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Korea Herald
11 minutes ago
- Science
- Korea Herald
Drones are now saving lives in Everest death zone
KATHMANDU, Nepal (Kathmandu Post/ANN) -- In March, a chilling incident unfolded in the frigid heights of the Everest region. Three Chinese trekkers -- a father and his two daughters -- lost their way in the Dingboche area. With only two porters and no guide, they had pushed on to Cho La pass, a treacherous trail perched 5,368 meters above sea level. By nightfall, the trekkers were missing, and their disappearance sparked panic in the region. At 10 p.m., their hotel launched a desperate search-and-rescue mission. Six guides were dispatched to scour the area, but after three grueling hours in the harsh mountain terrain, they found nothing. Fear gripped the hotel area, where the Chinese were residing. Then a stroke of technological luck intervened. Airlift Technology, a local drone-mapping startup, had team members staying in a nearby hotel. Without hesitation, they deployed a drone borrowed from a foreigner. Within an hour it had located the stranded trekkers. The rescue team moved swiftly. Lives were saved -- not by chance, but by the eyes in the sky. According to Airlift Technology, this was just a glimpse of what drones can do in Nepal's high mountains. If equipped with thermal detection, drones can pinpoint the location of missing climbers -- if they are still alive. With 3D mapping capabilities, drones can remotely scan the icy landscapes of places like the Khumbu Icefall, measuring the length and depth of crevasses. Climbers and guides can assess the mountain's dangers and be warned of potential avalanches or collapsing ice slabs. That warning came just in time for one expedition in April. Months ago, while preparing the route on Mount Pumori -- standing at 7,161 meters, just 8 kilometers from Everest -- Airlift's drone spotted a hanging serac, a huge block of unstable ice. The expedition was called off. Climbers and guides likely escaped death that day. Such interventions, however, cannot always prevent tragedy. On April 7, 2025, around noon, a massive avalanche thundered above Camp II (5,600 meters) of Annapurna, the world's 10th highest mountain. A team of sherpas from Seven Summit Treks were carrying bottled oxygen for their clients' summit push. The avalanche caught Ngima Tashi and Rima Rinje. Another Sherpa, Pemba Thenduk, was swept along but miraculously survived. Despite days of relentless searching, there was no trace of Ngima and Rima. On April 11, Seven Summit Treks wrote in a heartbreaking Facebook post, "It is no longer possible for anyone to survive this long under the mass of snow and ice. Prolonging search efforts would risk more lives. With a heavy heart, we have decided to suspend the search and bid farewell." The mountain had claimed two more of its finest. But would drones one day change this cruel pattern? "If drones can be used to deliver oxygen and supplies, we can reduce the number of risky trips sherpas must undertake," said Milan Pandey, co-founder of Airlift Technology. The sherpas -- Nepal's high-altitude trailblazers -- have long been the silent heroes of Himalayan expeditions. They guide climbers, ferry supplies, and prepare routes, often putting their lives on the line. The dangers they face are relentless. Three sherpas were killed by an avalanche in the Khumbu Icefall alone last year. This treacherous stretch -- an ever-shifting river of ice just below Everest Base Camp -- is so dangerous that most climbers attempt it only between 3 and 5 am, when the ice is most stable. As the sun rises, melting ice becomes unstable, and avalanches are frequent. On April 18, 2014, a falling serac buried 16 sherpa guides in the Icefall, ending that year's climbing season. The Himalayan Database records 48 deaths on the Icefall between 1953 and 2024. Now, the mountain may finally have a new kind of helper. "After our successful operations on Everest, we're piloting drones on Annapurna this September," said Pandey. "We flew drones up to 6,500 meters this spring, carrying over 30 kilograms of supplies in minus 25 degrees Celsius and winds of 45 kph." Where sherpas take 6-7 hours to climb carrying 12 kilograms of gear, drones do the same in 10 minutes. This spring alone, Airlift mobilized two heavy-lifter drones that transported 2.5 tonnes of supplies -- including 300 kilograms of garbage -- in and out of the Khumbu Icefall. The drone reached a record 6,130 meters, the highest documented drone delivery. Before Everest, the highest known drone ascent was 5,000 meters near Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, India. This spring, almost all the ladders and ropes used to prepare Everest's route were flown by drones up to Camp I. The Icefall Doctors, a group of specialist sherpas mobilised by the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC), usually carry over 20 ladders and