Bibliotheca Alexandrina Planetarium Science Center WINTER 2015 | Year 8, Issue 1 IN THIS ISSUE... 4 Earth’s Cousin

5 Home Lost Home Planetarium Home Sweet Home: Science Center 6 The Beginning

Indeed, Necessity is the WINTER 2015 8 Mother of Invention

Year 8, Issue 1 Luxuries Turned 9 Necessities Cultural Outreach Sector Minimalism vs. Educational & Promotional 10 Publications Unit (COPU) Consumerism

Top 10 Necessities Maissa Azab 11 of Modern Life Head of Unit

Editorial Team 12 A World Without Internet By: Maissa Azab

Shahenda Ayman In my humble opinion, if enough to give us a sense Hend Fathy When Death is Essential 13 anyone wants to learn how it of security, and warmth. Esraa Ali Mankind has always had Hygiene: Your Gateway all begins, one should watch to fight for these bare Sara Khattab 14 to Better Health Cast Away! Watching this Moataz AbdelMegid agonizingly great movie, it necessities; fights that sadly, Lamia Ghoneim never fails to scare and shock but inevitably, have and will Jailane Salem 15 Water Also Kills invoke ugly wars. me; I mean to be reminded of Basma Fawzy our utter vulnerability. With However, the truly sad Omar Raafat part is that, with all the Water Scarcity: all the comforts and luxuries Ahmed Khaled 16 we splurge in, we definitely development, progress, and The Battle of the Future forget that what Mankind prosperity we have achieved, we should have matured Design Team really needs to survive at Malnutrition: enough to make sure we all Asma Haggag 18 the core of all things is fresh A Growing Threat water, food, some kind of get what we need without Maha Sherin shelter, hopefully fire, and— hurting each other or future Fertilizers Battling World generations. As things stand, Faten Mahmoud 19 if we are really lucky—a Hunger companion, even if it were an that is not the case by any Publishing Department imaginary one. means; not even the most Language Revision 20 Astronomy of the Arabs This brilliant movie, arduous Earth lovers’ efforts among so many deep have been able to bring Contact Us: The Necessity of meanings, boldly underlines us closer to this seemingly [email protected] 21 Expression the Bare Necessities, the utopic state.

SCIplanet simple bare necessities. Wait, In this issue, we simply Exploring the Human are they really so simple? tackle the bare necessities; 22 Civilization Enigma - 05 Sitting on my couch, in my the original necessities, warm apartment, a bottle of Mankind’s struggle to secure mineral water by my side, a them, the challenges they | WINTER 2014 new year begins; bowl of delicious munchies still present to us. We also Aand with every new at hand’s reach, they sure tackle new necessities that | WINTER 2015 For additional information beginning, we look back seem simple. Unfortunately, modernism has both blessed and reservation, please at how far we have come, that is not the case; not by a and damned us with. contact: where we started, and where long shot. We hope you enjoy the [email protected] we are now. The truth is we Mankind has struggled for new issue and the new year, Tel.:+(203) 4839999 all start at the same place; millennia to secure sources and to hopefully make a new, Ext.: 2350, 2351 only we do not know it, or at of fresh water, catch food, more sustainable, beginning Fax: +(203) 4820464 least do not recognize it. find or build shelters strong out of it for yourself and others. www.bibalex.org/psc 2 By: Dr. Jaidaa Gawad Hamada Lecturer, English Department Faculty of Arts, Alexandria University

Once upon a time, from the swirling comfortable; hence, setting his creativity have enabled man to alter the very dusts of a nascent solar system, and to work to come up with a plethora of course of life on Planet Earth, yielding far- with an oxygen-rich, life-sustaining inventions. Not only are these inventions reaching consequences in all walks of life. atmosphere, there emerged a gigantic a tangible manifestation of Man’s On the other side of the spectrum, abode for Mankind called Planet Earth. ingenuity, but they have also proven to be drastic changes in climate; ever- Once the newborn organized itself a measuring yard for charting the history increasing population growth; mounting among its brethren into concentric shells, of human development. levels of pollution; devastating nuclear its continents, oceans, and atmosphere Bare necessities they have become, contamination; shortage of water supplies; came into being, and eventually life thereby necessitating their being scarcity of food; among a barrage of emerged on it. Of all its siblings in the solar broached in this issue of our newsletter. other manifestations of environmental system, Planet Earth had proven to be the In this context, one cannot but highlight impairment, have come to pose a potent most benevolent, endowed as it was with the widely propagated proverb “necessity threat to Man’s relationship to Planet varied assets that made it habitable, and is the mother of invention”. Practically Earth. This, in its turn, necessitates a by implication, welcoming to Mankind. speaking, it is impossible to study the systematic plan to counter the setbacks of There was an even broader dimension history of human science and development technological innovation. to those privileges; as far as humanity without turning to a set of bare necessities In short, these bare necessities have was concerned, its resources made it a that have become part and parcel of become indispensable to the point of their congenial milieu for laying the groundwork Man’s existence. being interwoven into the very fabric of of civilization. Nonetheless, to be In each and every age and culture, our daily existence on Planet Earth. As habitable, and even hospitable, did not inventions form the pinnacle of human you navigate through this issue of our mean that it had always been the land of development. Occurring in varied contexts newsletter, we wish you a most stimulating | WINTER 2015 milk and honey. Planet Earth was never within the continuum of technological reading, underpinned by a most bare utopian! development, the nature and scope of necessity to explore some of our bare Over the centuries, and up until this man’s inventions reveal how imperative necessities. present day, Man has been incessantly they are to our modern lives. Throughout endeavoring to make his existence more human history, these bare necessities

