Issue 163 (Jan - Feb 2025)

As AI is moving up in the ladder of prominence in our lives, we inevitably receive more contemplative pieces that explore this new phenomenon submitted to The Fountain for publication. Here comes one such contribution by Dr. Mehmet Orhan who explains the origins of AI research that dates back to th…

Since the creation of mankind, humans frequently longed for a much different world, and have occasionally criticized the periods in which they lived. This behavior may be acceptable, even admired, if it stems from the longing for eternity we feel in our conscience, or for an enthusiasm we have for…

Blood is a miraculous fluid within our body. With millions of cells flowing in the blood system like stars in outer space, this fluid has a complex structure and composition that performs many vital tasks essential for our survival. For those who reflect, blood offers much to ponder. Blood product…

Especially now that a wide array of technology is at our disposal, we strive to be more efficient at work or school. We also try to squeeze the most out of our leisure time by chasing various forms of entertainment at once. For this, most of us multitask (or at least claim to do so). Put simply, mu…

The origins of deep learning (DL), a cornerstone of modern artificial intelligence (AI), can be traced back to the 1940s. This era marked the proposal of the artificial neuron by Warren McCulloch and Walter Pitts—a mathematical construct inspired by the biological neurons in the brain. The perceptr…

The Ancient Romans, centuries ago in their ornate dwellings of grand and timeless stone, held a religious belief; a consolatory certainty toward the existence of Genii Loci - ‘the spirit of place.’ [1]. An echo of home preserved by a connection to place that penetrates below the surface and grasps…

Literally meaning avoiding speech and keeping silent, samt is used by the Sufis to describe keeping silent or preferring silence in self-possession to avoid the useless or harmful utterances that one can make while speaking. Aware of the Divine warning, Not a word does he utter but there is a watch…

Springs are among fundamental mechanical devices, and they are engineered to store and release energy through the absorption and subsequent release of force as they return to their original position. Crafted from materials like chrome silicon steel, nickel alloys, or titanium, springs come in vario…

It had been three years since I had arrived in Germany and only a few months since I began working as an assistant doctor. It had been a long and tiring day. I had breakfast early in the morning before heading out, and my lunch was just a banana and a cup of coffee. By the time I got home late in t…

One night as my abla* and I were talking about our hoca*, Mr. Gulen she told me that he is a step in a staircase which leads us closer to The Truth, and I agreed with my impressionable mind. But now I writhe with guilt, what I have lived and sewn, that metaphor seems awfully inaccurate. My “h…

In the movies when somebody dies, assuming that they are a good person, they go to heaven, which is portrayed as somewhere beyond the clouds. Other movies show heaven as beautiful meadows with gorgeous flowers, trees, animals, and lakes. Depending on religious sources and a movie director’s imagina…

Illumination by Divine light is essential for a person’s inner world. Without the Almighty’s guidance, one is condemned to darkness, which eventually shrouds their entire horizon. Even if their path is lined with spotlights, they will stumble, shaped by the dark thoughts, words, and actions within…

Just 5 Minutes of Vigorous Exercise Per Day Could Lower Blood Pressure Blodgett et al. Device-Measured 24-Hour Movement Behaviors and Blood Pressure: A 6-Part Compositional Individual Participant Data Analysis in the ProPASS Consortium.Circulation, November 2024. A new study highlights the benefi…