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Marvel Actor Almost Selected as Captain Kirk in J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek Movies
Karl Urban when he eagerly sought the role of Dr. Henry McCoy. In the case of the iconic Captain Kirk, though, several contenders were in the mix before Chris Pine ultimately got the green light.
When the announcement hit that J.J. Abrams would be bringing the franchise back, names such as Matt Damon, Chris Pratt, and Mark Wahlberg were speculated to step into the shoes of James T. Kirk. Nevertheless, one notable actor who nearly donned the famed gold uniform was Marvel’s own Sebastian Stan, the former Winter Soldier, who still appears a bit disappointed about missing the opportunity, even after all these years. On the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Stan recounted the lengths he went to in order to emulate the cherished character played by William Shatner.
“Captain Kirk for J.J. Abrams was one of the first things that I got very close to,” he admitted. “I was really close, and I had a screen test with him at Paramount Studios, and my manager arranged for me to do a separate photoshoot where I would try and imitate all of these William Shatner images just to send to [J.J.] to see how similar I looked and things. Didn’t land the part.” In addition to Pratt and Stan, another Marvel Cinematic Universe star auditioned for Kirk but ultimately secured a different role in “Star Trek” entirely.
Sebastian Stan missed out on Kirk, but Chris Hemsworth became his father
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The Neglected Joy-Con Function Missing in the Nintendo Switch 2
Joy-Con drift that affected the originals immediately upon release. A bit less noticeable is that one unique characteristic from the original Joy-Con is absent in the new versions: an IR motion camera.
When the original Nintendo Switch debuted, the Joy-Con were remarkable gadgets due to their engaging haptic feedback (referred to as HD rumble), among other capabilities you might not have been aware of. One of these was an IR motion camera, positioned at the bottom of the right Joy-Con, capable of tracking movement, shape, and distance. This feature held great promise, but apart from Nintendo Labo, only a limited number of games actually utilized it. Therefore, it isn’t surprising that the IR camera didn’t arrive with the Joy-Con 2, but it does imply that certain games remain unplayable unless you retain your old controllers.
New Joy-Con controllers do not function with some games
Motorola Razr Plus Offered for As Much As $400 Discount at Best Buy This Week
Discounts like this make the adaptable Motorola Razr Plus (2025) significantly more accessible.
Deals on flip phones are fairly frequent for older models, but it’s refreshing to see the newest versions receive substantial price reductions occasionally. Currently, Best Buy is providing up to $400 off the 2025 Motorola Razr Plus when customers allow the retailer to activate the device on their behalf. Even if customers choose to connect it to a carrier independently, they can still save a direct $300 on the device, reducing the cost to just $700.
This promotion applies to the Pantone Mocha variant of the phone, as well as the 256GB storage edition. It features a 6.9-inch interior pOLED display, a 4-inch external display, and 16GB of RAM, delivering excellent performance and multitasking capabilities.
✅Recommended if: you’re in the market for a newer flip phone but want an opportunity to save money; you desire a phone that provides a full day’s battery life, along with rapid charging, AI, and other contemporary features; you seek a foldable device with a highly practical cover screen, instead of one that merely shows information.
❌Skip this deal if: you prefer to save more by opting for an older-generation flip phone, like the 2024 Motorola Razr Plus; you would rather choose a different brand, or you prefer a phone with a longer software update guarantee; you don’t require a foldable device and would prefer something more on the budget-friendly side of the pricing spectrum.
The 2025 Motorola Razr Plus is a refined, Snapdragon-powered foldable device equipped with a helpful cover screen, 16GB of RAM, and an impressive array of cameras. Although it doesn’t quite make it to our top Motorola phones list, it’s just behind the larger Razr Ultra, and it comes in at a somewhat more affordable price.
While it’s an excellent device, the Razr Plus does come at a relatively high price, even with discounts like this. It also somewhat lacks in the update area, especially when compared to rivals from Samsung. Nonetheless, it’s a strong choice for those who upgrade fairly often, and this represents a very attractive price for the 2025 model.
Climate-tech startup Satellites on Fire secures $2.7M in funding

Satellites on Fire, founded in 2020 as a school project by three Argentine teenagers, has closed a seed round led by Dalus Capital. Its software-only platform integrates satellite data from multiple agencies and detects fires faster than NASAâs FIRMS system by avoiding the gaps between satellite passes. Argentine climate-tech startup Satellites on Fire has closed […]
This story continues at The Next Web
Let’s Solve Puzzles! – Frontend Masters Blog
We can make puzzle pieces in CSS thanks to the amazing clip-path: shape(). Here, Amit takes it further by making a whole grid of them with matched edges and content inside.