3 A COSMIC POINT OF VIEW

By: Sara Khattab

Several months ago, NASA announced which means it is on a tighter orbit than that its Kepler Telescope has uncovered a Earth is. new solar system about 500 light years This planet receives one-third of the Since its launch in 2009, NASA’s away from Earth and they gave it the energy from its star as what the Earth Kepler Space Telescope has been hunting name Kepler 186; this star is an M-dwarf, receives from our Sun; it would still be planets that could be other Earths. Each also called a red dwarf. M-dwarf stars are warm enough to prevent liquid water from discovery is a significant milestone in usually cooler and dimmer than sun-like freezing, in case it has an atmosphere that humanity’s efforts to find evidence of life stars; that is why their habitable zones provides a substantial greenhouse effect. elsewhere in our galaxy; astronomers are are located much closer to the star. These At high noon, the planet’s surface is only looking for a planet that mimics the Earth’s stars also gravitationally interact with their about as bright as the Earth is at sunset. characteristics to be able to support life. planets, causing tides that heat the planet The planet’s size influences the Some of the previously discovered planets and often cause their rotations to be tidally strength of its gravitational pull, and were found in the habitable zone of its solar locked, which means one side always its ability to pull in abundant gases as system, but are all at least 40% larger than faces the star and the other faces the old hydrogen and helium. At this size, Kepler- Earth’s size. The habitable zone is the open space, much like our moon is tidally 186f has a small chance that it could have region around a star within which a planet locked with Earth. gathered up a thick hydrogen and helium can sustain liquid water on its surface Researchers had previously thought envelope, so there is a good chance that it given the right atmospheric conditions; that tidal locking would make a planet does have a rocky surface as Earth. being in this zone does not mean that the inhospitable to life; as such a world would Actually, it is not easy to know if the planet is habitable though. have one scorching-hot hemisphere and planet is habitable; astronomers need Life on a planet requires the presence another freezing cold hemisphere. More- to get a sense of the atmosphere and of liquid water; so a planet with the recent modeling work suggests that air its greenhouse effect. Still, Kepler-186f, potential for life would not be too close or water currents could transport heat nicknamed “Earth’s cousin”, is considered to the star, which would be too hot that around such planets, evening out their a huge discovery that proves the existence the water vaporizes, yet not too far than temperatures. of worlds that might be similar to our the star, where it would be too cold that There are five planets orbiting the own, and will undoubtedly shape future the water freezes. Size is a critically M-dwarf star Kepler 186; four of them are investigations of exoplanets that could important factor; scientists said that if, for too close to the star, therefore they are too have terrestrial surface environments. example, a planet is about 50% wider than hot to have liquid water. The outermost | WINTER 2015 Earth, and it is packing a lot of mass, its planet, Kepler-186f, is the first planet with a Reference gravity could attract a hydrogen–helium size similar to Earth to be discovered in the http://www.nasa.gov envelope, shrouding the surface in a habitable zone of another star. According gassy atmosphere that is too thick for to the astronomers’ observation, Kepler- Earth-like life. 186f takes only 130 days to orbit its star,

