Five Stories, One Day: News from Tech, Sports, and More

Today, February 22, 2026, brings a mix of exciting developments and intriguing stories from various fields. In the world of technology, a startup called Taalas has made waves by "printing" a large language model (LLM) onto a chip, while in the realm of space exploration, the Moon is now in its Waxing Crescent phase, offering a stunning sight for stargazers. Meanwhile, sports fans are gearing up for a thrilling ice hockey match between Canada and Finland, and those looking for a fun puzzle can try their hand at Hurdle, a daily word game. Lastly, a new book review sheds light on the fascinating story of how a small brown bear in a Brooklyn candy store became a symbol of innovation and entrepreneurship.

Let's start with the tech story. Taalas, a 2.5-year-old company, has released an ASIC chip that runs Llama 3.1 8B (3/6 bit quant) at an impressive 17,000 tokens per second. This achievement is significant, as it claims to be 10 times cheaper in ownership cost and 10 times less electricity-hungry than GPU-based inference systems. But how did Taalas manage to "print" an LLM onto a chip? According to their blog, they've literally "hardwired" the model's weights onto the chip, a process that may seem counterintuitive to those with a software background.

In other news, the Moon is now in its Waxing Crescent phase, with 26% of its surface illuminated. This makes it an ideal time for stargazing, and with the help of binoculars or a telescope, you can spot various features on the Moon's surface, including the Mares Crisium and Fecunditatis, as well as the Endymion Crater. The next Full Moon will be on March 3, and NASA's Daily Moon Guide provides a wealth of information on the Moon's phases and orbit.

For sports enthusiasts, the men's ice hockey semi-final match between Canada and Finland is just around the corner. The two teams will face off at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, and fans can catch the action live on CBC Gem. Canada defeated Czechia to reach the semi-finals, while Finland secured their spot with a 3-2 victory over Switzerland. The match promises to be an intense battle, and fans are eagerly anticipating the outcome.

If you're looking for a fun puzzle to solve, Hurdle is a great option. This daily word game involves guessing a five-letter word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. The game has five rounds, and the final hurdle provides clues from previous guesses to help you solve the puzzle.

Lastly, a new book review sheds light on the fascinating story of Morris Michtom, a Brooklyn candy store owner who created a small brown bear that became a symbol of innovation and entrepreneurship. The bear, which was inspired by a hunting trip taken by President Theodore Roosevelt, was displayed in Michtom's store window and quickly gained popularity. The story is a testament to the power of creativity and innovation, and serves as a reminder that even the smallest ideas can have a significant impact.

Overall, today's news offers a diverse range of stories that cater to different interests and passions. From AI and space exploration to sports and puzzles, there's something for everyone to enjoy.