Canadian musher Gerry Willomitzer was forced to withdraw from the Iditarod trail sled dog race in Alaska after losing one of his dogs. Willomitzer was about 25 miles from the race’s halfway point on Sunday when his dog came loose and ran off. After searching for 36 hours, he learned that the dog has been found and taken elsewhere. The rules of the Iditarod require that mushers arrive at checkpoints with as many dogs as they had leaving the previous checkpoint. When officials decided that... Read More
Today in Things That Don’t Bode Well for Humanity’s Future, MIT researchers have designed a robot “cheetah” that can rival its real-world counterpart in running efficiency. While most legged robots, such as Boston Dynamic’s “Big Dog,” are weighed down by heavy gasoline engines, hydraulics, or large battery packs, MIT’s “cheetah,” which we will call "Cheetor," uses lightweight electric motors in its shoulders that produce high torque w... Read More
A soccer match in Switzerland on Sunday was interrupted when an extra player ran onto the field—an extra-furry player, that is. A wild marten repeatedly dodged attempts at capture, leading to an endless supply of hilarious GIFs.
Zurich defender Loris Benito managed to grab the animal, but was promptly bitten. The marten then made a dash into the stands before running back down onto the field. He was ultimately caught by a goalie, who sensibly wore gloves in preparation for wild animal a... Read More
Ever wondered what it would be like to fall off a mountain? Now you have some idea, courtesy of a British ice climber whose 330-foot fall was captured by his helmet camera. Mark Roberts, 47, was climbing Parsley Fern Gulley, an easy route on one of Wales' highest mountains, late last month when a falling chunk of ice knocked him off his stance and sent him sliding down the mountain.
Roberts finally came to a stop when his pack and crampons caught on a ledge. "I was a little dazed and knew the... Read More
Retired French cyclist Laurent Jalabert was seriously injured this morning after being struck by a car while on his bike. Jalabert, winner of the 1995 Tour of Spain and the 1997 world time trial championships, was hit by an oncoming car in Motauban, a town in southern France.
From Reuters:
"He is not in danger," a spokesman said.
The vehicle suddenly turned left, cutting across Jalabert who had the right of way, the police said.
The 41-year-old suffered several fractures and was briefly u... Read More
