Had a disagreement with a tournament organiser last week.
Now this week both my teams are conveniently playing each other in the first round to eliminate each other.
It's a round of 32 first matches of 40 teams. Remaining 8 teams are seeded to be in the second round.
Fully aware you can drag and drop in Challonge.
In 1963, Randy Gardner stayed awake for 264 hours (11 days) as part of a sleep-deprivation experiment.
Inflatable and plastic like a beach ball, given as a free promotional gift from a gym.
🔥 In late May to early June, giant ancient dinosaur ocean bugs, more commonly known as horseshoe crabs, emerge en masse onto the beaches of the eastern US to breed and lay eggs
Europe’s 2027 Phone Battery Rules Mark a Major Shift
Beginning on February 18, 2027, the European Union will implement new battery regulations designed to make smartphones more durable, repairable, and environmentally sustainable. However, contrary to some viral claims, the rules do not require every phone to have a removable back cover or a snap-out battery.
Instead, smartphones sold in the EU must either feature batteries that users can replace with commercially available tools or meet strict battery durability standards. To qualify for an exemption, a device must retain at least 83% of its original battery capacity after 500 charge cycles and 80% after 1,000 charge cycles, while also maintaining certified dust and water resistance. Many current flagship smartphones, including recent iPhone models, are expected to meet these requirements.
The regulation is part of the EU’s broader Right to Repair initiative, which aims to reduce electronic waste, extend the lifespan of devices, and make battery replacements more accessible so consumers do not have to replace their phones as frequently.
Would you prefer a phone with a user-replaceable battery, or one with a battery designed to last much longer before needing replacement?
He unbuckled his seatbelt and took off his headset. That was the only warning. Leandro Andrés Bertazzo was a 42-year-old flight instructor on a routine training run over Toledo, Argentina. His 22-year-old student, Rosario, was currently flying the Cessna 150. Bertazzo had flown normally with another student just hours earlier. There were no warning signs. But mid-flight, he looked at Rosario with a terrifying final instruction. “You know what you have to do, carry on.” Then he opened the cabin door and jumped to his death. Left completely alone and in profound shock, Rosario had to rely on her incomplete training to survive. She navigated the aircraft back to the runway and landed it safely without a single scratch. Investigators are still searching for answers to an emergency no pilot is ever trained for.
Three hundred million years ago, the skies were ruled by giants with wings. In an ancient world bursting with oxygen, insects grew to astonishing sizes, and one of the most legendary among them was Meganeura. This dragonfly-like predator soared through prehistoric forests with wingspans stretching over two feet, rivaling the size of modern birds.
The Carboniferous period was a time of thick, swampy forests and towering ferns. Oxygen levels in Earth’s atmosphere reached up to 35 percent, compared to today’s 21 percent. This rich oxygen environment allowed arthropods to evolve far beyond their current limits. Meganeura, with its enormous wings and agile flight, was one of the dominant aerial hunters of its time. It preyed on smaller insects and possibly even small amphibians, using its speed and sharp mandibles to maintain control over the skies.
But Meganeura was not alone. Millipedes the size of alligators and centipedes as long as a child also thrived in this oxygen-rich world. These massive forms of life were the direct result of environmental conditions that no longer exist. As oxygen levels declined over millions of years, so too did the size of these creatures. Eventually, insects returned to the smaller forms we recognise today.
Understanding creatures like Meganeura helps scientists learn more about the connection between atmospheric conditions and animal evolution. It also shows how Earth’s ever-changing climate can shape life in ways that seem unbelievable today.
Fun Fact: Meganeura lived around 100 million years before the first dinosaurs ever appeared. These insects were the original rulers of the skies.
#MockingMerriment #AncientInsects #Meganeura #GiantInsects #Evolution #EarthHistory #PrehistoricLife #FossilDiscovery #Paleontology #CarboniferousPeriod
