The Forgotten History of Sleeping in Two Shifts

Zaria Gorvett. The forgotten medieval habit of ‘two sleeps’. BBC, January 2022

For much of human history, people didn’t sleep through the night in one long stretch. Instead, they slept in two parts: an early “first sleep,” followed by a quiet period of wakefulness around midnight, and then a second sleep until morning. This pattern was so common that people once referred to it casually in court records, letters, and literature.

Historian Roger Ekirch uncovered this forgotten habit while studying life before the Industrial Revolution. He found that the time between sleeps, often called “the watch,” was used for prayer, conversation, chores, or simply reflection. People didn’t see this midnight waking as a problem; it was a normal part of nightly life.

The two-sleep pattern likely existed because nights were long and dark before artificial lighting. People went to bed earlier and woke naturally in the middle of the night. Modern experiments show that when people live without electric light, their sleep often returns to this older rhythm on its own.

Biphasic sleep began to disappear in the 19th century as gas lamps, electric lights, and factory schedules pushed bedtimes later while mornings stayed the same. Sleep became compressed into a single block, and the old pattern faded from memory. Understanding this history may help explain why waking up at night doesn’t always mean something is wrong. For most of human history, it was simply how people slept.

How Our Neighborhoods Shape Our Health

Noaeen, M., Rostami, A., Ghanem, I. et al. Mapping neighbourhood-level drivers of type 2 diabetes for precision public health using predictive and causal machine learning. Sci Rep, January 2026.

Type 2 diabetes is often discussed as a disease of individual lifestyle (diet, exercise, and genetics). But a new study from the University of Toronto reveals a deeper truth: where you live may be just as important as how you live.

Using artificial intelligence and advanced causal modeling, researchers analyzed data from over 1,100 neighborhoods across the Greater Toronto Area. Instead of focusing on individuals, they examined neighborhood-level features such as obesity rates, physical activity, income, age structure, mental health, and work stress. Their goal was not only to predict where diabetes is most common, but also to understand which factors actually drive that risk.

The results were striking. The AI models were able to identify high-diabetes neighborhoods with more than 95% accuracy. The strongest predictors were familiar – high obesity, physical inactivity, and older populations, but the causal analysis uncovered something more surprising: mental health was one of the most powerful protective factors. Neighborhoods with better average mental well-being had substantially lower diabetes rates, even after accounting for income, age, and lifestyle.

Work stress and smoking, on the other hand, were found to raise diabetes risk, highlighting the biological toll of chronic psychological strain. Interestingly, neighborhoods with higher proportions of recent immigrants and visible minorities tended to have lower diabetes prevalence, reflecting the well-known “healthy immigrant effect” and the protective role of social cohesion and cultural practices.

The study suggests a new vision for public health: instead of treating diabetes only in clinics, we should also treat it in communities, through mental-health support, stress reduction, walkable streets, and social infrastructure. In the age of data science, healing may begin not just with the patient, but with the neighborhood.

The Hidden Effects of Living in Space

Wijdan Al-Ahmadi et al., Spaceflight alters molecular networks linked to diverse human diseases in a single cellular model. Sci Adv, January 2026.

When astronauts return from space, many report strange changes. Their hearts beat differently. Their sleep is disturbed. Their vision becomes blurry. Their muscles weaken. For years, scientists have known about these effects, but not fully understood why they happen. A new study gives us a powerful clue by showing what happens inside human cells when they are exposed to space.

In this study, researchers sent human immune cells to the International Space Station and compared them with the same cells grown on Earth. They then examined how thousands of genes behaved in each environment. Nearly one third of all active genes changed their activity in space. This shows that spaceflight does not just cause small damage. It reshapes the way cells function.

Some of the biggest changes were seen in genes linked to the heart and muscles. These genes help control the electrical signals that keep the heart beating normally. In space, they became much more active. On Earth, the same genes are linked to irregular heartbeats, which may help explain why astronauts sometimes develop heart problems during long missions.

The study also found changes in genes that control sleep and the body clock, including those linked to melatonin. This matches the sleep problems many astronauts experience. Genes involved in vision and other senses were also affected, especially those connected to vitamin A and eyesight, helping explain vision changes in space. At the same time, genes that repair damaged DNA were reduced, likely because of cosmic radiation, making cells more vulnerable to long term damage.

These findings suggest that space activates the same biological pathways that cause heart disease, nerve problems, and aging on Earth, but in a much shorter time. By studying life in orbit, scientists may learn not only how to protect astronauts, but also how to better understand illness here on Earth.

If you have ever noticed a straw in a cup of water appear “broken,” you have probably witnessed a universal principle at work. We encounter the same principle when driving home from work on a Friday evening: we seek the quickest route, not necessarily the shortest one. From tiny ants on the ground to distant galaxies, systems tend to follow the most efficient, namely, the fastest, path available.

Imagine you are running on a beach toward a friend in the water. Running on sand is faster than swimming, so the quickest route is not a straight diagonal line. Instead, you instinctively run along the beach for a distance before cutting into the water at an angle. Without knowing any physics, you naturally follow this principle: Fermat’s principle of least time.

The shortest path

In the 1600s, the French mathematician Pierre de Fermat proposed something radical: Light doesn’t always take the shortest path, but it does take the fastest one. At first, this seems odd. Why wouldn’t the straight-line path – the shortest possible route – always be the fastest? But the medium matters. Light moves at different speeds through different materials. It slows down in water, speeds up in air, and changes direction when moving between the two. Fermat’s insight was that light chooses the route that allows it to arrive in the least amount of time – even if this means curving or bending (refraction) along the way. Light bending through a glass prism or the formation of a rainbow are all results of this phenomenon.

Snell’s law

About thirty years before Fermat, the Dutch mathematician Willebrord Snell had already discovered a precise rule describing how light bends when it passes from one medium into another. This rule, now called Snell’s Law, tells us exactly at what angle the light will bend. But Snell’s Law is basically the mathematical expression of Fermat’s idea.

Amazingly, Fermat’s principle does not only apply to light. It is astonishing to see that the same logic that guides a ray of light also guides living creatures and physical systems. Fermat’s principle which initially described the behavior of light has now evolved to a broader idea in physics: systems tend to follow efficient paths, the ones that minimize time or energy. This theme appears throughout the natural world, from animal behavior to planetary motion.

The quickest path

It may be surprising to learn that ants – tiny, busy, seemingly chaotic – can mimic the path of a bending light ray. In certain experiments, scientists placed food on one side of a barrier and ant colonies on the other. The ants could walk across a smooth surface or move into a rougher, slower terrain. Over time, the ants collectively chose a route resembling the path light takes when moving between two media with different “speeds.” Their path looked like a refracted (bent) light ray obeying Fermat’s principle.

Much like light, the ant colony “searches” through many paths at first. Eventually, they figure the quickest route. The result is a collective behavior that finds almost the same solution a physicist would compute to predict how light bends. Ants obviously don’t do calculate equations, but they do choose the quickest path.

The most efficient path

Rivers carve their meandering routes over centuries, forming bends and curves. Flowing water tends to follow the easiest route downhill, not the straightest. It avoids obstacles and seeks out weaker soil, which means the river’s path is determined by minimizing energy loss. Though not exactly Fermat’s principle, the idea is remarkably similar: a physical system is finding the most “efficient” path.

The least amount of time

You might have experienced the illusion of water on the road on a hot day, or a pool of water in the middle of a desert (mirage). These are other examples of Fermat’s principle at work. On a hot day, sunlight bends as it travels through air layers of varying temperatures. Warm air is less dense, so light moves faster through it while cool air slows light down. These variations in speed cause light rays to bend as they travel through the layers, allowing the path from sky to eye to take the least amount of time and producing shimmering distortions, such as the illusion of water on a road. What looks mysterious is really optimization playing out in real time.

Minimizing travel time

If ants give us a small-scale analogy, galaxies give us a cosmic one. According to Einstein’s theory of general relativity, massive objects like galaxies bend the fabric of spacetime. Light traveling through this distorted space follows the “straightest possible” path—which looks curved to us. This effect, called gravitational lensing, can create rings, arcs, or stretched images of distant galaxies. Even here, at astronomical scales, the path of light still reflects an extremal principle: in curved spacetime, it follows a route that locally minimizes travel time (this specific line on a curved surface is called a “geodesic”).

If you dip wire frames into soapy water, the film that forms always stretches into a shape of minimal surface area, because that configuration requires the least energy. This is a different efficiency principle, but the connection remains: the resulting configurations minimize something – time or energy. Soap bubbles don’t consciously “choose” their shapes any more than light chooses its path. They simply obey this universal law of “efficiency.”

