  IceCube is a 1 km$^3$ neutrino observatory being built to study neutrino
production in active galactic nuclei, gamma-ray bursts, supernova remnants, and
a host of other astrophysical sources. High-energy neutrinos may signal the
sources of ultra-high energy cosmic rays. IceCube will also study many
particle-physics topics: searches for WIMP annihilation in the Earth or the
Sun, and for signatures of supersymmetry in neutrino interactions, studies of
neutrino properties, including searches for extra dimensions, and searches for
exotica such as magnetic monopoles or Q-balls. IceCube will also study the
cosmic-ray composition.
  In January, 2005, 60 digital optical modules (DOMs) were deployed in the
South Polar ice at depths ranging from 1450 to 2450 meters, and 8 ice-tanks,
each containing 2 DOMs were deployed as part of a surface air-shower array. All
76 DOMs are collecting high-quality data. After discussing the IceCube physics
program and hardware, I will present some initial results with the first DOMs.