4 a minimumofaround30km reproductive problems. A pairofpandasneeds greater risk of inbreeding, which can lead to many a face and areas feeding new find lessflexibility to have they blocks, habitat flung As pandas cannot migrate between these far- panda populationsisolatedinnarrowbelts. broken into20isolatedpatches,leavingmany which isalsoaffected byhuman activities. Vanishing Forests each yearisadramaticlossforbiodiversity. squarekilometers clearance ofsomemillion contain atleasthalftheEarth’s species;the total forests. Tropical forests,forinstance, during the1990swasequivalentto2.4%of (WWF), thenetlossinglobalforestarea overgrazing. wood for fuel and other products, as well as agriculture, intensiveharvestingoftimber, mostly duetohighlandconversionratesfor Across thepanda’s range,the habitat is According to the World Wildlife Fund Forests aresubjecttorapidchange, being fragmentedleaving the habitatisshrinkingand large development projects, elephant habitat.Inthefaceof lives in or around the Asian 20% ofhumanpopulation Enemy Elephants Pandas Barren now confined to higher land, higher to confined now agriculture; the habitat is lands wereconvertedfor most oftheloweraltitude 500 mand3100m.However, altitudes rangingbetween forests, whichgrowat In tropical Asia, about Pandas liveinbamboo 2 tosupportthem. Changing Seas unable tomingle. elephant populationssmall,isolated,and International UnionforConservation of Nature the by endangered critically as classified are of the seven species of marine turtles, three have seriously affected the turtles’ habitat; ground formanymarinecreatures. healthy, whichinturnisanimportantbreeding leave atoxicenvironmentbehind. thousands ofcreaturesand substances kill oil habitats withtheirhullsandanchors.Spillsof reef ecosystems.Hugeshipsdamage scuba diversintodirectcontactwithfragile brings millions of boaters, snorkelers, and near shoreaswellinthedeepsea. Tourism trawling, asbottom dynamiting, and poisoning destroy habitats such techniques fishing to irresponsiblehumanpractices.Destructive thousands of species. These habitatsseverelysuffer for due home surface—are Earth the deaths intheContinent. confrontations asaprimarycauseofelephant elephants in revenge. Experts consider such annually inIndia;villagersoftenkillthese lives. Up to 300 people are by killed elephants conflicts. elephant–human villages cause losses to human property and serious Incidents of elephants raiding crops and to led Over thelast200years,humanactivities aie aiascvrn oe 7% of 70% over habitats—covering Marine Fierce competitionforliving space has By: HendFathy Stranded Turtles Stranded helping tokeepitshortand helping graze ontheseagrass, ecosystems. They coastal maintaining themarineand performing avitalrolein the world’s oceansshores, marine turtles lived across For millions ofyears, For millions wwf.panda.org www.fs.fed.us www.actionbioscience.org References Nature (IUCN)RedListof Threatened Species. in theInternationalUnionforConservationof a main threat to 85% of all species described threatened due to habitat loss. It is identified as geological processes,orhumanactivities. happen due to natural environmental changes, and extinction becomes more likely. It could the speciespresent,sothatpopulationsdecline natural habitatisrenderedunabletosupport but anecessityforsurvival;barenecessity. preserving aproperhabitatisnotmerelyright, The truth is, like any other creature on Earth, proper housingasanessentialhumanright. Earth. will bringalongdisastrousoutcomesforlifeon against thelawsofnature,andconsequently, is denying their right to survive,whichgoes worldwide. Violating othercreature’s habitat the largest single cause of biodiversity loss on this planet, and is generally viewed as harbor andtheharpseals. species availabletopolarbearssuchasthe to the sea ice may result in changes to the prey fat. the periodbearsmustfastwithlessstored it shortens the feeding period and lengthens has negativeeffects onpolarbearpopulation; decade. Moreover, declining duration of cover decade, andpermanentpackice10%per extent ofseaiceinwinterdeclines1.5%per a result of climate warming; for example, the area, durationofcover,in andthicknessas breeding, andcreatingmaternaldens. fishing techniquesandclimatechange. insensitive touristdevelopment,destructive sedimentation, nutrientrun-off fromtheland, beds arecontinuouslydamagedasaresultof habitats suchascoralreefsandseagrass disorient themawayfromthesea. The feeding roads andbuildingsattracthatchlings destructed vitalnestingplaces;lightsfrom as endangered. classified are three further a and (IUCN), Habitat lossistheprocessbywhicha Sadly, amassivenumber ofspeciesare The UnitedNationshassettherightto Uncontrolled shoredevelopmentdirectly Habitat lossisamongthegreatestthreats Last but not least, climate induced changes The seaicehasundergonerecentdeclines Starving Bears Starving the seaicehunting,mating, spend muchoftheirtimeon habitat of polar bears. They and representstheprimary melts withinasingleyear, Annual seaiceformsand in distributionandcharacter. habitat that varies annually The seaiceisadynamic 5 | WINTER 2015 SCIENCE & NATURE THE STORY BEHIND SCIENCE

One of the basics of life is to locate By: Jailane Salem a place to call home; without shelter humans are subject to the forces of nature. Having a roof over your head THE BEGINNING not only adds a sense of security, Use of Caves published in the Science Many would use caves during seasons but it also protects you from being and Children Magazine: “Human where they either needed respite from the vulnerable to unpredictable weather, occupation of caves dates to sometime heat or protection from the cold. Caves were wild animals, among many other within the Paleolithic Period—two million also used as religious temples thousands dangers that can plague humans. to 10,000 years ago—of the Stone Age, of years ago, and until today many caves when early hominids first began to create are a site for religious pilgrimage. Some and use stone tools. This Period also of the earliest Buddhist shrines and Hindu In every survival scenario, whether in witnessed the evolution of the human species temples were situated in caves, and many a book, a movie, or a series, one of the into true modern humans, Homo sapiens”. people to this day still travel to visit those first things people that are stranded do, As modern humans emerged in Africa places. is to look for shelter and food. They first around 195,000 years ago and spread into If they did not end up resorting to look for a natural enclave; if they find one, northern Eurasia about 40,000 years ago, caves and rock shelters, early humans they inhabit it. If not, they start scourging they would sometimes dwell in caves and created structures that would provide them for materials that can be used to build a rock shelters, and this was closely related with the protection that they needed. One shelter; they fashion rudimentary shelters to a hunting and gathering economy. such structure is that of the conical looking that are very close to what early humans One of the oldest shelters to have tent, where logs of wood would be placed used to fashion. traces of human life can be found in the in a circle, leaning against each other and As humans evolved, so did their Indian subcontinent and is called the meeting at the top in the center, creating a dwellings; some built rudimentary tents like Bhimbetka Rock Shelters; an archeological space for humans to use. homes, and some opted instead to look for site that is situated in the Indian State of Evidence has been found to show that natural enclaves that would provide them Madhya Pradesh. Paintings have been such structures were made; one big clue with protection. We know that early humans found on its walls, and it is believed to have was the finding of circles of stone, which used to dwell in caves from the traces left been a site of human activity more than would indicate the area of the foundation of behind by some of them, whether they 30,000 years ago at the beginning of the the tent like homes. Material, such as mud, are drawings on the walls, traces of fire, South Asian Stone Age. Due to its status as has also been found that could have been or tools left behind them. Caves provided one of the earliest shelters of human life in used to create the roof atop these structures. an environment that was not too cold and Asia, it has been declared a World Heritage One must remember that thousands not too hot; humans did not always reside site in 2003. of years ago, animals that are no longer | WINTER 2015 in caves though, but they could create There are many other caves that have in existence used to roam this Earth, one settlements at the opening of a cave and been used for shelter and for other social of them being the woolly mammoth. These use the cave for ceremonies. activities; one of the very famous caves animals existed alongside early humans; The Bureau of Land Management is one that is located in France “Cave not only did they provide humans of that stated in its article Welcome to the of Chauvet-Pont-d’Arc”, which has wall time with sustenance, their bones and tusks Underground under the heading Human paintings that date back to 31,000 years. were used as building blocks.