Dirt paths in the park

Even people unknowingly follow Fermat-style logic. Imagine walking across a city park: although paved walkways exist, people often cut diagonally across the grass if it is faster. Over time, these shortcuts become visible dirt paths. The same principle appears in GPS algorithms, which calculate routes that minimize travel time based on traffic conditions.

Economy over extravagance

Efficiency is baked into our decision-making, just as it is into light’s behavior. In this sense, Fermat’s idea feels almost philosophical: In the universe, “economy” is preferred over extravagance. What begins as a simple observation about light bending in water becomes a window into a deeper unity in nature. Fermat’s principle isn’t just a rule of optics – it’s a guiding thread woven throughout the natural world. Light bending at a glass surface, ants finding efficient routes, rivers snaking across landscapes, galaxies warping the paths of light, soap films forming perfect curves.

These are not random coincidences. They highlight a universal pattern. Fermat’s principle teaches us that even something as simple as a beam of light carries within it a profound law: the pursuit of the fastest path. What’s remarkable is that this principle doesn’t stop at optics but is in action at every scale. When we observe these systems side by side, we are reminded that the universe is not a collection of isolated phenomena but an interconnected framework of elegant principles. They have been in action since the beginning of the universe whether or not we have discovered them.

The next time you notice light bending in a glass of water or watch ants tracing a trail, you might see something deeper. You might be witnessing an invisible yet universal principle connecting the smallest creatures to the largest structures in the cosmos. Our universe is a book full of patterns. Fermat’s principle is one of its clearest, most beautiful expressions.

References

Oettler, Jan, Michael Kreuzer, and Jürgen Heinze. “Ants Follow Curved Routes to Minimize

Travel Time — A Potential Analogy to Fermat’s Principle.” PLOS ONE, vol. 8, no. 4, 2013,

e59772. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0059772.

How Digital Scans Are Helping Kids Get Faster Dental Care

Schulz-Weidner, N., Schraml, E.M., Frodermann, T. et al. Comparison of dental findings between dentists and pediatricians using intraoral scan-based teledentistry in children. Scientific Reports, September 2025.

A new study in Germany shows that “teledentistry” (using digital mouth scans to check children’s teeth) can be just as effective as a traditional in-person exam. Researchers wanted to test whether pediatricians, who are usually not dental specialists, could spot dental problems using intraoral scans (a special camera that creates a 3D image of teeth) and decide when kids need treatment. The study included 70 participants aged 4-17. Each child had a regular dental check-up and then had their mouth scanned with an intraoral scan. These scans were later reviewed by a pediatrician, who received basic training on children’s dental health, and a dentist. The researchers compared what they found to the in-person dental exams and found promising results. Both the pediatrician and the dentist were able to identify cavities, tooth defects, and urgent dental needs almost as well as the in-person checkups. Pediatricians were nearly as accurate as dentists in deciding whether a child needed quick dental care. However, dentists were still better at spotting detailed issues like the exact type of tooth fillings, but this did not affect treatment decisions in most cases. The results show that there is no significant difference between digital teledental findings and in-person exams. This study proves that with some basic training, pediatricians can play a key role in early dental screening, especially in areas where dentists are hard to reach. Non-dental professionals can now be more involved in early oral health assessments. Using this method means fewer missed problems, faster treatment, and healthier smiles for children.

What Lies Beneath The Outer Layers Of A Star?

Schulze, Steve, Avishay Gal-Yam, Luc Dessart, Adam A. Miller, Stan E. Woosley, Yi Yang, Mattia Bulla, et al. “Extremely Stripped Supernova Reveals a Silicon and Sulfur Formation Site.” Nature News, August 20, 2025.

Astronomers captured a rare glimpse inside a star as it exploded, revealing what lies beneath its outer layers. Dr. Steve Schulze and his team observed a supernova, SN 2021-yfj, unlike any seen before. Schulze explains that stars are like giant cosmic onions: hydrogen on the outside, then helium, carbon, oxygen, silicon, and finally the iron core. Normally, we only see the outer layers during a star’s death, but this star had already shed nearly all of its shells before it exploded. That allowed scientists to look much deeper into its structure and confirm long-standing predictions that the inner core has an oxygen-silicon shell.

One of the most surprising findings was the presence of helium. Helium is an element that should have been burned away at a much earlier stage of the star’s life. This discovery has left scientists puzzled and is challenging existing models of stellar evolution and supernova explosions.

Researchers believe the star was originally extremely massive—about 60 times the mass of our Sun—and likely lost much of its material over thousands of years through a process called “pair-instability,” where repeated pulses of energy blew away outer layers before the final explosion.

Schulze says the next step is to find more stars like this to understand whether 2021-YFJ represents a new class of supernovae. This discovery may even lead to a “gold rush” as astronomers search for other missing links in the life cycles of stars.

How Sleep Cycles Impact Our Health

Minami, Y., Kishi, A. & Ueda, H.R. Preventive circadian medicine: improving health with sleep checkups. npj Biological Timing and Sleep, September 2025

A new study investigates how a single night of shifting the sleep-wake cycle impacts glucose metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and hunger signals in healthy young adults. Sixteen men and women took part in a highly controlled lab experiment. They followed a sleep schedule for several nights before the test. On the test day, they shifted their sleep-wake cycle by 12 hours to simulate a night shift. They stayed awake all night and slept during the day. Results showed significantly higher blood glucose levels and a reduction in insulin sensitivity, despite participants having identical food intake. The test also caused ghrelin (hunger hormone) to increase, leading to stronger feelings of hunger, while leptin (satiety hormone) decreased, which could lead to eating more than usual. Participants also reported stronger cravings for high-calorie foods like sweets and snacks. Even a single night of circadian misalignment is enough to cause noticeable metabolic disturbances. These hormonal changes may lead to overeating, which, over time, could result in weight gain and insulin resistance if the circadian disruption becomes chronic. This study helps explain why night shift workers and those with irregular sleep patterns have higher rates of obesity, diabetes, and metabolic diseases. Staying awake all night and sleeping during the day even once significantly disrupts glucose metabolism and boosts hunger signals. Repeating this cycle regularly increases the risk of obesity and diabetes. The findings highlight the importance of stable sleep-wake cycles for maintaining metabolic health and suggest that strategies to reduce circadian disruption could benefit public health.

The science fiction novel The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin is the story of an interstellar communication initiated by Chinese scientists in 1976. In this fictional story, we are introduced to a highly secretive military initiative known as the Red Shore Project. Using a massive radio telescope built for this purpose, they transmitted a signal to the Trisolaris system, about 4.21 light-years from Earth. At that distance, the message would take four years to arrive, and if anyone there were able to respond, their reply would reach Earth four years later.

Four years after the transmission, Chinese scientists listened to the silence of space, hearing nothing but static. Then, one day, the unexpected happened: a voice broke through the emptiness, crossing the vast distance to reach Earth. The scientists, riveted, turned their attention to the mysterious signal. Humanity was on the brink of perhaps its greatest discovery.

As the message was decoded, anticipation gave way to dread. The first words from extraterrestrial beings were not a greeting but a chilling warning: “Do not send another message ever again. Otherwise, it will be your end.”

The Three-Body Problem is a science fiction novel by Liu Cixin that gained worldwide attention through its television adaptation. In the story, Trisolaris is a planet in the Alpha Centauri star system, about 4.21 light-years from Earth. The planet orbits within a chaotic three-star system, where unpredictable gravitational forces cause instability. As a result, Trisolaris experiences irregular cycles: periods of extreme heat and cold known as Chaotic Eras, alternating with Stable Eras, when conditions are more favorable for life.

The fictional story in Liu Cixin’s novel is intertwined with real science: the Three-Body Problem. This is a well-known challenge in physics and mathematics that dates back to Isaac Newton’s Principia Mathematica (1687). In Proposition 66 of the first book, Newton described the motion of three large bodies under mutual gravitational forces. While studying the orbits of planets in the Solar System, he realized he needed mathematical equations to express the problem. When he assumed only two bodies, he was able to write and solve the equations. But when he considered three bodies, the problem became unsolvable.

Many mathematicians took up this challenge, but the problem remained unsolved for centuries. Writing the differential equations for three bodies was straightforward, but finding an analytical solution was impossible. Unlike the two-body problem, the three-body problem produces chaotic orbits, with trajectories that collapse into unpredictability. Finally, the great mathematician Henri Poincaré proved that no general analytical solution exists for such systems. This realization laid the foundation of chaos theory.

