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Ancient Eye, Washington D.C., DC (2025)

07/11/2025

Designed in 1947, the Convair XC-99 was a bold and unprecedented feat of aviation engineering—a one-of-a-kind behemoth that remains the largest land-based, piston-engine transport aircraft ever constructed.

Adapted from the B-36 bomber platform, the XC-99 was powered by six massive Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Wasp Major radial engines, allowing it to cruise at around 220 mph. Though slow by modern standards, it offered an extraordinary payload capacity and range for its time. Its design featured two full-length cargo decks, retractable landing gear taller than a grown man, and a wingspan wider than a Boeing 747.

With a maximum payload of over 100,000 pounds, it was capable of transporting hundreds of troops or vast quantities of equipment. But the aircraft’s scale—once its greatest strength—became its biggest challenge. Many airfields lacked the runway length, hangar space, and support infrastructure needed to accommodate it. And with the rapid advancement of jet propulsion, the XC-99 was soon outpaced by newer, more practical designs.

Only one prototype was ever built and flown. After completing a handful of long-range cargo missions, it was retired in 1957. Though short-lived, the XC-99 stands as a symbol of aviation ambition—a visionary design that simply arrived before its time.

07/11/2025

On this day, 81 years ago, on July 7, 1944, Captain Benjamin L. Salomon, age 29, was serving as the battalion surgeon with the 2nd Battalion, 105th Infantry Regiment, 27th Infantry Division, during the Battle of Saipan in the Mariana Islands. His aid station was set up approximately 50 yards behind the front-line foxholes.

At around 0500 hours, a massive banzai charge was launched by approximately 3,000 to 5,000 Japanese troops against the American perimeter. Within moments, the forward positions were overwhelmed and the aid station began receiving wounded soldiers. As Salomon treated the injured, enemy soldiers began to breach the aid station. One Japanese soldier bayoneted a wounded American. Salomon grabbed a rifle and killed him. He then shot one and bayoneted another who had entered the tent. Four more enemy soldiers crawled under the walls. Salomon killed three using a rifle, bayonet, and hand-to-hand combat. The fourth was killed by a wounded American inside the tent.

Realizing the station would soon be overrun, Salomon ordered the wounded to be evacuated. He took a rifle and left the tent to cover their withdrawal. Outside, four machine gunners had already been killed near a .30 caliber M1917 Browning machine gun. Salomon took over the gun and began firing at the advancing enemy. He held his position under overwhelming fire to cover the retreat of the aid station personnel and the wounded.

When American forces retook the position days later, they found Salomon's body slumped over the machine gun. He had been shot or bayoneted 76 times, at least 24 of which were sustained while he was still alive. In front of his position were the bodies of 98 dead Japanese soldiers.

Captain Benjamin L. Salomon was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on May 1, 2002. The award was delayed due to policy restrictions about medical personnel bearing arms in combat. After decades of review and advocacy, the medal was approved and presented by President George W. Bush. He is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.

07/11/2025

Brigitte Bardot, the iconic French actress and global s*x symbol of the 1950s and ’60s, is now 90 years old—and though she long ago stepped away from the spotlight, her passion burns as fiercely as ever. Today, Bardot is best known not for cinema, but for her tireless animal rights activism.

After leaving acting in the 1970s, Bardot dedicated her life to protecting animals. In 1986, she founded the Brigitte Bardot Foundation for the Welfare and Protection of Animals, which has since become one of the most influential animal advocacy organizations in Europe. From fighting against the fur trade and bullfighting to rescuing abused pets and campaigning against animal testing, Bardot has spent decades using her fame to be a voice for the voiceless.

Despite her age and declining health, she remains outspoken—often fiercely so—on animal welfare issues, consistently challenging governments, industries, and the public to treat animals with compassion and respect.

Now at 90, Brigitte Bardot’s beauty may have faded from the screen, but her spirit, resolve, and impact remain stronger than ever. Her legacy is no longer just about film or fame—it's about fierce advocacy, and a lifetime devoted to defending the innocent.

07/11/2025

On this day, 84 years ago, on July 10, 1941, Private James “Jim” Gordon, age 30, of the 2/31st Infantry Battalion, 7th Australian Division, carried out a solo assault during the Syria–Lebanon campaign against Vichy French forces. The action occurred near the village of Djezzine, approximately 40 kilometers southeast of Sidon in the mountains of southern Lebanon. The terrain was rocky and steep, marked by narrow ridges and covered by thick scrub that favored defenders.

At dusk on July 10, Australian forces attempting to take high ground near Djezzine came under intense machine-gun fire from Vichy French troops entrenched on a steep, scrub-covered slope. The enemy position was reinforced and well dug-in. Repeated Australian attempts to advance were repelled. The French fire was accurate and sustained. Movement was restricted. Several Australians had already fallen.

