth.

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Norris needed to outscore Verstappen by three points to extend the championship race but fell short despite securing the fastest lap. Verstappen praised his Red Bull team, celebrating their success after a challenging season.

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Russell, starting from pole, controlled the race as early drama saw Leclerc and Verstappen move through the field.

Verstappen climbed to second by lap 15, aided by teammate Sergio Perez, but focused on securing the championship rather than challenging Russell.

Hamilton showcased impressive pace, rising from 10th to second at one point, trimming Russell’s lead in vintage form.

McLaren struggled with tyre issues, leaving Norris unable to mount a significant challenge.

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As the race unfolded, Verstappen defended his position from Leclerc, ensuring his historic fourth title amid a thrilling night in the Nevada desert.

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29 Year Old Grievously Injured After Motorcycle Crash

Nov 24 2024

A 29 year old Indian man resident of Birkirkara was taken to Mater Dei Hospital at around 0030hrs after having suffered injuries in Triq il-Belt Valletta, Rahal Gdid.

Preliminary investigations showed that the man was driving a Keeway motorcycle and lost control of the vehicle.

He was given preliminary medical aid and taken to Mater Dei for further care. He was later certified as having suffered grievous injuries.

Investigations are ongoing.

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7 Storey Christmas Tree With Traditional Balcony, Lantern Decorations

Nov 24 2024

A seven storey Christmas tree was revealed in the entrance to Malta’s capital city, Valetta yesterday, decorated with traditional Maltese building decorations.

These include balconies, lanterns and coloured shutters, which spiral around the Christmas tree along with the coloured lights and baubles.

This forms part of the launch of the Christmas activity launch in Valletta, with Jason Micallef detailing the inspiration behind the tree, highlighting its use of traditions which are dying out.

‘This Christmas in Valletta will be a big one’, said Micallef.

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The VCA also shared the images along with a poem by Anton Buttigieg:

“Kull fl-għaxija
kif mal-għabex
tnin u tmut saħħet il-jum,
jiġi Majsi bis-sellum,
u jixgħelli taħt it-tieqa
fanal ċkejken,
li tal-lejl itaffi d-diqa.”

What do you think of the Christmas tree?

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World’s First Wooden Satellite Launched for Space Exploration

Nov 23 2024

The world’s first wooden satellite, LignoSat, was launched into space as part of an experiment to test the potential of wood in future space exploration. Developed by Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry, the satellite will be sent to the International Space Station via SpaceX, where it will be released into orbit around 400 kilometers above Earth.

LignoSat, named after the Latin word for “wood,” is made from honoki, a type of magnolia tree. It is built using traditional Japanese craftsmanship without screws or glue. The satellite will remain in orbit for six months, where it will test how wood withstands space’s extreme temperatures and radiation. The research aims to demonstrate that wood, a renewable material, could eventually replace some metals in spacecraft and support the construction of habitats on the Moon or Mars.

Experts believe wood’s durability in space could offer environmental benefits, as it burns cleanly during re-entry, unlike metal satellites that release harmful particles. While the satellite is not entirely wooden, the experiment could mark a step forward in sustainable space exploration and timber industry applications.

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