6 of watermadeitagoodspottosettlein, river, and the presence of a reliable spring was in an isolatedspot, its proximityto the place wasitslocation;eventhoughJericho West BankinoccupiedPalestine. a city situated near the Jordan River in the since thedayithasbeensettled. Today itis Jericho anditslocationhasbeenpopulated of theoldesttownsknownsofarisone more elaboratethanpreviouslydone.One settlementsthatwerebiggerand building the land. This shiftcausedanewwayof to settledowninoneplaceandfarming huntersandgathererstobeingable being place forsocialactivities. stage, and probably was used as the main a hearth dwelling usually takes center Insideofthe the entranceofdwelling. would beplacedattheopeningtomark bones together, whilethemammothtusks erected bystackinglargemammoth took on a circular shape; the walls were and storedforlaterconsumption. were area wherepreythatwascaughtcut tools where made, anothercouldbethebutchering workshops flint were huts within it, each for a different use. Some boundary, whichencapsulatedanumberof would usually consist of a fence like put touseaswell. they eaten,buttheirhideandboneswere used to hunt mammoths; not only were The peoplewhoinhabitedthatlocation around 25,000yearsagohasbeenfound. Europe, where an encampment from be foundinDolniVestonice inEastern What attracted the first settlers to this settlers first the attracted What Eventually humanschangedfromjust usually The mammothbonedwelling These MammothBoneSettlements Evidence ofsuchdwellingscan in makingroundhouses. sun. Once hardened the bricks were used it was first shaped and then left to dry in the The bricksweremadefromclayandstraw; time wasusedtobuildtheirhomes:bricks. about tenacres;anewtechnologyatthe covered settlement first The years. 11,000 discovered in that area, the first dating back settled therethousandsofyearsago. people Natufian the why is vegetation. This and theavailabilityofwateralsoallowedfor extremely important. oven; airingthehousewouldhavebeen each house hadan open hearthandan the dwelling. These were important since also servedasventilationsourcesfor climb down into the house; these openings opening ledtoaladderthatallowedone did so via an opening in the roof. This like structure;togetintoyourhouseyou other formingasortofclumpedhoneycomb houses. organization andmodeofentryintothe striking thingsaboutthissettlementisits 5,000 to 7,000 inhabitants. One of the most population of Catal Huyuk varied between average the BCE; 5700 to BCE 7500 from Turkey. This settlementwasinhabited settlement that was discovered in Konya, however, somehaduptothreerooms. houses usuallyonlyconsistedofoneroom; to give them a uniform look. These round were built they were then plastered in mud inside aswelloutside. After thewalls were about five meters across, with a hearth bricks butalsooftreebranches. The houses shape andwas made from not only the mud Successive settlements have been The houseswerebuiltnexttoeach Catal HuyukwasalargeNeolithic The roofofthehouseswasinaconical we havecomeasaspecies. beginnings ofthingsandappreciatehowfar interestingtorememberthevery always ancestors usedtoleadtheirlives;itis completely shiftedfromthewaysour in theurbancentersofworldhas over theages. and howhumanabilitieshavedeveloped home, oneobserveshowhumanthought, a morenuancedunderstandingofhaving which shelters, simply servedasaplaceofprotection,to considered first humans of buildings.Byfollowingthehistoryhow methods used to form the basic structures homesandmoresophisticated building newer techniquesweredevelopedin in placessuchasEgyptandMesopotamia; impervious tosomedecorativetouches. which shows that the inhabitants were not and finish, smooth many decorative ornaments were found, a had and plastered houses renovated. The interior walls were the inhabitantsmadesuretokeeptheir walking ontherooftopsofhouses. instead, peoplenavigatedtheplaceby baked. be The settlementhadnoroads; house haditsownovenwherebreadcould and therefore it was no surprise that each lifestyle. Wheatandbarleywerecultivated, one placeinsteadoffollowinganomadic cattle, and therefore could stay put in Huyuk survivedbyfarmingandbreeding www.catalhoyuk.com http://archaeology.about.com www.historyworld.net www.blm.gov www.angelfire.com References Nowadays our ways of living, especially By 4000BCE,civilizationswereformed The houseswerekeptverycleanand The peoplewhopopulatedCatal 7 | WINTER 2015 Indeed, has been truly said that necessity Itis the mother of invention, as most of the inventions and discoveries owe their successful birth to it. We invent what we need; unless we feel the pressure of Necessity needs, we are not likely to invent anything.