Private Gordon’s platoon had been pinned down for hours. The machine-gun position to their front made any further movement impossible. With the initiative at risk and the enemy holding the high ground, Gordon made a decision without orders. Armed with his Lee-Enfield rifle and bayonet, and carrying several grenades, he crawled forward under cover of darkness. He moved independently along a shallow depression in the terrain to within about 30 meters of the enemy post.

From there, Gordon threw grenades into the enemy position and immediately charged through the explosions. He reached the French gun emplacement and engaged the crew at close quarters. He bayoneted four enemy soldiers and cleared the position. His sudden and aggressive assault stunned nearby enemy troops. His company advanced immediately and secured the ridge.

The elimination of the machine-gun nest broke the Vichy French defense at that point and allowed the battalion to hold the high ground through the night. This gave Australian forces a critical foothold for further operations around Djezzine. The battle for the area continued for several more days, but Gordon’s action was a turning point in that sector.

Jim Gordon survived the Syria–Lebanon campaign and continued to serve in the Australian Army. For his actions at Djezzine, he was awarded the Victoria Cross on October 18, 1941, at Government House in Sydney. He later fought in New Guinea during the Pacific campaign and continued to serve until the end of World War II.

Gordon died on July 19, 1986, in Western Australia. He was 75 years old.

07/11/2025

At the First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Medical University, a 33-year-old man arrived in excruciating pain—pale, drenched in sweat, and clutching his stomach in agony. Scans quickly revealed something shocking: a long, snake-like creature had punctured his stomach and was moving inside his abdominal cavity.

Surgeons were stunned when they opened him up and discovered the unimaginable—a live eel, over a foot long, writhing between his organs.

The medical team swiftly removed the eel and began treatment to combat the serious risk of infection. Investigators believe the eel entered through the man’s re**um, likely as part of a traditional folk remedy gone terribly wrong. Alarmingly, this isn’t an isolated case—similar incidents have surfaced in China, often linked to dangerous beliefs that live eels can cure constipation or cleanse the intestines.

The story went viral online, leaving many horrified and bewildered. How could something like this even happen?

Medical professionals were quick to condemn the practice, stressing that inserting live animals into the body is not just reckless—it’s potentially fatal. They urge the public to abandon unproven remedies and seek proper medical care, as bizarre “cures” like these can quickly turn into life-threatening emergencies.

07/10/2025

The Prehistoric Snuggle. 250 million years ago, an injured amphibian known as Broomistega tried to find shelter from Earth’s most severe extinction event known as the Great Dying.
During this time, large amounts of carbon dioxide were emitted by volcanic eruptions, which led to an increase in global temperatures and the acidification of the oceans. 70% of life on the supercontinent of Pangea went extinct. Nearly all marine life was wiped out.
The Broomistega managed to crawl down a small warm burrow that was occupied by a dormant Thrinaxodon, a direct ancestor of mammals that was roughly the size of a fox.
Although researchers did find two possible puncture marks on the Broomistega, they did not match the dental configuration of the Thrinaxodon. The Broomistega was suffering from broken ribs, but it showed signs of healing, which indicated that its injury was not caused by a struggle between the two Triassic creatures.
Researchers also ruled out the idea that the Broomistega was washed into the lair due to the narrow passageways of the burrow. Their peaceful cohabitation came to an end when a muddy flood buried them in the burrow while they dozed off together.

07/10/2025

BLOOMS ONCE IN IT'S LIFETIME.... THEN DIES
The Haleakalā silversword, found only on the high slopes of Maui’s Haleakalā volcano is a rare alpine plant that blooms just once in its lifetime. For decades, it waits in silence, its shimmering silver leaves gathering sunlight in the thin mountain air. Then, without warning and only once in its life, it blooms.
According to National Park Service, this event typically occurs after 20 to 50 years though some may flower as early as 7 years depending on environmental conditions. This final act of beauty lasts only about seven days. And then, having poured every ounce of stored energy into reproduction, the plant dies. It’s a symbol of endurance, timing, and the profound rewards of waiting. In a world driven by urgency, it stands as a quiet reminder: some of nature’s most magnificent displays require a lifetime to unfold.

07/10/2025

This comic may be over 80 years old, but its message remains as powerful and urgent today as it was when it first appeared. In just a few panels, it captures a truth about society, justice, or human nature that still resonates deeply—timeless, haunting, and eerily relevant.