Chaotic systems, by their nature, cannot be expressed with simple functions like polynomials, trigonometric or logarithmic formulas. Their defining feature is extreme sensitivity to initial conditions: even the tiniest change produces dramatically different results. Later studies on chaos theory confirmed that this unpredictability is not due to lack of knowledge or inadequate calculation but is an inherent property of such systems. Many examples of chaotic behavior have since been discovered—Lorenz attractors, fractals, triple pendulums, even a pencil balanced on its tip.

The best way to understand this situation is through simulations. By modeling three bodies at different distances with only a few parameters, one can observe how quickly the results spiral into chaos. Even the Solar System is much more complex than previously thought. In 2009, shortly after Liu Cixin’s novel gained attention, astrophysicists ran a large-scale simulation using all known data about the Solar System to predict planetary positions 5 billion years into the future. Then they adjusted Mercury’s distance from the Sun by just 1 millimeter. That tiny difference produced radically different outcomes: in some simulations Mercury collided with the Sun, in others with Venus, and in at least one case the entire Solar System fell into chaos.

Yes, you read that right. A deviation of only 1 millimeter could alter the destiny of the cosmos. Such precision suggests that every object in the universe must be perfectly placed for order to be sustained. Otherwise, disorder would prevail. This brings to mind the Qur’anic verse: “God has created everything with precise measure” (54:49), and the call: “Travel throughout the earth and see how He brings life into being” (29:20).

The message from extraterrestrial beings mentioned at the beginning of the article sparks another discussion. It recalls Stephen Hawking’s warning to be cautious in the search for alien life, lest humanity expose itself to danger. While we may send messages of friendship, we could be inviting beings with superior technology to view us as prey. This idea is central to The Three-Body Problem series.

Let’s start with the Fermi Paradox. Enrico Fermi, a real scientist, once posed a question: There are billions of stars in the Milky Way. Most of these stars should have planets orbiting around them. Some of these planets must have the capacity to develop and sustain life, just like ours. Some forms of life should have the ability to evolve into civilizations and at least have the capability to discover radio waves, even if they don’t have space travel. Fermi later suggests this: If all of these previous points are true, then where are the aliens? This is what we call the Fermi Paradox.

The Dark Forest Hypothesis, also the title of the second book in the series, offers a theoretical solution to the Fermi Paradox. At the very least, advanced civilizations should have discovered radio waves. According to this hypothesis, the reason we have not detected signals or received visits is rooted in the instinct for survival. Making contact with an unknown species is inherently risky—any civilization that reveals itself may face extinction, since there is no way to predict the intentions of the other side. From this perspective, it becomes more rational to destroy any encountered species rather than risk being destroyed. This is what Stephen Hawking warned about when he cautioned against broadcasting our presence too openly.

Just as we are often bothered by insects and think little of killing them, they might view us the same way. If different species at varying levels of development exist across the universe, it would take only one or two to adopt this perspective: destroy others on sight rather than risk contact. Once that happens, the rest quickly learn the lesson—remaining silent is the only way to survive.

According to the Dark Forest Hypothesis, this survival logic drives the universe toward a kind of uneasy equilibrium. What appears to us as silence may actually be a vast, dark forest filled with civilizations hiding in fear, each wary and hostile beneath the surface. Any civilization that dares to reveal itself risks instant destruction by others unwilling to endanger their own existence. As we contemplate the intricacies of the cosmos, “The Three-Body Problem” and the scientific theories it incorporates offer a sobering reflection on the fragility and unpredictability inherent in even the most meticulously ordered systems. Just as the slightest deviation in initial conditions can yield chaotic outcomes, our presence on Earth exists in a delicate equilibrium, vulnerable to the unseen forces of the universe.

Rather than serving as a mere warning, the message from extraterrestrial beings may serve as an invitation for us to approach the unknown with humility, caution, and a profound reverence for the complexities of God’s creation. Through observation and reflection upon the signs present in our surroundings, we have the opportunity not only to unravel the mysteries of the universe but also to deepen our understanding of our role within it and the profound responsibility entrusted to us as stewards of this remarkable and awe-inspiring world.

Can science and faith work together? Can we reconcile experiment and observation with Divine wisdom?

Connecting what is experimentally observed/measured to the creations of the All-Wise One (meaning there is nothing by coincidence or meaningless) helps us interpret scientific facts with spiritual insights, offering a view that appreciates the connection between science, thought, and spiritual wisdom. Such interpretation would enrich both our knowledge and spirit. The price methods of Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE), which is a set of analyzing techniques in science and technology industries, offer us such a connection highlighting the wonders of creations by the Divine.

The journey to understanding through measurement

Measurement is a fundamental aspect of human curiosity and our quest to understand the world, going beyond simple tools like rulers or scales. It includes various testing and evaluation methods that uncover hidden details of our environment. For example, Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) is a technique used to check the safety of structures (e.g., bridges, airplanes, pipelines, etc.) by using special tools that look inside the structure without causing any damage. There are several common NDE methods, such as ultrasound, visual inspection, and electromagnetic techniques. Ultrasound NDE uses high-frequency sound waves to detect internal flaws. Visual inspection involves examining structures for flaws using the naked eye or optical aids. These methods ensure safety and reliability, connecting both the visible and invisible aspects of measurement. Our journey is not just about technical details; it is about linking the natural world with a deeper sense of purpose.

The philosophy of measurement in NDE

What do we measure? Every particle in the NDE field can give us important information as it moves. For example, ultrasonic NDE uses high frequency sound waves – outside the range of human hearing – to create images of an object’s interior. By tracking how the particles move (similar to how sound wave travels), we can determine important information based on specific rules of physics. This helps us better understand the data we collect.

Understanding the data from NDE methods is a challenging job. Think of it like when doctors use ultrasound to see inside a pregnant woman’s body. They send high-frequency sound waves into the body with the help of a gel, and by analyzing the echoes, they can see what is happening inside the patient.

Why do we measure? This question takes us back to the very essence of human inquiry. We measure to understand and predict in response to our material needs, but appreciating the complexity of creation often comes as another major outcome. Historically, scientific discoveries have sometimes conflicted with personal beliefs, like when people learned that the Earth orbits the sun. Measurement transforms subjective observations into objective data, bridging the gap between what we see and the deeper truths they reveal.

Similarly, the philosophy of measurement in NDE, one might think, is actually based on a similar search for truth, connecting, as it were, science with faith. When we observe something happening, it usually triggers a question about having a very wise and knowledgeable power behind it, the One who sets the rules of nature to make things work with such harmony and intelligence.

Let’s explore the most widely used method among electromagnetic NDE techniques – Eddy Current NDE. This method is based on a principle discovered by Michael Faraday. When you pass an electric current through a wire that keeps changing direction, it generates a changing magnetic field. This changing magnetic field can cause small loops of electric current, called eddy currents, to form in nearby metal objects. Tracking how these eddy currents flow helps us detect any defects or irregularities in the material. Early detection of these issues is important to ensure the safety and reliability of engineering structures.

Eddy Current NDE: A glimpse into the unseen

NDE is like a doctor’s gentle touch, diagnosing without cutting open. It uses technologies such as ultrasound and electromagnetic techniques to look into the heart of materials, detecting structural flaws that could lead to future failures. For example, Eddy Current Testing (ECT) uses electromagnetism to scan for irregularities, ensuring the reliability of metal components and aircraft parts without leaving a mark. ECT detects surface and near-surface flaws in conductive materials by inducing and measuring electrical currents (Mussatayev et al., 2024). Any flaws in the material disrupt the flow of eddy currents, which can be detected by sensor, as shown in Figure 1.

For example, when eddy currents flow through undamaged material (see Figure 1), the movement is smooth and shows no sign of disturbance. However, when a defect was present between 60 and 80 mm, the sensors picked up a clear, symmetrical change in voltage readings.

Recent advances in science and technology are making such measurements even more precise. For instance, new machines can automatically adjust themselves during composite manufacturing (Nguyen et al., 2023). Researchers have also shown that sound waves can lift, move, and spin tiny objects in the air—an innovation that could greatly improve how certain medicines are delivered in the future (Marzo et al., 2015).

The dance of particles: A reflection of Divine order

Every particle, wave, and pulse of energy in the NDE process reflects an underlying order. These particles move according to precise laws, hinting at a greater orchestration. It is a dance choreographed by the Creator, displaying creativity and direction that invites us to ponder the purpose behind existence.

