On Sunday in France, Belgian cyclist Tom Boonen scored his fourth-career Paris-Roubaix victory and equaled Roger de Vlaeminck's all-time win record from the 1970s. Boonen, 31, broke away with 35 miles to go and bested runner-up Sebastien Turgot by 1:39. Last week, Boonen won the single-day Tour de Flanders for the third time. "When I was alone in front, I just went for it. It was my greatest [Paris-Roubaix] win," he said. Paris-Roubaix, referred to as "The Hell of the North," is among the most... Read More
The U.S. Navy plans to begin using robotic helicopters to catch pirates in congested coastal waters, the Office of Naval Research announced last week. In a press release on April 5, the ONR said it plans to equip unmanned Fire Scout helicopters with software that will recognize potential pirate boats. The helicopters will use laser-radar imaging and cameras to flag threatening boats for a follow-up review by helicopter operators. Initial testing of the technology is scheduled to take place off... Read More
A storm dropped four inches of snow on Anchorage, Alaska over the weekend, breaking the city's snowfall record and pushing the winter total above 11 feet for only the second time ever. Anchorage has now received 134.2 inches of snow, nearly double the historical average and two inches more than the previous record, which was set in the winter of 1954-1955. City officials have spent $11.9 million on plowing, $3.8 more than last year. Some snow piles are expected to survive through the summer.
... Read More
On Monday, inclement weather hampered efforts to rescue 135 Pakistani soldiers and civilians caught in a massive avalanche that buried a military complex on the Siachen Glacier in norther Kashmir. The remote mountain base, located at an altitude of 15,000 feet, was buried under at least 80 feet of snow. The United States has dispatched a team of avalanche experts to assist in the rescue, but heavy, unrelenting snowfall has prevented the team from reaching the site. India has also offered assis... Read More
Polar bears in Alaska are exhibiting symptoms of a mystery disease that has already killed seals and walruses in the area. Scientists noted the symptoms, including hair loss and oozing sores, in 12 different bears along the Beaufort Sea coastline, including nine near Barrow and three near Kaktovik. At least 60 seals and several walruses have died, although scientists are not aware of any bear deaths. The seals and walruses showed signs of labored breathing and lethargy, though the bears appear... Read More
