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In Greek mythology, Proteus was a sea god capable of assuming different forms. And now Proteus also is the name of a new type of ocean-going ship that can adapt its shape to the motion of the sea.

A hush-hush project to develop a new type of ocean vessel was introduced last week, when a prototype called “Proteus” made its way across San Francisco Bay.

Ugo Canti is its inventor and captain. "Now, finally we are ready for this preview," he said.

Like college students, faculty, alumni, and sports fans elsewhere across America, the folks at the University of Illinois really love their sports mascot.

Forty-six countries have joined France in calling for a new world environmental agency.

President Jacques Chirac Saturday called for the transformation of the U.N. Environment Program into a more powerful international membership organization to combat global warming. He said the planet is at risk and the future of humanity demands it.

Mr. Chirac spoke in Paris after the world's top scientists issued a report saying that global-warming was largely man-made. The U.N. report also said that the trend can be expected to continue.

Medical researchers know that people exposed to high levels of air pollution can have increased risk for asthma and other respiratory problems. But they're slowly finding that people living in areas with lots of air pollution also end up with problems of the heart and cardiovascular system. Now data from a large U.S. study of women confirms a strong relationship between air pollution and an increased risk of dying from cardiac disease and stroke.

The Bush administration says a new United Nations report on the dangers of global warming is very valuable, but stopped short of calling for mandatory government controls on greenhouse gasses.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released a study Friday warning that human activities are "very likely" to blame for global warming, and that the world can expect the trend to continue.

The 39th Cairo International Book Fair has wrapped up its two-week run, and organizers say its two million visitors make it the world's largest book fair. Scholars, students and book worms flock to the International Fair Ground, and the meager ticket cost also brings low-income families more likely to buy ice cream and balloons than books. Karem Sa'id reports for VOA from Cairo.

The Indianapolis Colts have won Super Bowl XLI (41), defeating the Chicago Bears, 29-17, in Miami, Florida.

Playing in a steady rain Sunday at Dolphin Stadium, it was the Bears who struck first in the National Football League championship game. Chicago's Devon Hestor ran 92 yards for a touchdown on the opening kickoff.

The Colts came back as quarterback Peyton Manning threw a 52-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Wayne. Indianapolis added a touchdown by running back Dominic Rhodes and three field goals by Adam Vinatieri.

So now it's only a matter of time...

The United Nations' top bird-flu expert says Europe can expect more cases of deadly H5N1 virus in domestic birds over the next few months, after the virus killed 2,500 turkeys in eastern England.

Dr. David Nabarro says migrating wild birds infected with the virus are likely to come in contact with domestic poultry flocks in Europe, but that the bird-flu threat to humans is very small.