hundreds of kilograms of ropes by hand. This year, drones lifted 444 kilograms of such equipment. "It was super fast," Pandey said. "This year, the drones supplied 900 kilograms of equipment for the 8K Expedition up to Camp I. They also delivered 150 oxygen cylinders for Asian Trekking, six at a time -- each weighing four liters." The DJI drone weighs 96 kilograms and has a payload capacity of 32 kilograms. The results were impressive. For instance, when the Icefall Doctors discovered a crevasse longer than expected, they needed extra ladders. Instead of climbing down to Base Camp and back -- a day's delay and a risky journey -- a drone delivered four ladders in just two minutes. The sherpas finished the section within an hour. Traditionally, sherpas travel from Base Camp to Camp I and back in 10 hours, including 6 hours of climbing. With drones, the task now takes 10 minutes, including loading. There were challenges. In one instance, a drone was forced into an emergency landing when winds hit 66 kph. "Drones can fail," Pandey admitted, "but people won't die. We're planning a full-fledged drone operation next spring." They don't come cheap though. The price of a DJI drone is $70,000 with taxes. Pemba Sherpa, executive director of 8K Expeditions, the company entrusted to prepare routes from Camp II to the Everest summit this spring, said, "There is no doubt that drones are a life-saving initiative. The human risk is zero." "When sherpas don't have to carry loads, their performance improves." "Besides, though the commercial aspect of the drone is yet to be properly assessed, preliminary reports suggest it is over 10 times cheaper to transport goods through drones than through choppers," he said. Operators say the average travel time for rope-fixing sherpas from Base Camp to Camp I was cut by 90 minutes this year. Airlift used Chinese drones this spring but plans to test a European drone on Mt. Manaslu -- Nepal's eighth-highest peak -- this September. Standing at 8,163 meters, Manaslu is another formidable testing ground. "We'll begin the survey next month," said Pandey. "After the test, we'll know its carrying capacity and full potential." Could drones one day bring supplies down to Lukla, Everest's gateway airport? "Technically, yes," Pandey said. "But our focus is on emergency support and garbage removal. We don't want to displace porters' jobs." That's a valid concern. Hundreds of locals depend on Everest for income. Porters form the backbone of Nepal's trekking industry. SPCC collected more than 83 tonnes of garbage from Everest this spring alone. That included 25,056 kilograms of paper, plastic, and clothing; 8,374 kilograms of metal and glass; 17,861 kilograms of kitchen waste; and a staggering 31,797 kilograms of human waste. Also retrieved: 788 used gas canisters and 1,802 spent batteries. The mountains are magnificent -- but they are unforgiving. Technology may never fully tame them. But this spring, Nepal took a small yet bold step toward a safer future in the death zone, where once only courage treaded -- and now, drones fly.
Fox News
43 minutes ago
- Fox News
Security footage shows dog's dramatic showdown with full-sized bear inside California home
Security cameras captured a dramatic encounter between a dog and a full-sized black bear as they went snout-to-snout inside a California home last week. Monrovia resident Zoë Cadman shared video on social media of a large bear roaming around her backyard before making its way into her home shortly before midnight on June 14. The uninvited guest is seen strolling through Cadman's kitchen and sniffing items before eventually being confronted by the homeowner's 17-year-old dog named Doodle, KTLA reported. While Cadman had woken up in the middle of the night to discover the black bear wandering around her kitchen, she said Doodle ultimately was the one who sprang into action and chased the predator out of the house, according to KTLA. Security footage shows Doodle barking and growling at the large bear as it curiously sniffed the domesticated animal. Doodle is then seen walking out of the room, with the bear following behind. "Imagine waking up in the middle of the night to find a bear going through your fridge! Just 10 feet from your bed!" Cadman wrote in a Facebook post. "No, I didn't grab my phone. I apparently roared, and ran out the front door. Brave Doodle saved the day!" Earlier this year, Kentucky homeowners were met with a similar surprise when a black bear crashed through their ceiling. Officials said the bear had likely climbed a ladder and squeezed into the attic before crashing down into the kitchen. Zoë Cadman and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
USA Today
an hour ago
- Sport
- USA Today
WATCH: Highlights of Ohio State football's newest linebacker commit, Cincere Johnson
