As we head into the summer in the northern hemisphere, we think of how we can avoid the annual war we fight every year: the war with the flies. The southerners are over with it as they start enjoying the calm that comes with fall. Having seeded the lawn and planted the seasonal flowers, we hope to have a summer with a pleasure to our eyes – but not to be bothered with the flies and mosquitoes! This bothering experience usually has a blinding effect causing us to undermine the marvel hidden in these tiny creatures that keep buzzing and biting for a full summer. Inspired from a verse in the Holy Qur’an challenging false gods that they could not even create a fly, Harun Emre Berk explains in this issue how intricate, and equally amazing, even its wings are. Their unique design, surface, flexible membrane, etc. prove none of it can exist by accident.
Our journey with flies continues with a memoir by M’Shai S. Dash who narrates a personal journey intertwined with the care of houseplants, the onset of a family crisis, and the contemplation of life and loss. In her new home, she starts nurturing plants as a distraction from news of the pandemic. Yet, she realizes an infestation of fruit flies from the beautiful yucca and lily flowers in her kitchen due to overwatering. As she seeks a solution to get rid of them, she grapples with the news of her father’s worsening condition due to cancer. Memories of her father’s teachings and the family’s superstitions resurface, offering insights into the cyclical nature of life’s challenges. The essay navigates the author’s emotional turmoil as she confronts grief, guilt, and the inevitability of death.
From flies, we are now skipping to another member of insects: water striders. These long-legged creatures can stand and make sudden movements very easily on the surface of calm waters. The mystery behind how this is possible has to do with gravity, surface tension, and engineering wonders in the creation of these striders, which provide for us with many items of contemplation and models to try to replicate.
Not so different from a fly buzzing next to our ear, artificial intelligence keeps occupying the news. Dr. Zeynep Orhan gives a comprehensive account as to how we should understand this rapidly growing phenomenon in our lives. In her piece, Dr. Orhan explains that AI itself is not inherently dangerous. It is a powerful tool, like any technology, whose impact depends on the hands that manipulate it. AI can be considered as a super-intelligent student, constantly learning, and evolving.
Other themes covered in this issue include sacrifice, empathy, submission, and spiritual renewal. Enjoy!