is the Mother of By: Moataz Abdelmegid DISCOVER LIFE

When Man felt hungry, he started hunting and gathering; the need for shelter INVENTION led man to build huts and houses. The need for quick travel resulted in the invention of the fastest means of transport, transferring power of thinking and ingenuity, they cannot experiences and no mistakes. We are the world into one village. At the time of invent anything; they act on instinct and simply learning what is or is not effective, necessity, the human mind, creative and follow a beaten track. Hence, the correct taking the most effective as the solution. imaginative, thinks in a very quick manner. formula should be necessity is the mother To learn what is effective you need to allow In this age of science, unfortunately, of invention but only when it is supported by yourself to experiment. deadly weapons are being manufactured the power of thinking. Another way to look at this issue is that in due to necessity. The fear of enemies In primitive times, Man lived by hunting. the modern world nowadays, one may often has forced the power-hungry countries It became necessary to shoot and bring employ this principle exactly in reverse: to invent weapons. As new needs arise, down the bird flying or the beast running invention is the mother of necessity. For fresh methods are devised to meet them; beyond the reach of man; hence, the bow example, before we had cellphones, we new plans are hatched to find solutions to and the arrow were invented. Clothes were survived without being able to call from different problems. Necessity makes us devised as protection against cold, houses anywhere to anywhere at any time. bold, zealous, and eager enough to fulfill for shelter; implements were invented for Phone calls were only when we were at our needs. production of food. In this way, various home, or in the office, or from phone booths. During World War II, British and French instruments were made to secure a better Amazingly enough, we all survived; yet ships carried on a blockade of German standard of living. today, we cannot live without cellphones. ports. The supply of sugar, oil and many Man is something more than a mere Try leaving yours at home or in the office, other essentials stopped; yet, German slave of his needs. He creates new needs, and getting through your day without it. scientists discovered substitutes and not always because they are necessary but This is when you realize that the invention synthetic products to tide over the difficulty. because they are good or beautiful symbols has developed to become an immediate In the early 1960s, computer scientists of status. Culinary skill has been invented to necessity. in the United States recognized the need please the palate; ornaments were invented The same is true for Email, SMS text for the interconnection of their computers, to add to female beauty. messaging, even the Web connection. It is a and the Government had the resources Man has spent millions trying to invent difficult thought to think of being cut off from and foresight to fund the research and guided locomotives to the Moon and other the Web for a few hours, let alone a day or development that led to today’s Internet. planets as Mars, not because there is any longer. Yet, again, amazingly enough, back This, of course, is obvious. When Man crying need for the same, but because in the 1980s and earlier we survived without feels the pinching need of anything, he it gives the thrill of doing the outwardly the Internet. This could be evidence that begins to think how he can satisfy it; he impossible. Man is capable of inventing something and

| WINTER 2015 then sets his mind to the task of invention. What needs to be understood is that then willingly force it to become a necessity Necessity gives the first impulse; the rest is in creativity there is no such a thing as of his life. the work of the intellect. mistakes; mistakes are made only in References Mere necessity would not help us much comparison to something else. If we are http://ryuc.info if we are not moved by thought. Animals looking for the most effective solution to http://www.preservearticles.com have their needs but because they lack the our unique problem, there are only learning http://timberry.bplans.com

8 18 October – 9 November 2006, 18 October–9November2006, more entertaining.Itwasconducted or efficient more comfortable, more more productive,convenient, designed tohelpmakeeverydaylife 14 different consumerproducts or Necessity?”questionabout 2000 adults. nationally-representative sampleof among a randomly-selected average standard of living. Yet, it US duetothehugegapin obviously belowerthaninthe the numbersandratioswill study wasconductedinEgypt, an iPod.Ofcourse,ifasimilar of 3%sayingthesameabout a carasnecessityandlow with ahighof91%describing range along the “necessity” scale the 14itemsonaverybroad the sameadecadeago. up fromsix-in-ten(62%)whosaid of a clothes dryer as a necessity, than eight-in-ten (83%) now think up from half (51%) in 1996. More necessity byseven-in-tenadults, conditioning is now considered a decade, toreach68%.Homeair more thandoubledinthepast necessity ratherthanaluxuryhas describe microwaveovens as a percentage ofaverageadultswho American studyshowedthatthe By: Moataz Abdelmegid By: Survey respondentsplaced The surveyaskedthe“Luxury For example,adetailed gadgets asnecessities rather likely he/she is to view goods and income apersonhas,themore in onedirectiononly;themore the patterntendstoplayout levels, thestoryisdifferent. Here, these, too,asnecessities. adults aremorepronetosee satellite television services; older television setsandforcableor necessity. The same holds for washers anddryerstobea dishwashers, and clothes home andcarairconditioning, than youngeradultsconsider the otherhand,moreolderadults cellphones areanecessity. On than olderadultssaythat a necessity. respondents more inclined to see and entertainment,itistheolder that offer convenience,comfort cases, mainlyhomeappliances prone toseeanecessity. Inother respondents who are more era technologies, it is the younger some items,mainlyinformation lenses, butthepatternvaries.For calculations throughdifferent make these luxury-or-necessity necessity oflife,forinstance. who taketheair-conditionerasa out thepercentageofEgyptians find to enough surprising be will When itcomestoincome Moreover, moreyounger People ofdifferent agesoften fixtures ontheconsumerlandscapeforfarlonger. made substantialleapsinthepastdecade,eventhoughtheyhavebeen ovens, dishwashers,airconditioners,andclothesdryershavealso from luxurytowardnecessity. However, otheritemssuchasmicrowave recent information era innovations that have been rapidly transformed and nowbecamenecessitiesoflife. broad arrayofeverydayconsumerproductsthatusedtobeluxuries cannot livewithout”hasmultipliedinthepastdecade;termsof two kitchen appliances on the two kitchen appliances on the inclined thanwomentoviewthe assume that men are slightly more would respond. income in predicting how people that wereasstrongageor other characteristics were found no analyzed, ethnicity—was and region, marital andparentingstatus,race gender, traits—including by abroadrangeofdemographic cable TV services,andaniPod. and satellite television, definition including atelevision,high battery ofentertainmentproducts, conditioning, amicrowave,and bag of items, including home air virtually nodifference foramixed washers anddryers.Itmakes difference forcarsand for clothes conditioner. Itmakesasmaller comfort, forexample,thecarair the dishwasher;andonone of ahomeappliance,forexample, attitudes towardoneoldwarhorse access, andcellphones. computers, high-speedInternet information eraitems:home difference whenitcomestothree existent. Income makes a big and forothersitisminorornon- significant fairly is it items, some degree ofvariancevaries.For than luxuries.However, the Some ofthesegoods,suchashomecomputers,arerelatively It is an undoubted fact that the number of things people say “they Generally, wecansafely When thefullsurveyresponses It alsohasaneffect on http://content.time.com http://guardienne.blogspot.com www.pewsocialtrends.org References eventually theirownneed. created theirowndemand, and unimaginable inventionshave to thecomputer, previously human history, fromthewheel as a mother ofnecessity. Throughout is alsotrue:inventionthe serve reminder thattheopposite findings These is the mother of invention”. proclaim thefact“necessity proxy forneedingsomething. something cansometimesbea line upwithownership;having to highlight that necessity can necessity. Itisalsoimportant with considering these items a user correlatesverystrongly as expected,beinganInternet connection asanecessity. Also, and ahigh-speedInternet she is to view a home computer has had, the more likely he/ years ofschoolingaperson battery ofquestions. sizeable genderdifferences onthis Other than that, there are no air conditioningasanecessity. more inclinedthanmentoseecar as necessities.Women areslightly list—microwave and dishwasher— The survey findings also findings survey The On the other hand, the more 9 | WINTER 2015 In the movie The Jungle Book, Balloo the bear spends his days singing and dancing By: Lamia Ghoneim and munching paw-paws, while preaching

