The Creation of Adam is the iconic ceiling fresco which forms a central panel of Michelangelo's magnum opus, the Sistine Chapel ceiling, completed in 1512.

It depicts the moment in Genesis when God gives the gift of life to the first man, inspired by the passage: "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness."

A now-common observation is that God reaches out through what appears to be the prefrontal cortex of an anatomically correct human brain, represented here by a crimson cloak. This was the famous claim published by American doctor Frank Lynn Meshberger in 1990.

Although Michelangelo is not explicitly known to have studied the brain, he is well known to have been a master anatomist, who began conducting his own dissections as early as his teenage years.

As the prefrontal cortex is the key area of the brain which deals with creative thinking, and because Adam is depicted already alive and conscious, it appears God is not just giving life to Adam, but bestowing upon him the gift of artistic creativity - the talent that Michelangelo believed was a divine gift to him.

In the remarkable composition, the fingers of Adam and God famously do not touch, reflecting that man can never obtain divine perfection.

But my favourite detail is that the finger of God is fully extended whilst Adam's is not. The implication - to find God, we need only reach towards him as vigorously as he reaches towards us.

What's funny is that Michelangelo wasn't the first choice to paint the ceiling. Pope Julius II originally approached the artist Raphael, who suggested Michelangelo, possibly thinking he would fail given that he was known more as a sculptor than a painter.

The Pillars of Creation captured by the James Webb Space Telescope

Today 450AD Roman Senate elects Marcian Eastern Roman Emperor, succeeding Theodosius II who died without issue

If you ever get lost in the Milky Way galaxy, this is your map to get back to EARTH.

27. August

Shield of Henry II of France, Most probably by Etienne Delaune,.c. 1555. Steel, decorated with gold and silver. The battle scene at the center depicts the victory of Hannibal and the Carthaginians over the Romans in Cannae. Collection: Metropolitan Museum of Arts.

“Ideologies don’t have human rights. You can criticise, oppose and even ridicule ideas without infringing on anyone’s rights.”
- Ricky Gervais

Roman Lighthouse (1st-2nd Century AD), oldest surviving lighthouse in England and one of three surviving Roman lighthouses in the world.

Structure was built to guide ships into the Roman port town of Dubris, now Dover.

The ruins of the ancient Hellenic city of Alexandria of Oxus, now known as Al-Khanoum, hold a remarkable place in the annals of history. Situated in the heart of the historical Silk Road, within Afghanistan's Takhar Province, this city's origins date back to the time of the Seleucid Empire.

Founded by one of the early rulers of the Seleucid Empire, Alexandria of Oxus was strategically located to serve as both a military stronghold and an economic hub for the rulers of the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom. This geographical advantage placed the city at the crossroads of trade and cultural exchange, allowing it to thrive as a pivotal point along the Silk Road, where East met West.

For centuries, Alexandria of Oxus flourished, witnessing the ebb and flow of commerce, ideas, and peoples from distant lands. Its architecture bore the unmistakable marks of Hellenistic influence, with grand buildings, temples, and city walls constructed in the typical Greek fashion.

However, the city's golden era came to an abrupt end in 145 BC when it fell victim to the ravages of war and destruction. The exact circumstances of its demise remain shrouded in history, but it marked the end of an era for this once-thriving metropolis.

Alexandria of Oxus lay forgotten for centuries until its serendipitous rediscovery in 1961 by a team of French archaeologists. These dedicated researchers embarked on a mission to unearth the secrets of this ancient city, meticulously excavating its ruins. Their work promised to unveil a wealth of information about the Greco-Bactrian civilization, the Silk Road's role in connecting East and West, and the broader context of Hellenistic culture in Central Asia.

Unfortunately, the outbreak of conflict in Afghanistan in the late 1970s disrupted these archaeological efforts, leaving many questions unanswered and the city's history partially obscured once again. Nevertheless, the brief period of excavation shed light on the significance of Alexandria of Oxus and its place in the tapestry of human civilization.