Studying how particles move in NDE methods helps us understand their formation and behavior. Despite their many tasks, the movement of particles provides crucial insights in understanding the feature of interest in material under the test. Just like a tiny seed contains all the “program codes” for a huge tree, the systematic and repetitive movement of particles reveals information about the hidden aspects of the material world to engineers.

One can speculate three possible explanations as to why particles can perform so many functions:

• Each particle knows everything. In this case, it would need to have infinite wisdom and power. It would have to see everything, be aware of all things, and have control over everything.
• Each particle is made to serve a greater purpose. So, the particles that perform their roles in structures and bodies do so with the permission, command, knowledge, and will of an entity with complete wisdom.
• Particles move based on general rules without needing prior knowledge.

If we applied an NDE process to these particles, the most logical explanation would be that they are created by one Creator, designed with complexity to demonstrate His power and will. This implies that only the One who creates the flow of all particles can place each particle in its position. To uncover these “hidden treasures,” humans rely on curiosity and structured measurement (metrology) to explore the natural world.

Divine Wisdom and human innovation: Exploring the Creator’s influence

Advancements in technology show that humans are inspired by the order we see in nature, and we try to use these natural laws for our benefit. It’s as if the Creator gives us the ability to understand and control things to some extent in different scientific areas. While we can’t fully understand everything because God knows all, we can still learn and explore from the laws of nature.

These are introductory insights that warrant deeper exploration, yet they illustrate important concepts about the nature of knowledge and its boundaries. Empirical knowledge, while immensely valuable for understanding the natural world, has limitations. It provides evidence of order and design, hinting at an intelligent designer, but it cannot fully capture the essence or attributes of the Divine. The concept of an intelligent Creator aligns with the argument of design, as seen in nature’s intricate systems, yet the full scope of divine attributes lies beyond empirical reach.

This perspective is enriched by philosophical discussions about the self, the soul, and their connection to the material world. Take the idea of causality, for example, which explains the link between cause and effect. A cause produces a result not because it looks like the effect, but because it has a unique property that makes that result possible—like fire producing heat because of what it is, not because it resembles heat. This way of thinking highlights the careful design behind natural phenomena and points to divine wisdom and purpose.

“As a scientist, I can move a small particle a short distance (Marzo et al., 2015).” However, God manages all the cells in my body and everything in the universe continuously. This suggests that our ego can help us understand some of God’s attributes, such as being All-Wise and All-Compassionate, with limitless knowledge and power. Imagine an endless land without boundaries; it requires an imaginary limit to comprehend its vastness. Similarly, our ego acts like a reference point in geometry, setting a limit by saying, “I can control the movement of a particle up to this point; beyond that, God controls everything.” Although this limit does not physically exist, it helps us understand, much like a thermometer indicates temperature. In this way, through the lens of this perspective, an engineer can see the nature of the universe. With our limited knowledge, we catch a glimpse of the Creator’s power and authority over creation. But if the “I” believes it exists on its own and belongs only to itself, it ends up dividing God’s sovereignty between itself and other imagined causes.

In this context, the human capacity to reason, explore, and innovate mirrors aspects of divine knowledge and wisdom. Our ability to uncover the laws of nature serves as a reflection of the Creator’s infinite knowledge and deepens our appreciation of His dominion. When approached with humility, the pursuit of science becomes a way to honor the Creator, bridging the gap between human curiosity and divine majesty.

Integrating science and spirituality

Curiosity is something humans possess to understand how nature works and to contemplate what lies behind it as Divine wisdom. The philosophy of measurement leads to questions about existence and the Creator’s rule in the cosmos. When people measure things, it is to answer specific questions in different fields. Measurement is not only a tool for understanding the physical world but also a metaphor for seeking spiritual knowledge and wisdom. For example, someone might want to explore a natural event, and through new branches of science, we can learn measurable facts about the universe. These observations connect with what we already know about the things we measure.

Finally, experts make sense of the measurements through validation and assign meaning to the scores based on theory (Adcock and Collier 2001), as shown in Figure 2. As Nursi says, the Creator made everything with a purpose, and this is a way to inspire humans to find their purpose on Earth.

Over the centuries, a rift between science and religion has emerged, but understanding the order in particle behavior can help bridge this gap. Particles operate under divine laws, reflecting the Creator’s will and power. This perspective aligns with the view of a universe created with intent, where every element serves a purpose.

A need for balance

Considering different explanations for particle behavior, the idea that particles follow divine laws without inherent knowledge harmonizes scientific understanding and religious belief. This view suggests a universe created with intent, where everything has a purpose. Integrating scientific exploration into religious education can foster deeper understanding and respect among various traditions.

Conclusion: A call for unity

In summary, the dialogue between science and faith is ancient, with moments of conflict and reconciliation. Today, they can coexist, complementing each other in the search for truth. Measurement, in its purest form, honors the Creator by unraveling the mysteries of the universe. The Abrahamic traditions share a belief in purposeful creation, which could be the foundation for a future where science and faith walk hand in hand, fostering understanding and peace.

References

• Adcock, Robert, and David Collier. 2001. “Measurement Validity: A Shared Standard for Qualitative and Quantitative Research.” American Political Science Review 95(3):529–46. doi: 10.1017/S0003055401003100.
• Marzo, Asier, Sue Ann Seah, Bruce W. Drinkwater, Deepak Ranjan Sahoo, Benjamin Long, and Sriram Subramanian. 2015. “Holographic Acoustic Elements for Manipulation of Levitated Objects.” Nature Communications 6(May):1–7. doi: 10.1038/ncomms9661.
• Mussatayev, Meirbek, Qiuji Yi, Mark Fitzgerald, Vincent K. Maes, Paul Wilcox, and Robert Hughes. 2024. “Directional Eddy Current Probe Configuration for In-Line Detection of out-of-Plane Wrinkles.” Composites Part B: Engineering 268:111048. doi: 10.1016/j.compositesb.2023.111048.
• Nguyen, Duc H., Xiaochuan Sun, Iryna Tretiak, Mario A. Valverde, and James Kratz. 2023. “Automatic Process Control of an Automated Fibre Placement Machine.” Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing 168(November 2022):107465. doi: 10.1016/j.compositesa.2023.107465.
• Nursi, Said. 2023. “Sözler.”

During a serene Californian summer retreat, I overheard a captivating conversation between two physicists. In the calm of the setting, their words, filled with passion, seemed to transcend the usual concerns of the world. Unable to resist, I found myself making a “quantum” leap, much like an electron excited to a higher state. Dr. Serdar was enthusiastically discussing proton therapy in cancer treatment, explaining how the proton beam’s properties are carefully coordinated between physicians and physicists during treatment. His words resonated deeply as he reflected on the progress humanity has made in science and the importance of their work. He even joked that if cancer were cured, he would happily switch careers and become a chef.

I enjoyed the conversation and later reflected on how important protons are, despite their small size, and the significant roles they play in serving humanity. In our daily lives, we seldom think of them and “confine” them to the “borders” of a nucleus. Yet, they offer so much more. The more we understand their nature and get to know them, the more they reveal their secrets. Interestingly, to coax them into whispering the codes of their mysterious world, they must be smashed, banged, and subjected to high and low potentials. Harsh as it may sound, aren’t we humans a lot like them? What we do to them, we also face in life. We carry innate positivity within us, yet it often lies dormant, like a seed. Life challenges us with its ups and downs, leading to plenty of “oops” moments. Through these experiences, we uncover new depths, subtle details, and greater discoveries, exploring more of ourselves and the world around us.

Inspired by the discussion, I wanted to dedicate this essay to protons as a tribute to their service, obedience to the laws of their Creator, and the rigor they demonstrate before our eyes. While our tiny titans, protons, constantly make history, let’s take a brief look at their discovery. How they are continually created is, of course, a much larger question – one that goes beyond the scope of this article. The discovery of protons itself spanned over a century. In 1917, Ernest Rutherford discovered the proton by bombarding nitrogen gas with alpha particles. The ejected hydrogen nuclei confirmed the presence of the proton, a fundamental particle in all atomic nuclei. In 1920, he officially named it the “proton,” solidifying its place in atomic theory.