SCIENCE IN OUR LIFE to Mowgli about the merits of simple living in his alluring tune “The Bare Necessities”; “Look for the bare necessities… the simple bare necessities… forget about your worries and your strife”, he sings. the help of digital files and web applications, Little did he know that decades later, minimalists are finding it easy to replace his way of living will become a major many of their physical goods, while focusing The question now is, if everyone lifestyle movement that has been gaining on owing the most durable and highest suddenly became a minimalist, how will momentum for a few years now, as a sort of quality of items. economies survive? For another reason, antidote to consumerism. The minimalist lifestyle sounds minimalism can prove to be expensive, a Minimalism—not to be confused with promising in terms of sustainability; after lifestyle reserved for only the wealthiest of the home design style, also holding the all, the Earth has only a limited supply of the wealthiest. same name—is a trendy movement that resources that cannot possibly sustain the It is easy to throw away your things preaches voluntary ridding yourself of all unhealthy level of consumerism in the world when you know for a fact you can replace but your most necessary possessions and today. It might also help reduce the gap of them anytime you like; it is also easy not to living space; in other words making do with global consumption inequality. accumulate many physical goods when you just “the bare necessities”. Viewing latest figures available, in 2005, have unlimited access to technology and The movement is currently all the rage the wealthiest 20% of the world accounted the latest gadgets. and has been adopted by famous people all for 76.6% of total private consumption, Less wealthy people do not have clutter over the world; minimalists who argue for while the poorest fifth just a mere 1.5%. because they do not consider the virtue of the merits of a simpler, less materialist life Basically, while a few of us have been busy living simply; they have it to reduce risk as opposed to the excessive consumerism accumulating goods that they do not need, of going without things they need. So, as in our culture today. many of the poor people have not been trendy as minimalism may be in today’s Those minimalists claim to have been finding the essential goods that they really world, it probably does not work for the vast awakened to the “evils” of advertising, mass do need to survive. majority of us. media, and consumerism, and have found Is Minimalism the Answer for That is not by any means an excuse happiness in ridding themselves of material Sustainability? to brush off the minimalism movement possessions, which they say has been As promising as it may seem on the completely and continue with the level weighing them down, and distracting them surface, an anti-consumerism lifestyle if of conspicuous consumption and waste from what is important in their lives. adopted by the wealthiest people of the production that some of us engage in. Minimalism experts believe in freeing world is hardly sustainable in my opinion. Being conscious of the consuming choices yourself from modern “possession mania” While consumerism has depleted we make, their impact on our lives and on and prioritizing experiences and personal resources, it has also created jobs. Despite the environment and its sustainability is growth over objects. This often means the huge differences in pay and conditions essential. A bit minimalism—or Zuhd as we selling all of your DVDs, getting rid of most around the world, the consumer lifestyle

| WINTER 2015 used to call it—will surely benefit us all. of your clothes, downsizing your home, and has created a vast market for growing generally clearing your life of unnecessary economies. It has also contributed to References clutter. the world’s prosperity; the power of http://www.relevantmagazine.com consumer demand has encouraged more Some of the more extreme proponents http://www.curbyourconsumerism.com minimalism advocate for is to trim down efficient manufacturing, better technology, http://www.slate.com your belongings to a mere 100 things. With developments in health care and more. http://www.theatlantic.com

10 Modern Life Necessities By: Lamia Ghoneim

According to a British study, a fast Internet connection, a high definition TV, an occasional cuddle, and a trustworthy best friend topped the list of bare necessities of modern life. Researchers compiled the list following a study carried out among 2000 adults aged between 18 and 65 years. A daily shower, central heating, and a cup of tea came next on the list, followed by an “I love you” every now and then, a car, spectacles, and a solid marriage. My respect to all 2000 people who think a fast Internet connection is more important than showering, but I beg to differ. In fact, I would like to take this opportunity to compile a top ten list of modern life bare necessities, which in my opinion are second only to the original bare necessities of life. So as not to confuse things, I will stick to general commodities necessary for the survival of the modern human race, while leaving family, love, and emotional well-being for another list.