WATCH: Highlights of Ohio State football's newest linebacker commit, Cincere Johnson #hudl - Highlights of Ohio State football's newest commit, 4-star linebacker Cincere Johnson. — Buckeyes Wire (@BuckeyesWire) June 19, 2025 The Ohio State football recruiting efforts paid off in a big way on Thursday when 4-star linebacker Cincere Johnson announced his commitment to the Buckeyes. Out of the pipeline that is Glenville High School in Cleveland, Ohio, the 6-foot, 3-inch, 240-pound Johnson should continue to make the linebacker room in Columbus a very good one for years to come. It's one thing to just hear about a commitment's recruiting service ranking and feel good about what the Buckeyes have landed; it's another to be able to get eyes on video highlights to see what he can bring to the program. We like to pull the previous high school season highlights from our friends at Hudl to provide you with some tangible evidence or what a commitment has done, and it's no different here. Johnson should bring size, speed, and versatility to the linebacking unit. He's a top-notch tackler, but can also come off the edge to provide pressure and disruption. Read More | Ohio State football 2026 recruiting class tracker Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Dangerous bombing
Bombing nuclear power plants is a very risky and dangerous thing to do. Right now, Israel and the United States are doing just that — and they should stop. Almost 80 years ago, in August 1945, two cities in Japan — Hiroshima and Nagasaki — were destroyed by nuclear bombs. Over 2.2 lakh people died, and many more were hurt for years after. The world saw how horrible nuclear weapons could be, and most countries agreed they should never be used again. So in 1970, a big agreement called the Non-Proliferation Treaty (or NPT) was signed. Countries promised not to build more nuclear weapons. Iran signed it. Israel did not. But overall, it helped keep the world safer — only nine countries have nuclear bombs today. And the big accidents at nuclear power plants — like Chernobyl in 1986 and Fukushima in 2011 — all happened by mistake, not in war. Each time, countries worked to make safety better. But now, dangerous things are happening again. In 2022, when Russia attacked Ukraine, it also captured Europe's biggest nuclear power plant. Luckily, there was no disaster. But just last week, Israel bombed several of Iran's nuclear sites. These are not weapons — they are working or nearly working power plants. If bombs damage them, they could leak radiation and hurt thousands of people and the environment — just like Chernobyl. This isn't the first time. In 1981, Israel bombed a nuclear plant in Iraq before it could be used. They knew they couldn't do it after the plant was running, or it would have caused a huge disaster. They were careful again in 2007 when bombing a plant in Syria that was still being built. Back in 1981, even the U.S. was angry at Israel for bombing Iraq's plant. But today, leaders like Putin, Trump, and Israel's Netanyahu don't seem to care about the risks. In 1991, during a war, the U.S. destroyed two nuclear plants in Iraq — it was very dangerous. Why are we repeating those mistakes now? Iran may now leave the nuclear safety treaty. If that happens, other countries might think they also need nuclear weapons to stay safe. That would make the world more dangerous for everyone. There's a clock called the Doomsday Clock that shows how close the world is to a big disaster. Right now, it's just 89 seconds from midnight — the closest ever. Bombing nuclear plants brings us even closer. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
USA Today
an hour ago
- Sport
- USA Today
MSU priority target, 3-star RB Jamal Rule to announce commitment 'soon'
MSU priority target, 3-star RB Jamal Rule to announce commitment 'soon' Michigan State football's top priority at running back announced on Thursday that he will be making his college decision "soon." Jamal Rule of Charlotte is nearing a decision with a commitment apparently coming very soon for him. Rule posted on social media X on Thursday that his decision will be coming soon but did not reveal an exact date or time for his planned commitment. Rule also revealed in the social media post that he will be deciding between Michigan State, Nebraska, Virginia Tech and Syracuse. Rule is a three-star running back in the 2026 class. He holds a recruiting rating of 87.26 and ranks as the No. 47 running back in 247Sports' composite rankings. Rule is set to take an official visit to Michigan State this upcoming weekend. It is the last of his scheduled official visits, with Rule already making stops at Nebraska, Virginia Tech and Syracuse over the last few weeks. Michigan State only recently entered the mix on Rule, offering him a scholarship last week. The Spartans, though, have quickly shot up his recruiting board and are firmly in the mix to land his commitment. He is the primary running back target for Michigan State at this point. Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.