While protons continue to guard their secrets and draw countless researchers with their allure, I was reminded of Said Nursi’s words about creation. In his book The Words, he says, “For sure, ‘to make one thing everything, and everything one thing’ is a sign, a mark, peculiar to the Creator of all things, the One Powerful over all things” (Eighth Word). This “one thing” could refer to anything—an entity or even a particle. Yet, the fact that hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe, with its nucleus consisting of a single proton, sparked my thoughts once again. It is awe-inspiring to reflect on how the All-Mighty Creator uses the smallest things to bring about indescribable and incomprehensible complexity—complexity that allows us to perceive order amidst the layers of chaos that weave through creation.

Yes, it is small—tiny, even—yet we still have much to learn about protons, as they carry information about the entire creation. I recently watched a fascinating documentary about an artist collaborating with physicists to produce a visual rendering of a proton. The challenges they faced were narrated with remarkable precision and astonishment, highlighting how delicate and complex the structure of a proton is. The work of visualizing such a fundamental particle speaks to the depth of its mystery, and how much more there is to discover. It underscores the power of collaboration between art and

science in shedding light on the unseen world of subatomic particles, revealing the intricate connections that hold protons together in a stable structure.

The proton: Unveiling the mystery of matter

The proton, an electrically positively charged particle at the heart of the atom, is far more complex than it first appears, resisting simple characterization. Its behavior and structure change depending on how it is probed, revealing a layer of complexity that challenges our understanding at every turn.

In 1967, experiments at SLAC (the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center) revealed that protons are composed of point-like particles known as quarks—two “up” quarks and one “down” quark—each with distinct electrical charges. Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) advanced our understanding further, revealing that the proton is not just made of quarks but also hosts a “sea” of transient quarks, antiquarks, and gluons. These fleeting particles interact continuously, contributing to the proton’s mass, spin, and stability. This makes the proton’s internal structure one of the most enigmatic puzzles in modern physics. While it would be fascinating to elaborate more on these features, let’s keep our focus and continue exploring their significance. Despite decades of study, the proton continues to surprise us. It’s not just a fundamental building block of matter, but a window into deeper truths about the universe.

The many roles of protons: From medicine to technology

Protons are not just essential in medicine; they are the essence of an element’s identity. Think of them as an ID, SSN, or passport number—defining the diversity of materials and elements in the universe. The number of protons in an atom’s nucleus, or atomic number, uniquely identifies an element on the periodic table. This fundamental role underscores their significance, extending beyond applications like proton therapy, where their unique properties are utilized for precise cancer treatments.

First of all, protons are positively charged particles with significant mass compared to electrons. This allows precise control over their path in a magnetic or electric field. Medical physicists can more easily control their path, direct them to the targeted tissues, and obtain more effective results in their use. Protons deliver the majority of their energy at a specific depth in tissue, known as the “Bragg peak.” This characteristic allows protons to release their maximum energy at the tumor site while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. This property makes them safer to use compared to gamma or X-rays. Protons scatter less as they travel through tissues, which enhances their precision and reduces the dose to non-targeted areas. Protons ionize atoms in their path, effectively damaging cancer cell DNA and inhibiting replication, which is crucial for stopping tumor growth.

Protons were first employed in medical treatment in 1946 (Wilson, 1946), and today, proton therapy is a widely recognized method for cancer treatment. Compared to traditional x-ray radiotherapy, proton therapy offers a significant advantage by reducing the risk of secondary cancers. This is due to its ability to precisely deliver radiation to the tumor site while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. The proton beam’s interactions with matter allow for a concentration of radiation in areas where it is most needed, either in the tumor or healthy tissues, depending on the depth of the proton path (Newhauser and Zhang, 2015). Protons, though small in scale, are powerful tools in treating humans, demonstrating how even the tiniest elements can have a profound impact on healing. Indeed, the Creator, The Healer, has made the universe akin to a vast pharmacy, full of treatments, medicines, and chemicals—inviting us to explore, fueled by curiosity, and to deepen our understanding of His creation.

Expanding frontiers: Protons in everyday life

Protons have a wide range of important uses beyond their role in medicine. In electronics, proton implantation in silicon carbide semiconductors enhances the reliability and efficiency of devices, benefiting sectors like transportation and renewable energy. They are also crucial in space missions, testing electronics for reliability in harsh radiation environments, and in self-driving cars and medical devices. Protons are key in energy production through proton exchange membrane fuel cells, scientific research in particle accelerators, and even in food preservation by sterilization. Their versatile applications continue to advance both cutting-edge technologies and everyday innovations.

Despite their smallness, protons shoulder immense responsibilities, obeying the laws set by their Creator. They pave the way for new discoveries, sparking human curiosity and unlocking pathways to a deeper understanding of ever-smaller particles and their interactions with the universe. From the tiniest particles to the vastest structures, everything in creation is crafted with meticulous planning, calculation, and preordained precision. Though we cannot perceive it all with our naked eye, the Creator has bestowed upon us the mind, eyes, and tools to glimpse His infinite power—shaping boundless complexity from the smallest things. As stated in the Quran, “Not ‘even’ an atom’s weight is hidden from Him in the heavens or the earth; nor anything smaller or larger than that, but is ‘written’ in a perfect record.” (Al-Saba 34:3) Indeed, “We have created everything, perfectly preordained.” (Al-Qamar 54:49).

References and Resources Used

National Institutes of Health. Proton Therapy: A Summary of Current Research and Clinical Applications. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4407514/

EurekaAlert. Proton Implantation and Its Role in Enhancing Semiconductor Reliability. Retrieved from https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/972656#

NASA Technical Report on Proton Uses in Instrument Calibration:

NASA. Proton Uses in Instrument Calibration for Space Exploration. Retrieved from https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20170011270/downloads/20170011270.pdf

GeeksforGeeks Article on Everyday Uses of Protons: https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/uses-of-protons-in-everyday-life/

Documentary on the Visualization of Protons. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2FrALuacZ4

In 2024, I attended a conference on Alzheimer’s disease that brought together over 8,000 participants to share the latest advancements. One of the key topics in the conference was the discovery of biomarkers—medical measurements, such as blood test results, that aid in diagnosing diseases—for the early detection of Alzheimer’s disease. Several speakers emphasized tau, a protein that accumulates abnormally in the brains of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, as a significant biomarker for predicting Alzheimer’s disease in its early stages, presenting convincing datasets from multiple clinical studies to support their findings. However, later in the conference, one scientist presented a study suggesting that this biomarker worked effectively only for White populations, but not for Hispanic or African American groups. This finding was striking, underscoring a longstanding challenge in medicine: the inequities in health outcomes and disease risk among different racial and social groups—commonly referred to as health disparities.

Although humans share about 99% of the same DNA, the remaining 1% accounts for a remarkable diversity in our traits and characteristics. Environmental factors—such as lifestyle, nutrition, and geographic location—also shape who we are. From a faith perspective, this diversity is not a flaw but a reflection of God’s wisdom in creation. Human variation, whether genetic, cultural, or environmental, is meant to be a source of mutual learning and enrichment, fostering understanding, respect, and collaboration rather than division.

Diversity is also evident in how susceptible people are to different diseases, which can stem from genetic factors, environmental influences, or a combination of both. For instance, Huntington’s disease is a genetic disorder caused by a mutation in the HTT gene, and sickle cell anemia arises from specific mutations in the HBB gene. On the other hand, Alzheimer’s disease risk is associated with a combination of genetics (e.g., APOE4 allele) as well as external factors such as exercise, diet, and education. As a result, certain populations may face a higher risk for particular diseases.

Socioeconomic status (SES) is another important determinant of disease risk. Differences in SES could exacerbate health disparities. One way to assess this is through the “deprivation index,” which summarizes the overall quality of life in a region. Individuals living in areas with a high deprivation index often face reduced access to education, healthcare, clean water, and clean air, all of which negatively impact health outcomes. Moreover, external factors linked to SES can increase disease-related mortality. For instance, in certain racial and ethnic groups, socioeconomic barriers have historically limited access to routine screenings and checkups for breast cancer. As a result, diagnosis often occurs at later stages of the disease, when treatment options may be less effective. Even when effective treatments are available, low income may put them out of reach for those living in high-deprivation areas.

Historically, many datasets used in biomedical research have been predominantly composed of White participants, for several reasons. Socioeconomic disparities can limit access to healthcare for certain groups, resulting in fewer opportunities to collect comprehensive data on diseases affecting these populations. This lack of representation can lead to incomplete or biased conclusions about diseases, creating a vicious circle exacerbating inequity in healthcare outcomes and biomedical research participation.

