As the Carolina Hurricanes gear up to face the Florida Panthers this evening, they will do so with a couple of key players sidelined due to injuries. Head coach Rod Brind’Amour confirmed in a pregame media session that forward William Carrier will miss his third consecutive game due to a lower-body injury. Although the 31-year-old recently returned to practice, he has not yet been cleared to play.

On the defensive front, Shayne Gostisbehere is also doubtful for tonight’s game after missing Thursday’s skate due to feeling unwell. His absence could pave the way for Mike Reilly to stay in the lineup, having stepped in for Jaccob Slavin during the previous game. Slavin, who missed the match against St. Louis as part of his injury rehabilitation, is expected to return, and Brind’Amour expressed optimism that Slavin would be able to play back-to-back games for the first time this season, starting with tonight’s contest against Florida and continuing tomorrow in New Jersey.

In today’s fast-paced world, protein bars have become a popular choice for those seeking quick energy and convenient nutrition. However, not all protein bars are created equal. With a plethora of options available on the market, it’s crucial to understand what to look for when selecting a protein bar that aligns with your health goals.

When evaluating protein bars, registered dietitians emphasize the importance of protein content, ingredient quality, and overall nutritional value. A quality protein bar should contain at least 10 grams of protein and have a calorie count that corresponds to its protein load. This ensures that you are not just consuming empty calories but are getting a substantial source of nutrition.

In a significant shift within the gaming industry, Julian Gerighty, the executive producer of The Division series at Ubisoft, has announced his departure from the company to join EA’s Battlefield Studios. This transition marks the end of an era for Gerighty at Ubisoft, where he played a pivotal role in shaping the future of The Division franchise.

Ubisoft expressed their sentiments regarding Gerighty’s exit, stating, “While we’ll miss him, his mark will live on at Massive and we’ll continue to bring the world he’s been part of creating to our players for years to come.” The company reassured fans that despite Gerighty’s departure, the teams that collaborated with him are still in place, committed to advancing The Division 2, The Division 2: Survivors, The Division Resurgence, and the highly anticipated The Division 3.

In a significant move within the medical technology sector, Boston Scientific Corporation has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Penumbra, Inc. for a cash and stock transaction that values Penumbra at $374 per share, amounting to an enterprise value of approximately $14.5 billion. This acquisition is poised to enhance Boston Scientific’s portfolio in the cardiovascular domain, particularly in addressing the rising prevalence of vascular diseases.

The announcement was made on January 15, 2026, with Boston Scientific’s CEO, Mike Mahoney, expressing enthusiasm about the acquisition. He highlighted Penumbra’s established reputation and innovative capabilities in the vascular space, which will allow Boston Scientific to enter fast-growing segments such as mechanical thrombectomy and neurovascular treatments. Mahoney stated, “The addition of Penumbra can expand access for these novel technologies to more patients and customers around the world, further enhancing our revenue and margins over time.”

In a significant move that could reshape the landscape of sports betting, the NCAA has formally requested the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to halt prediction markets focused on college sports until stronger safeguards are implemented. This request was made by NCAA president Charlie Baker in a letter to the CFTC’s chairman, highlighting the potential risks these markets pose to both the welfare of student-athletes and the integrity of collegiate competitions.

NASA’s Terra satellite recently captured breathtaking images of the mega-iceberg A23a, revealing a striking transformation that hints at the iceberg’s impending demise. On December 26, 2025, the satellite showed A23a’s surface adorned with vibrant blue striations, a visual testament to the changes occurring in this once-massive ice mass.

A23a, once hailed as the world’s largest iceberg, has undergone a dramatic metamorphosis into a “blue mush” blob, signaling its decline. Previously three times the size of New York City, this iceberg is one of the oldest on record, approaching its 40th anniversary since breaking off from Antarctica’s Filchner-Ronne Ice Sheet in the summer of 1986. For decades, A23a remained largely unchanged, anchored to the seafloor, but it finally broke free in 2020, embarking on a new journey.

Nestled in the breathtaking High Desert of Central Oregon, the Sunriver Nature Center and Observatory stands as a beacon for astronomy enthusiasts and casual stargazers alike. This unique facility, renowned for possessing the largest collection of publicly-available telescopes in the United States, offers an unparalleled opportunity to explore the cosmos, all while basking in the serene beauty of the surrounding sagebrush, Ponderosa pines, and juniper trees.

During a recent visit, I had the pleasure of joining Observatory Manager Paul Poncy and fellow guests for an evening filled with celestial exploration. The Sunriver community has earned its designation as an International Dark Sky Place, underscoring its commitment to preserving the night sky against the encroachment of light pollution. As an affiliate member of Oregon’s NASA Space Grant Consortium, the observatory is a hub for educational outreach and astronomical research.

The music world was shaken on January 13, 2026, with the news of Bob Weir’s passing, the legendary guitarist and co-founder of the Grateful Dead. Just moments before taking the stage at the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium in Centerport, the tribute band Half Step received the heartbreaking news. “It was quite a shock,” recalled Scott Bardolf, a Levittown native and co-founder of the band. Despite the emotional weight of the moment, Bardolf and his bandmates pressed on, channeling the spirit of Weir and the music that has touched countless lives.

In an era where technology often intersects with creativity, Nintendo has found itself at the center of a debate regarding the authenticity of its promotional imagery. The gaming giant recently faced scrutiny over its new My Mario children’s toy range, as reports emerged suggesting that AI-generated images were used in the marketing campaign. However, Nintendo has firmly denied these claims, asserting that real human models were employed for the photoshoot.

On January 8, 2026, Anthropic unveiled a groundbreaking suite of healthcare and life sciences features for its Claude artificial intelligence platform. This innovative move allows users to share their health records, enabling a deeper understanding of their medical information. The announcement comes on the heels of OpenAI’s recent introduction of ChatGPT Health, highlighting a significant trend among major AI companies to delve into the healthcare sector—a field ripe with opportunities but also fraught with challenges regarding the safe use of generative AI technology.