1) Electricity: Tapping into the power grid is obviously a modern life necessity, highlighted every time there is a power disruption. It is the lifeline that powers the machines keeping our homes, businesses, schools, and hospitals safe, comfortable and convenient. It also powers the factories and machines that produce for us the other modern life necessities that follow down the list, so it is only logic that it comes as number one.

2) Healthcare and Vaccines: Without modern medicine, healthcare, antibiotics and vaccines, human beings would never live to be a hundred, nor will they be able to stay healthy and fit enough to work, provide and produce other necessary commodities. Vaccines alone have saved hundreds of millions of lives and allowed the world to become as civilized as it is today.

3) Fuel: Although fuel is not very “modern”—cavemen used wood and fire for fuel 4) Indoor Plumbing: more than a million years ago—modern fossil fuel or oil has become a basic life Water supply, showers, indoor necessity. Without fuel, there is no other sufficient method to power our machines, toilets, and a proper sewage produce electricity, cook our food, and maintain our current lives. system. Need I say more?

5) Chemical Industry: Almost everything we use today needs chemical products to be manufactured or to function. Without the large scale chemical industry, commodities such as soap, detergents, medicine and vaccines would consist of a bunch of crushed herbs. Not to mention all our modern gadgets and appliances made of polymers and/or stainless steel, both products of chemical industries.

6) Education: Schools and learning commodities such as books, the printing press, and ink maintain the existence of society by means of renewal. If knowledge cannot be transferred from the older to the younger through education, it will cease to exist.

7) Money: They say money cannot buy you happiness. That may be 8) Modern Transportation: true, but money, or the international monetary system is what separates It goes without saying that we us from the Stone Age, back when bartering and/or self-sustenance was need to go places, and without the norm. While it may have worked in Ancient Times, the barter system modern transportation—cars, had its disadvantages. Difficulty in storing extra goods and a lack of ships, trains, planes, and double coincidence of wants were a few. anything that moves fast—it would take us ages to reach from one point to another. Precious time will be wasted, goods will be ruined, and 9) Computers: Now an integral part of our lives, shaping virtually everything from the objects life would not be the same. around us to the ways in which we communicate, travel, work, and play; it is hard to imagine a world without computers. Present in almost every gadget we use and part of almost every business and industry, they deserve a place on the list of modern life necessities.

10) Telecommunication: While I would not put the Internet at the top of my list, it does earn its place at the bottom, along with all other important communication technologies such as our beloved mobile phones, landlines and satellites. Together they play a significant social, cultural, and economic role in our modern society and are considered by most a necessity of modern life.

It is obvious that our life necessities vary from time to time, and from one person to another. What we see important may be minor to others. Sometimes, it is the need that makes us consider something a necessity or not. Reference http://www.dailymail.co.uk SCIENCE IN OUR LIFE 12 | WINTER 2015 every bitconnectedtothegiganticweb? might havethepotentialofdamaging about thinking of new single virus that that affect thestoreddata;sowhat malwares, and bad sectorsofstorage at once. is at the risk of disappearing in bulk and to one single organism, the whole thing concept; fictional and becauseeverydatumisconnected a not because theInternetownseverybit, is terrorism physical, itcouldbevirtual.Cyber- different ways;ifthedamageisnot the sametimeitissovulnerable. It isevidentthatitsoreliable;yetat basis, especially for social networking. generations depend on it on a daily with nothavingit.However, younger could probably, thoughreluctantly, cope know wellthelifewithandwithoutit, of technologyandtheInternet,thus the 20 here andalwayswillbe. Those bornin lives asiftheInternethasalwaysbeen the nearfuture? that somehowitmaynotbearoundin transient inhumanhistory?Isit possible we calltheInternet be something be athreat?Couldthishugemachine however, couldthisblinddependence seems impossibletolivewithoutit; The morewerelyonit,theit an endlessvarietyofentertainments. videos, recording music,andcreating researching, studying, to making done withouttheInternetfromworking, Normal PCuserssuffer fromviruses, The Internetcanbedamagedin Most peoplegoabouttheirdaily Nowadays, almostnothinggets th centurywitnessedtheevolution INTERNET A WORLD without discs asabackup. relationships, or storing data on compact with newpeople,strengtheningexisting exercising, establishingconnections the Internet,suchas:writing, time on more meaningfulthingsthanspending content withourproductivity;wecoulddo is oneprimaryreasonthatwearenot on theInternetbeforeitkillsus. There would belost. inaccessible and all the stored data store on those services could become would alsofailandtheinformationyou through cloud computing services of theInternetinfrastructure. infrastructure fortheseservicesisapart initiate calls or Internet sessions as the with cellphone services, in order to to manage,control,andcoverareas that dependmainlyontheInternet communication systems and landlines massive damage. infrastructure itselfwouldhavetosuffer working forsomereason,orthe to communicatewouldhave stop the protocolsthatallowmachines experience a global collapse, either that. almost eachcountryhasevidenceon has alreadyexperiencedthat and gets snaggedby an anchor, the world replaced, oracableundertheocean crashes andneedstoberebootedor Whether it is a particular server that time. the all happens this fact, in offline; It is thustimetokillthedependency Transferring files between computers Another criticalpointismobile However, for the Internet to In someplaces,theInternetgoes By: Ahmed Khaled By: Ahmed http://computer.howstuffworks.com http://www.vice.com http://www.brandingmagazine.com http://www.collective-evolution.com References vanish that hasjustemergedontheWeb will of notknowingsomethingimportant You will feel relaxed as the anxiety some ofthediscontentfromyourlife. meaningful things, and you will remove without it; you willbeable to do more be better live, andyourlife will you will to getridofthatcraving. to getontheweb,anditwilltakeawhile quitting smoking, you will have a craving not be able to do that either. It is just like to dosomething“important”butyouwill to;thenyouwillwanttogetonline able not be something “stupid”andyouwill dependent ontheInternet. access toit;trynotmakeyourlifefully 30 days,makingsureyoudonothave Take your modem out of the house for come outwithspectacularresults. ouruseofInternetandhave deliberate sick andfatfairlyquickly. entire diet consists of candy, you get for example,candyisnotevil,butifyour that has changed our life for the better; not. The Internetisanamazingtool,one is evilorbadwrong;obviouslyit You will be frustrated at first but first at frustrated be will You You willwantto get online to do Trials have been madebeforeto This does not mean that the Internet . When Death is Essential By: Esraa Ali