Stigma

Another factor contributing to the underrepresentation of certain groups in health data is the legacy of stigmatizing research practices. Historically, individuals from certain groups have been subjected to unethical research studies. For instance, at the Ohio State Penitentiary in the 1950s and 1960s, Dr. Chester M. Southam, a prominent oncologist, injected inmates with live cancer cells to study how the human immune system would respond [1]. The inmates, often enticed by promises of reduced sentences, were not informed about the nature of the injections or the risks involved. Southam also replicated his experiments on terminally ill patients at the Jewish Chronic Disease Hospital in New York, again without proper informed consent. Around the same time, the infamous Tuskegee Syphilis Study, conducted by the U.S. Public Health Service from 1932 to 1972, deliberately misled 600 African American men in Alabama into believing they were receiving treatment for “bad blood” [2]. Instead, researchers observed the devastating progression of untreated syphilis, even after penicillin became a cure. These violations of trust and ethics have created long-lasting apprehension toward participating in research studies, further limiting representation in health data.

Polygenic risk score

Without sufficient representation from diverse groups, research findings risk being less applicable to the broader population. For example, methods used to calculate disease risk—like statistical models or computational techniques—can be biased if they are based on data from predominantly White populations. One such method is the polygenic risk score, which combines the effects of multiple genes to calculate an individual’s risk for a specific disease. While this technique holds great promise, the problem lies in the list of genes used for these calculations. These lists are often derived from studies involving European White populations, meaning the risk scores may not apply accurately to other groups around the world.

Machine learning models

Similarly, machine learning models are increasingly used to predict disease risk by analyzing large datasets. However, if a machine learning model is trained on data primarily from the majority population, it will struggle to make accurate predictions for underrepresented populations. As a result, research findings tend to disproportionately benefit majority populations, further increasing health disparities and leaving vulnerable groups at a disadvantage. Therefore, broadening representation in research is critical to creating equitable healthcare solutions that work for everyone.

All of Us (AoU)

To tackle these challenges, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) launched the All of Us (AoU) Research Program in 2018 [3]. AoU is an ambitious initiative designed to collect biomedical and lifestyle-related data from one million or more people across the United States. Its goal is to build a diverse dataset by including individuals from all walks of life, with a particular focus on increasing representation among groups historically underrepresented in biomedical research. The program collects a wide range of data, including clinical information, lifestyle habits, data from wearable devices, laboratory measurements, and whole genome sequencing.

As of January 2025, nearly 850,000 individuals have joined the study, with about 45% representing racial and ethnic minorities and 80% belonging to groups historically underrepresented in biomedical research. The genomes of roughly 250,000 participants have been sequenced and shared with both the individuals themselves and the researchers who obtained permission to access AoU data.

The rich, diverse data in the All of Us (AoU) program enables a wide range of research opportunities. With its large participant base and extensive range of collected information, researchers can develop more equitable machine learning models to predict disease risk. They can also create cohorts based on socioeconomic status (SES) to examine disease prevalence and assess how SES impacts health outcomes. In addition, integrating whole-genome sequencing data with other clinical information may help identify novel genetic variants linked to disease.

There are several aspects that make AoU different than other existing biobanks. For instance, AoU participants come from diverse backgrounds, whereas many traditional biobanks such as UK Biobank and Estonian Biobank have participants from primarily European decent. The participants of the AoU study are regarded as active participants, thereby they have full access to their datasets. In addition, AoU follows strong privacy principles. For instance, the data is stored on a cloud platform and researchers who have access to the data are not allowed to download these datasets. This cloud platform also enables democratizing research opportunities for researchers including professional scientists and citizen scientists.

The AoU Research Program has implemented several measures to safeguard participant privacy and ensure ethical use of its data, minimizing the risk of unintended harm. Researchers seeking access to the AoU datasets must first complete a specialized ethical training, similar to the training required for handling human subject data. This training includes an overview of historical research misconduct, such as instances where studies stigmatized underrepresented groups. By educating researchers on these past missteps, AoU fosters greater awareness and encourages ethical behavior to avoid repeating these mistakes. To promote transparency, AoU publicly shares brief descriptions of each research project. If any project violates ethical standards, it is removed from the program, and the names of the researchers responsible are made public. These measures act as a deterrent, encouraging caution and accountability in the research process. Additionally, AoU has established a dedicated board to evaluate projects that might carry the potential for stigma—for instance, studies that aim to link a disease to a specific racial or minority group. This board thoroughly reviews the goals of such projects to ensure they align with ethical principles, further safeguarding against harmful outcomes.

One million participants

The AoU program will soon surpass its milestone of collecting data from over one million participants. Despite these efforts, several limitations and challenges persist. There is an urgent need for scientists to develop effective and scalable methods to harness these extensive datasets. One significant challenge lies in addressing missing data across various modalities. Developing computational methods to impute the missing data or account for incomplete data and more data collection efforts could address this challenge. Additionally, while a vast array of data types has already been generated, many intricate factors potentially related to disease or serving as risk factors remain unexplored. As such, the findings from AoU are likely to represent only a partial understanding of complex health phenomena. Finally, the program will need future financial support to continue collecting data from its participants for a longer period.

Human beings, created with remarkable complexity and diversity, present unique challenges that must be addressed when tackling problems such as disease prevention and treatment. In this regard, the AoU Research Program represents a pivotal effort to advance our understanding of human health. Its research outcomes and translational impact have the potential to improve healthcare accessibility and quality for individuals from all walks of life, reduce healthcare costs, and prevent disease before their onset. Furthermore, the program’s findings could inspire healthier lifestyles, emphasizing exercise and better diets. By highlighting key social determinants of health, AoU could also empower policymakers to create opportunities that address disparities and improve the lives of underprivileged communities.

References

• Skloot, Rebecca (2010). The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. New York: Crown/Archetype. pp. 127–135. ISBN 9780307589385.
• Brandt, Allan M. (December 1978). “Racism and Research: The Case of the Tuskegee Syphilis Study” (PDF). The Hastings Center Report. 8 (6). Garrison, New York: Wiley-Blackwell: 21–29. doi:10.2307/3561468
• https://allofus.nih.gov/

Leonardo da Vinci envisioned machines that run continuously and designed self-feeding mechanisms, which he presented in his drawings in the Codex Atlanticus [1]. From the perspective of today’s advanced technologies, such ideas may no longer seem impossible to many people, but at that time, they were considered far from reality by many. It is impressive to see how these ideas, which were just dreams in the past, have become concrete realities through the advancement of science and technology.

Today, various studies have been carried out on renewable energy sources and a significant part of them have been implemented. In this direction, recent research on diamond batteries has shown that they can be considered as a viable alternative energy source in cases where commonly used batteries are insufficient. Diamond batteries are viewed as one of the sustainable solutions to the energy challenges faced by batteries used in medical devices (such as pacemakers and brain pacemakers, and others) [2].

Batteries used in medical devices are among the components that improve people’s quality of life, but they are usually lithium-ion or silver-zinc based, producing energy through chemical reactions and eventually depleting. This situation causes patients to undergo surgical interventions to replace the batteries. Diamond batteries can potentially eliminate this need, making it possible for patients to rely on a single, lifelong battery.

Diamond batteries are a technology that operates using radioactive isotopes and can provide energy for hundreds or even thousands of years. During beta decay, beta particles (electrons) emitted from the nuclei of radioactive isotopes are absorbed by the surrounding semiconductor materials, generating an electric current. This enables diamond batteries to produce uninterrupted energy [3].

In addition to being long-lasting, diamond batteries have many other advantages, too. Nano-diamond structures are well tolerated by the human body and do not contain toxic substances. Beta radiation is at a level that does not harm human tissues and can be completely isolated thanks to nano-diamond coatings [4]. Although the use of diamond batteries in medical devices is still under development, in the near future, battery replacements for implants placed in the human body may no longer be necessary [5].

Diamond battery technology is not limited to solely batteries used in medical devices but has a wide range of applications, ranging from space exploration to nuclear waste management. With the development of this technology, it may be possible to see radical changes in energy storage systems even in daily life.

The diamond battery is a good example of how much bountifully the world has been created. It falls on us to do the research and discover all of these riches that have been generously provided for us.

