diff --git a/wizard-work/beam/merge_intervals.py b/wizard-work/beam/merge_intervals.py
index 18d014d..3b30ae9 100644
--- a/wizard-work/beam/merge_intervals.py
+++ b/wizard-work/beam/merge_intervals.py
@@ -1,24 +1,51 @@
 """Merge overlapping intervals.
 
-merge_intervals(intervals) -> list of [start, end] (inclusive endpoints).
-Accepts any iterable of (start, end) pairs. Sorts by start then end.
-Handles empty, single, touching (adjacent) intervals per `merge_touching`.
+merge_intervals(intervals, *, merge_touching=False) -> list of [start, end].
+
+Intervals are (start, end) pairs with inclusive integer endpoints. Input need
+not be sorted. By default only genuinely overlapping intervals are merged;
+adjacent intervals (end + 1 == next.start) are merged only when
+merge_touching=True. Empty/None input yields [].
 """
+
 from __future__ import annotations
-from typing import Iterable, Tuple, List
+
+from typing import Iterable, List, Sequence, Tuple, Union
+
+Interval = Union[Sequence[int], Tuple[int, int]]
 
 
-def merge_intervals(intervals: Iterable[Tuple[int, int]], *, merge_touching: bool = False) -> List[List[int]]:
-    items = sorted((tuple(x) for x in intervals), key=lambda p: (p[0], p[1]))
-    if not items:
+def merge_intervals(
+    intervals: Iterable[Interval] | None = None, *, merge_touching: bool = False
+) -> List[List[int]]:
+    if intervals is None:
         return []
-    out: List[List[int]] = [list(items[0])]
-    for s, e in items[1:]:
-        last = out[-1]
+
+    cleaned: List[Tuple[int, int]] = []
+    for iv in intervals:
+        if not isinstance(iv, (list, tuple)) or len(iv) != 2:
+            raise ValueError(f"interval must be a 2-element sequence, got {iv!r}")
+        a, b = iv
+        if isinstance(a, bool) or isinstance(b, bool):
+            raise ValueError("bool is not a valid interval endpoint")
+        if not isinstance(a, int) or not isinstance(b, int):
+            raise ValueError(f"endpoints must be ints, got {a!r}, {b!r}")
+        if a > b:
+            raise ValueError(f"start must be <= end, got {a}, {b}")
+        cleaned.append((a, b))
+
+    if not cleaned:
+        return []
+
+    cleaned.sort(key=lambda p: (p[0], p[1]))
+
+    merged: List[List[int]] = [list(cleaned[0])]
+    for start, end in cleaned[1:]:
+        last = merged[-1]
         threshold = last[1] + (1 if merge_touching else 0)
-        if s <= threshold:
-            if e > last[1]:
-                last[1] = e
+        if start <= threshold:
+            if end > last[1]:
+                last[1] = end
         else:
-            out.append([s, e])
-    return out
\ No newline at end of file
+            merged.append([start, end])
+    return merged