photos

Fireworks light up the night sky over the Charles River as Boston celebrates Independence Day 2008. See pages 10–11 for more photographs from the Fourth of July.

Friday’s fireworks display by Pyro Spectaculars Inc. is seen from the roof of the Green Building.

The last robot on earth, WALL-E, is fascinated by EVE’s ability to turn on an incandescent light bulb.

MIT students and friends watch the fireworks display from the penthouse of McCormick Hall on July 4.

Workers of Pyro Spectaculars Inc. load fireworks shells into firing tubes on the Charles River barge on July 2.

Fireworks are launched from the Charles River barge in front of the Boston skyline on July 4.

Crowds gather at the intersection of Causeway St. and Lomasney Way near TD Banknorth Garden where the Boston Celtics won the final game of the NBA Championship finals on June 17 by beating the Los Angeles Lakers 131-92.

Grammy Award-winning Rascal Flatts play at the Hatch Shell during the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular on July 4.

Keith Lockhart, longtime conductor for the Boston Pops, tries to set a record for the most people singing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” at the Hatch Shell on July 4.

Paul Pierce, 2008 NBA Finals MVP, holds up his trophy during the Celtics’ Rolling Rally on June 19 on Tremont St. The Boston Celtics defeated the Los Angeles Lakers to clinch their first NBA Championship in 22 years.

A video still shows lightning striking a crane at the Media Lab Extension construction site, as seen from Eastgate Apartments on June 27.