References

1. Birkbeck, University of London (n.d.) Exploring Leonardo da Vinci’s perpetual motion machines. Google Arts & Culture. https://artsandculture.google.com/story/exploring-leonardo-da-vinci-s-perpetual-motion-machines-birkbeck-university-of-london/TAUx_A38LTONJQ?hl=en (Accessed: 28.01.2025).
2. University of Bristol (2024) Diamond battery media release, University of Bristol News. https://www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2024/december/diamond-battery-media-release.html (Accessed: 28.01.2025).
3. ProQuest – The Conversion of Radiation Energy to Electric Current – The Nano Diamond Battery, https://www.proquest.com/docview/2758662526?fromopenview=true&pq-origsite=gscholar&sourcetype=Scholarly%20Journals (Accessed:29.01.2025).
4. Liu, H., Li, P., Jin, C. and Zhang, Y. (2019) “Design and analysis of a novel vibration-driven electromagnetic energy harvester with high efficiency’, Journal of Bionic Engineering”. 16(5), pp. 921-934. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095177919301467(Accessed: 29.01.2025).
5. https://www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2024/december/diamond-battery-media-release.html

We live in a world full of colors. Parrots, for instance, are a delight to watch with their vibrant feathers and charming appearance. each of the hundreds of parrot species is a wonderful work of art. The eye-catching colors of blue-and-yellow macaw are symmetrically distributed on the animal’s body. Its beak and neck are black, its face is white and decorated with thin black stripes, its forehead is green, its back and tail are blue, and its wings and abdomen are golden yellow. This distribution of colors results from specific pigments and structures: the black areas contain pigments that absorb all wavelengths of light, while the white parts are composed of materials that reflect all colors. The yellow, blue, and green sections are structured to reflect three different wavelengths from the white light.

This distribution of colors requires precise measurements performed at the atomic level. Each color in the parrot’s feathers is encoded in its DNA, directing the arrangement of atoms to reflect specific colors on different parts of its body. Pigments are synthesized to allow us to see light of a certain wavelength as a certain color.

The secret of green

Color can be defined as the image that forms in our brain – and is perceived by our soul – as a result of stimulation in our eyes by different wavelengths of light.

One question many of us wonder is why most of the plants are green. Why green and not blue or red? Shouldn’t plants, which are constantly exposed to the sun’s rays, absorb all colors and become black? [1].

The chlorophyll pigment is responsible for making plants appear green. It does so by absorbing a large part of the light spectrum and reflecting the green light. Plants survive and grow through photosynthesis, a process in which sunlight is used to produce glucose and store energy by synthesizing food from carbon dioxide and water. For all this to be possible, the Sun plays a key role.

In the visible spectrum, the most intense (most scattered) wavelength of light emanating from the Sun is green. In other words, the color that has the most energy is green. Green plants, which are expected to absorb all of this energy, have been found to reflect only a part of the green spectrum.

Green: The regulator color

Scientists studying the mechanism of photosynthesis have found that plants use the green spectrum as a regulator [2]. As the Earth rotates, the angle of the Sun’s rays constantly changes, altering the positions of branches and leaves relative to the Sun. Thus, and due to the rainfall and the movements of clouds, plants do not receive the same intensity of sunlight, that is, energy, at all times, because the spectrum is constantly changing. We can compare this to an electrical appliance that would be damaged if the power supply kept fluctuating. In such cases, regulators are used to adjust the voltage (220V or 110V) by decreasing or increasing the incoming electricity. Similarly, to optimize photosynthesis, which requires a stable amount of energy, plants adjust their color by regulating the light they absorb. This explains why plants sometimes appear dark green and at other times light green. The ability to regulate ever-changing solar energy is only possible by reflecting certain regions of the solar spectrum, producing various shades of green. By reflecting these shades based on their conditions, plants achieve more stable growth. This stability in plants is crucial to maintain the continuity in the chain of life in nature, ensuring the vitality of plants through the efficient harvesting of light.

The leaves of some trees, such as the species Liquidambar styraciflua, change color based on the angle of the Sun’s rays, adjusting with the seasons [3]. This wonderful phenomenon occurs as the color pigments in the leaves change. Thanks to this adaptive capacity given to plants, trees maximize their benefit from sunlight while transforming the landscape into a marvelous exhibition adorned with shades of green, red, and yellow.

Making the most of the Sun

Another point to note is that leaves are positioned to maximize their use of sunlight, an indispensable element of photosynthesis. From a distance, branches and leaves may appear randomly arranged, but when examined in detail, we come across a magnificent artwork. In every tree, the spot where branches grow, the arrangement of leaves around them, and even the symmetrical shapes of flowers follow precise mathematical rules. In addition to this, each plant has its own unique branching and leaf arrangement rules. These arrangements, often forming circular or spiral structures, are encoded in the plant’s DNA—similar to the Fibonacci sequence—ensuring that leaves do not shade one another and receive maximum sunlight. To optimize light absorption, leaves need to be flat, which is why leaves are created in this way. Photocell solar panels operate on the same principle [4].

Our eyes

The mechanism of vision can be summarized as follows: Light entering the eye passes through the cornea, pupil, lens, and the dark chamber before reaching the retina. At the back of the retina are cells that perceive light known as rods and cones because of their shape. Here, light is converted into electrical signals and sent to the brain. Cone cells are responsible for color perception and require bright light to function. Humans have three types of cone cells, each responding to different wavelengths of light. Each of these carries pigments that have varying sensitivity to light [5].

Electrical signals from receptors stimulated by light are transmitted to the brain via the optic (visual) nerve. Studies show that both cone cells (which function in medium to bright light) and rod cells (which function in low light) are most sensitive to green [6]. One reason we feel at peace in the woods is that green is the most restful color for our eyes. The fact that the most intense of the visible rays coming from the Sun is green shows that the One who created these rays, also created our eyes, and the phenomenon of seeing.

A healthy human eye can distinguish about a million different colors [7]. Just as painters obtain different colors by making mixtures of three basic colors, our eyes are created with pigments in three different cone cells to make combinations of different colors out of different wavelengths to recognize hundreds of thousands of colors.

Cameras and the color green

Cameras are devices invented by mimicking the human eye. Its contact with light, focusing mechanisms, cover, and lenses are all inspired by how our eyes function. The basic task of all cameras, including the ones in mobile phones, is to capture three colors (red, green, blue), just as our eyes do. Cameras have photo sensors that can detect these colors. American inventor Bryce Bayer, who discovered the sensitivity of our eyes to green light, succeeded in obtaining clearer images by doubling the green photo sensor in cameras [8]. This is how cameras today work.

Filming

Another area where the color green plays a role is in filmmaking. Green screen technology, also known as chroma key, is used to combine and edit two pictures or video streams. Green stands out more strikingly during post-production and can be easily manipulated. This makes it possible to film scenes set in battlefields or outer space—productions that would otherwise be prohibitively expensive—more affordably and efficiently.

Colors with short wavelengths, such as yellow and red, which evoke the Sun and fire, are called warm colors. In contrast, colors with long wavelengths, such as purple, navy blue, and blue are classified as cool. Green is in the middle of the spectrum.

The reason leaves turn yellow and red as autumn and winter approach is due to the breakdown of chlorophyll molecules, which leads to the production of new substances that interact with light differently. Pigments in the flavonoid and carotenoid groups serve various functions, including protecting chlorophyll from excessive ultraviolet exposure. Red and purple hues come from anthocyanins, orange shades from carotenoids, and yellow tones from xanthophylls. This vibrant display of colors not only adds beauty to nature but also reminds us that such a masterpiece cannot come by chance.

The solar spectrum reaches its highest value in green. In other words, the most intense (most scattered) wavelength of light scattered from the Sun in the visible spectrum is green.

And whatsoever He has created for you on earth of varying colors (and diverse forms and qualities): surely in that is a sign for people who reflect and are mindful. (an-Nahl 16:13)

Notes

• Since sunlight is made up of a mixture of all colors, when you go into space, it appears white, which is its true color. It appears yellow on earth because of our atmosphere, which acts as a filter.
• Trevor B. Arp ve ark. “Quieting a noisy antenna reproduces photosynthetic light-harvesting spectra”, Science, 368/6, 26 June 2020.
• “Liquidambar styraciflua”, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquidambar_styraciflua
• “Solar Energy”, www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/solar-energy
• Arif Sarsılmaz, “I Am Hasan’s Eye”, Sızıntı, August 2000.
• Katarzyna A. Hussey ve ark. “Patterning and Development of Photoreceptors in the Human Retina”, Front. Cell Dev. Biol. 10/878350, 2022.
• “How human eyes see different colours”, osmosmagazine.com/science/biology/how-human-eyes-see-different-colours/
• “Bryce Bayer”, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bryce_Bayer

For years, we have ignored our true needs, chasing after some fantasies as if they were necessities of life. Sometimes unable to discern what our real needs were, and other times mistaking some of our luxuries for needs, we tied our lives entirely to such luxuries and lived in contradictions. What we pursued at times not only failed to meet our true needs but increased them; so much so that, just like a person whose lungs are parched from thirst drinks seawater in an attempt to quench their thirst, only to become more dehydrated, we too become dependent on fantasies that do not address our needs. We have become slaves who will never be able to escape the shadows of gloom.

