"Not only is the Universe stranger than we think, it is stranger than we can think." — Werner Heisenberg

If the Universe is the answer, what was the question? 🤔

A dragon once held the position of the North Star. Around 2700 BCE, Thuban, or Alpha Draconis, was less than 1° from the north celestial pole. Thuban belongs to Draco, the serpent-like constellation that winds around the northern sky. For ancient observers, one of the stars closest to the celestial axis was therefore part of the Dragon. This changed because Earth’s axis slowly shifts direction in a cycle of about 26,000 years. The celestial pole moves across the stars, so different stars become pole stars over time. Thuban was near the pole around 2700 BCE. Today, Polaris is. There is an intriguing parallel in ancient Jewish tradition. Isaiah 27:1 describes Leviathan as a fleeing serpent and a dragon of the sea, imagery related to the wider ancient Near Eastern tradition of cosmic serpents and sea monsters. The Bible never identifies Leviathan with Draco. That connection comes from later interpretation. Jewish mystical traditions continued to use dragon and serpent imagery, including a striking 16th-century illuminated manuscript associated with the Sefer Yetzirah. The astronomy is certain. The symbolism is documented. What cannot be proven is that the biblical Leviathan was originally meant to represent Draco. But the historical coincidence remains remarkable. Around 4,700 years ago, the star nearest the northern celestial axis belonged to the constellation called the Dragon. #Astronomy Image source: “Draghi miniati” (16th century), unknown artist. Source: Wikimedia Commons. Version checked: 29 December 2013. License checked: September 3, 2026 - Public Domain. “La Costellazione del Dragone rappresentata come drago attorcigliato” (1825), unknown artist. Source: “Urania’s Mirror”, London, illustration card. Version checked: 16 December 2013. License checked: September 3, 2026 - Public Domain.

Antarctica has been experiencing a prolonged period of below-average temperatures. 🥶 In recent days, stations have reported temperatures below -74 °C / -100 °F, the lowest for this time of year since September 2023, which was also very cold. 🧐 Cold air is also spreading toward nearby continents. South America experienced below-average temperatures in recent days, while southern Africa and Australia are expected to see cold conditions in the coming days: ventusky.com/temperature-map…

Rome’s most famous keyhole. It offers a perfectly framed view of St. Peter’s Basilica, seen through the gardens of the Priory of the Knights of Malta.