Whether it’s confronting prejudice, warning against complacency, or calling out abuse of power, the comic’s core message transcends its era. It’s a reminder that while the world changes, some struggles persist—and art, even in its simplest form, can speak volumes across generations.

07/10/2025

Doug Tompkins, founder of The North Face, and his wife Kristine Tompkins, former CEO of Patagonia, made history not through business ventures, but through one of the largest private land conservation efforts the world has ever seen. Driven by a shared passion for nature, the couple purchased over 2 million acres of wild landscapes across Chile and Argentina—not for development or profit, but for preservation.

Their mission was simple yet profound: rewild the land, restore damaged ecosystems, and protect biodiversity. Working with local communities and conservationists, they removed fencing, reintroduced native species, and allowed nature to heal. These efforts reversed decades of environmental degradation, reviving habitats for pumas, guanacos, condors, and countless other species.

Rather than keep the land private, the Tompkins donated it to the governments of Chile and Argentina to establish new national parks, including Pumalín and Patagonia National Park. Their gift represents one of the largest private conservation donations in history, permanently protecting millions of acres for future generations.

Doug and Kristine Tompkins’ legacy is a powerful reminder that conservation and public access can go hand in hand—and that protecting the planet is not only possible, but necessary.

07/10/2025

A frozen fox now warns of dangerous thin ice!

In a chilling yet powerful reminder of nature’s dangers, a frozen fox discovered in a lake has been transformed into a poignant marker to alert people about the risks of thin ice. The fox, tragically caught in the ice, serves as a stark visual lesson about the hidden dangers that exist beneath frozen bodies of water, especially during the colder months.

When the fox was found, it became more than just a tragic discovery; it turned into a symbol of the crucial need for caution. Thin ice can be deceiving, often appearing solid from a distance but hiding unpredictable dangers beneath. By transforming the fox into a marker, local authorities and conservationists hope to raise awareness and prevent further tragedies. This unique approach uses a real-life scenario to drive home a message that statistics and warnings alone might fail to convey—ice can be dangerously unpredictable.

This transformation of an unfortunate incident into a public safety message demonstrates the power of visual storytelling in conveying vital information. It’s a reminder for all of us to tread carefully when near bodies of water, as what seems solid may be anything but.

Follow Factology for more thought-provoking stories that connect nature with real-world lessons.

07/10/2025

In 1918, one of the earliest lawnmowers made its debut at the Missouri Botanical Garden, marking a significant step in the evolution of landscape maintenance. At the time, keeping large areas of grass neatly trimmed required an immense amount of manual labor, typically done with scythes or shears. The introduction of a mechanical lawnmower revolutionized this process, making it far more efficient and manageable, especially in public gardens and expansive estates.

This early lawnmower was likely a push-powered reel mower, featuring a series of rotating blades that worked by spinning as the operator moved it forward. Though primitive by today’s standards, it represented cutting-edge technology in its day. Its use at a prominent location like the Missouri Botanical Garden highlighted its practicality and the growing interest in mechanizing everyday tasks.

The arrival of the lawnmower helped transform the way people approached landscaping and lawn care. It allowed for more uniform cutting, reduced time and effort, and contributed to the manicured aesthetic that became popular in both public parks and private homes. The 1918 appearance of the lawnmower at the Missouri Botanical Garden symbolized the beginning of modern lawn maintenance and the rise of mechanical convenience in outdoor work.

07/09/2025

The largest collection of bronzes found in Italy were discovered in 2019 at the ancient sacred baths at San Casciano dei Bagni near Siena. In one location, 24 bronzes were found in deep, anaerobic mud, preserved in an anaerobic state with zero oxygen present, which prevented oxidisation.
They date to between the 2nd century BC and the 1st century AD, making this the largest store of bronze statuary from ancient Italy ever found. It is also set to rethink how we look at Etruscan and Roman history. The find is so pivotal that the Director General of Museums, Massimo Osanna, has compared it to the sensational discovery of the pair of 5th-century BC bronze "Riace" warriors found by a swimmer off the coast of Riace in 1972. I have included a photo of those two perfectly preserved 6ft bronze statues.
The statues also show a combination of written script in both Etruscan and Latin, clearly making this a communal, shared health spa at a time when this should not have been happening. The Etruscans built the first sacred sanctuary at this location in the 3rd century BC, and then the Romans expanded upon it in the 1st century AD. The find yielded a combination of statuettes, heads of statues, and larger iterations.
Since the initial find in 2019, it has been firmly established that this was considered a religious thermal spring strongly linked to curing poor health. Some of the bronzes found were of deities with associations to medicine and health. It has been three years since all items have been fully recovered, studied, analysed, and presented to the world.
Photos: Public Domain and most major news outlets. See comments for more pictures.

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