The only thing we really need as a society is to escape this foolish game of blind-man’s bluff, and bring to life our deep-rooted religious, national, ethical, and educational disciplines. If, during this period of great need, we ignore our own concept of a sound culture, does this not neglect and destroy the soul of our society?

In our conception of civilization and culture, the human being and humane values have always been priorities. Despite this, how have we come to adopt a worldview that contradicts our long and rich history, spiritual roots, and heritage? By adorning ourselves with many unfitting fantasies, we have destroyed both our social harmony and our national stature. Indeed, whether due to ignorance or lack of judgment, we have blindly welcomed many imported elements that have replaced our rich values and history, all the while we merely watched. Unfortunately, during this miserable period, our minds became slaves to our whims and desires; our reason was bound by tradition; our willpower was weakened; and our judgment was impaired by the narrowness of imitating others – thus, we have lived in misery as victims of the age, chasing one luxury after another.

In this period of gloom, trapped within the triangle of our logical deficiencies, moral weaknesses, and intellectual insufficiency, we have submitted ourselves to death as if caught in the Bermuda Triangle. We resembled lifeless corpses, and our intellectuals were truly pitiable. These intellectuals failed to see the bigger picture of natural phenomena and events as a whole. They were deficient in analysis, they meekly advocated imitating others, and they pathetically engaged in self-denial. They thought they were making progress, but they stumbled and crashed, failing to overcome obstacles.

But we have no right to blame others; ultimately, we were the ones who blatantly strayed from the path of truth, and thus, it was our responsibility. In fact, nobody should ever attempt to blame science, technology or other reasons like “we are surrounded with adversaries.” Science was innocent, technology sinless; we, especially the semi-educated intellectuals, were the ones who developed and shaped science and technology as we wished. We made all of life blindly dependent on them. Therefore, if we must find the culprit, we should first look among ourselves.

Indeed, we have been the ones who have failed to interpret the human being, the universe, and all the events within it in reference to their true Owner; instead, we derived incorrect meanings and attributed everything to nature and worldly causes. We made even the clearest, most evident things incomprehensible. We perceived – and led others to perceive – that there was no purpose in the existence of this book of the universe – despite its crystal-clear statements – and its custodian – the human being. For some reason, we were incapable of seeing the transcendent aspect of existence and made many unfounded speculations regarding creation and nature. We were neither capable of approaching existence with an analytic perspective, nor were we able to say anything consistent regarding the truths that lie beyond existence. We misperceived, misevaluated and were constantly baffled by these misleading results. With these successive errors, we continuously committed successive sins – sins for which we have been suffering destitution and various afflictions.

When we first began dreaming of revival, things could have been much different. If we had taken a more controlled approach to both matter and spirit, carrying both side by side, our mental, spiritual, and physical actions could have been more balanced. At the very least, those who were able to study could have turned their attention towards metaphysics, faith, and aesthetics that was in line with our considerations, our basic sources of values, just as much as they did to mathematics, physics, chemistry, astronomy, and biology. We could have achieved much different, and more beneficial, results for all humanity than what we have today. Alas! Not only did we disregard metaphysics, but we also opposed it, thinking it was necessary for enlightenment. We treated insignificant, material matters with extreme sensitivity while totally ignoring our intellectual, psychological, and spiritual needs. Einstein said, “Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.” In line with this aphorism, we have produced many who are both lame and blind. Science and research needed to be taken seriously, and we should not have made any mistakes in this regard. Given this, it seems strange that while we devote such attention to the physical dimensions of humanity and existence, we completely ignore the metaphysical. We ascribe everything to matter, physical power, and economics, and we have classified these as the basic factors that will transform the world into Paradise.

No one should ever assume that we underestimate matter, power, or economics. Yet, if today humanity is in a serious state of despair, with generations sinking deeper into conflict, causing greater harm and dishonor, then we need more than what material prosperity promises. Indeed, it is quite clear that despite all efforts, a materialistic perspective cannot fulfill people’s need for meaning or achieve much in terms of societal peace. Unfortunately, we placed a great deal of importance on mundane considerations and material wealth – some of us even considered them indispensable. While trying to escape the superstitions that denigrated our spirituality – which is a praiseworthy effort – many of us became entangled in the superstitions of materialism, which rejected much of our heritage. As we strayed from our national roots, we found ourselves trapped in a cycle of instability. In searching for answers, we went from one extreme to another – from strange mysticism to the most extreme materialism, with its myths and the idol of naturalism. While trying to escape the jinn we fell into Satan’s devious trap.

And even worse still, amidst such turmoil of thought, some, having completely lost their faith, have reduced the truths of humanity, matter, and the universe to the domain of the senses, insisting on following “materialism,” “positivism,” and “naturalism,” while refusing to accept anything else. Some have preferred to follow various theories of knowledge which could be likened to some of the early philosophers’ ideas on mind and soul. Thus, they attributed every aspect of the universe and creation to reason, completely ignoring human emotions and how these feelings perceive the world. During this period, as we abandoned our most important sources of reference, we continuously faltered amidst the confusion of thought and constantly competed with one another. Because these long years were spent in unproductive conflict, we have made no progress.

Even today, our ancient heritage remains a source of dispute, and we are often unable to do more than gossip about it. Sometimes we seem so focused on destruction, as if programmed to do nothing but tear things down, we pretend to be on the right side and try to show our destruction as construction. Thus, we continue our age-old conflicts. We have destroyed countless monumental values in a single blow, and as we did so, we constantly envisioned that we would replace them with even better values. What a great pity! So many centuries have passed, yet we have been unable to put in place even fake copies of what we destroyed.

If we had submitted ourselves to the True Owner of existence, we could have ended this chaotic situation and achieved a new revival with the power, discipline, virtue, and wisdom generated by faith in God. However, this does not mean that such an endeavor is impossible in the future. Yet, to date, it is somewhat difficult to say that we have actually accomplished anything of true significance. To make real progress, it is essential to raise a generation of faith and revival. A generation that is not confined to the calculations of today, but considers tomorrow and the days beyond. A generation that is as much the children of today with their actions as they are bound to eternity and to the reckoning of a very long future. A generation with faith and discipline.

A healthy, promising society requires the raising of a generation with these qualities. A society that consists of selfish individuals who work only for the interests of their own families is merely a mass deprived of communal qualities. The strength of a society is directly related to the harmony between its members, and such harmony depends on a deeply rooted and transcendent fraternity and love that flow from people’s hearts. If we are not capable of saying or achieving anything more effective or influential than in the past, what is the point of raising our voices to sound as if we are?

Our society today is obliged to begin anew by turning toward the essential dynamics upon which our magnificent past was established. If society cannot actualize its values of faith and unity, and thus revive its cultural heritage, then it appears difficult, if not impossible, to escape the current chaos by certain mere technological power and scientific advances. I believe that to overcome the various crises we presently face, it is necessary to stimulate faith, love, enthusiasm and hope across all segments of our society. We must reinterpret faith based on its original sources and according to the perceptions of our age. If a religion is stifled in terms of its spirit and separated from its divine origins, only to be confined to the interpretations of a banal worldview, then that religion cannot provide what is needed of it, nor can it voice a new message to the world. A religion God sent to humans so they can attain happiness both in this world and the hereafter cannot depend on individuals’ pleasures or their arbitrary interpretations. Such a religion cannot be regarded as a mere set of principles designed for worldly, materialistic interests and transient joys. The message of a religion cannot be restricted by interpretations contrived for the benefit of certain individuals or to conform to the requirements of a particular period of time. Doing so is to destroy that religion and replace it with our own aspirations and desires.

As to why “faith” has been stifled in our recent history, one can point to factors such as fanaticism, a lack of vision, and the disloyalty of some of the faithful, as well as the hostility of its disbelieving enemies. “Faith” was sent to convey a message and to penetrate the hearts of people, but to do so in its original form. It did not appoint others as its spokesperson, and no one had the right to speak on its behalf. And yet, in our age, where “expertise” and “specialization” are emphasized in every field, many of us feel confident, like experts to speak about matters of religion without shame or embarrassment. If only religion were also granted its own voice. There is so much more to say on this subject, however, it would exceed the length of this article.