Confidential Information on the Design and Launch Date of Upcoming iPhone 18 and iPhone Air 2
### iPhone 18 and iPhone Air 2: Anticipations for Apple’s Upcoming Flagship Devices
As the tech community eagerly awaits Apple’s forthcoming flagship smartphones, speculation surrounding the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Fold has taken center stage. However, the standard iPhone 18 and iPhone Air 2 have garnered comparatively less focus. Recent leaks shed light on their anticipated design and possible release timelines.
#### iPhone 18: Subtle Design Modifications
A recent leak from a Weibo source indicates that the standard iPhone 18 will see only subtle changes in its external design. The sole notable modification could be a minor adjustment in size, which is unlikely to be perceptible to users. The iPhone 18 is predicted to retain the same 6.3-inch display dimensions as its forerunner, the iPhone 17.
In contrast to previous assertions suggesting all iPhone 18 variants would have a smaller Dynamic Island, it seems that this design alteration will be limited to the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max versions. This aligns with Apple’s pattern of implementing slight design updates annually, which can sometimes influence compatibility with existing accessories.
#### iPhone Air 2: Anticipated Fall Release with Gradual Enhancements
The iPhone Air 2 is projected to be released in the fall, in tandem with the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Fold. A reliable leaker has claimed that the iPhone Air 2 will adhere to a standard upgrade cycle, without major design alterations or the introduction of a second rear camera, a subject of speculation.
While some reports have hinted that the iPhone Air 2’s launch might be postponed until 2027 to integrate new features, this leaker asserts that Apple remains on schedule for a fall debut. If the iPhone Air 2 introduces only internal upgrades, such as the latest A20 Pro chip, it would be consistent with Apple’s usual product enhancement approach.
The introduction of the iPhone Air 2 this fall would enable Apple to unveil four new models, although they may come at elevated price points due to the deferred release of the standard iPhone 18.
### Conclusion
As Apple gears up to launch its next wave of smartphones, the iPhone 18 and iPhone Air 2 are set to be strong entries in the series, albeit with minimal design updates and incremental enhancements. The tech world will be keeping a close eye for more details as the anticipated launch date approaches.
Save Up to $500 on TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 Tickets This Week
Starting today, you have 5 days to save nearly $500 on your ticket to TechCrunch Disrupt 2026. This offer disappears Friday, April 10, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Register here to secure these low rates.
New Chemical Process Transforms Plastic Recycling
Nature Chemistry, the team points out numerous potential uses for a novel sulfur–sulfur bond process. At least one of these uses may significantly affect the future of plastic recycling.
Historically, initiating a sulfur–sulfur bond has necessitated exposing trisulfides to “heat, light, or other stimuli.” This innovative method circumvents that requirement. The research team discovered that the “trisulfide metathesis” process could happen spontaneously when trisulfides are introduced to specific solvents. According to a press release from Flinders University, initiating the process through this technique enables it to take place effectively and effortlessly. A new variant of recyclable plastic could be just one of the breakthroughs stemming from this discovery.
Professor Justin Chalker from Flinders University is a leading author of the study that outlines the research team’s findings. He shares that it’s “uncommon to identify a completely new reaction, and even more uncommon for it to prove beneficial across so many domains and uses.” These uses might encompass pharmaceutical innovation, advancements in biotechnology, and, once more, plastic recycling.
New chemical reaction could be essential for creating easily recyclable plastic
Suggested Interval for Backing Up Your Computer
regardless of whether SSDs or hard drives are more dependable, the stark reality is that your storage medium can malfunction at any moment. Therefore, it is always wise to make sure you safeguard your data, in case something occurs with your PC or external storage. One of the most effective methods to shield your data from corruption and other potential losses is to perform backups of your PC. Many computers already provide options for data backup — Macs can leverage iCloud, while Windows users can take advantage of OneDrive to synchronize files. But how frequently should you perform backups of your PC, and are platforms like iCloud and OneDrive sufficient?
First, let’s discuss how often you should back up your data. Ideally, a regular schedule is preferred. This could mean daily or weekly, depending on opinions. Most experts suggest that the frequency of your backups may vary based on the volume of data you manage. If you operate a business that experiences frequent data modifications, then daily backups are advised to mitigate significant data losses. However, for most personal computers, a weekly backup is sufficient. It’s also prudent to initiate a backup after acquiring important new files or making significant alterations to files or media, to prevent losing that work if issues arise.