Many people think of death as a potentially harmful cells. Without apoptosis, Many diseases and disorders are SCIENCE IN OUR LIFE dreaded enemy; they tend to define you would not have your fingers and toes linked with the life and death of cells. death as the end of life, and indeed, for or the proper brain cell connections to be Increased apoptosis is a characteristic every individual, it is. However, there able to read or understand the words in this of AIDS, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s is not just one type of death; it has article. diseases, while decreased apoptosis different forms. Besides the death of our Apoptosis differs from necrosis in that can signal lupus or cancer. That is bodies as large multicellular organisms, it is essential to human development. For why scientists are trying to learn how there are also a lot of death forms inside example, in the womb, our fingers and they can control which cells live and our bodies as we live. This death, on the toes are connected to one another by a which undergo Programmed Cell Death cellular level, is essential for life! sort of webbing, which apoptosis causes (PCD). Anti-cancer drugs and radiation, There are two ways in which the to disappear, leaving us with ten separate for example, work by triggering cells die: necrosis and apoptosis. digits. As our brains develop, the body apoptosis in diseased cells. Necrosis means the death of a certain creates millions more cells than it needs; the Cell death is an area in which area of plant or animal tissue as a result ones that do not form synaptic connections scientists have made great leaps of an external force, such as injuries, undergo apoptosis so that the remaining in understanding in recent years. both physical: cuts, burns, and bruises; cells function well. Thus, understanding how to regulate and biological: effects of disease- During apoptosis, the cell shrinks and apoptosis could be the first step to causing agents. The sign of necrosis is pulls away from its neighbors. Then the treating these conditions. called a lesion; it is often of diagnostic surface of the cell appears to boil, with value. Necrosis is brought about by fragments breaking away and escaping like The role of death in nature and in intracellular enzymes that are activated bubbles from a pot of hot water. The DNA our bodies is indispensable. Hence, the upon injury and proceed to destroy in the cell’s nucleus condenses and breaks next time when you hear the word death, damaged cells. into evenly sized fragments. The cell shrinks give it a second thought. Even though Apoptosis, on the other hand, is a and sends out distress signals, which are at first this word may sound dreadful, process in which cells commit suicide, answered by vacuum cleaners arriving on remember that death is essential to life. if they are no longer needed, through the scene to mop up the remains, so these a programmed process of cellular self- cells have no chance to cause damage. destruction. As you read this, millions of In opposition to necrosis, cells that go your cells are dying; do not panic, you through apoptosis die in response to signals will not lose them. Most of these dying within the body not due to outer agents. cells are either unneeded or potentially When cells recognize viruses and gene harmful, so you are better off without transformations, they may induce death them. to prevent the damage from spreading. The word apoptosis is a Greek word Apoptosis can occur also when cells are used to describe the act of dropping under stress, as may happen when a off or falling off of petals from flowers, person undergoes radiation.

or leaves from trees. Even though This does not mean that apoptosis is References | WINTER 2015 apoptosis involves cell death, it serves a perfect process. There are also signals www.livescience.com a healthy and protective role in our within the body that convey a message that http://publications.nigms.nih.gov bodies. Apoptosis helps in shaping our a cell should continue living. All cells have www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov physical features and organs before a varying level of sensitivity to the positive http://science.howstuffworks.com birth and rids our bodies of unneeded or and negative triggers, so sometimes the http://bigthink.com wrong cells live or die. www.britannica.com

13 By: Jailane Salem

Maintaining proper hygiene is essential and to wash regularly, and warn against the has been contaminated by waste of an for preserving one’s health, and this has dangers of not taking care of one’s personal infected person, and this happens when been a known fact since Prehistoric Times. hygiene. there is no proper sewage system and a Our early ancestors usually strove to Many ancient civilizations also used lack of clean toilets. live near a source of water, knowing the to have quite a strong culture of bathing, It is unfortunate that even though human importance of it, not only for survival but for where bath houses were quite common and civilizations have long ago understood the keeping one clean as well. even provided a space for social interaction. importance of having clean toilets in order If we are not careful about upholding our These bath houses could not function to lead a hygienic life, until today a large

SCIENCE & ME hygiene, then we risk getting sick. By taking without water, and so different systems part of the human population has no access regular showers and making sure we are were created in order to facilitate the to toilets or clean water. These two are clean, we ward off the unwanted attention delivery of water to these establishments. synonymous with healthy living and proper of bacteria and germs, that otherwise could Besides bath houses, drainage, and sanitation and until now six out of every ten cause us great harm. toilet structures were also important and people on Earth still do not have access to The word hygiene actually comes some have been found in the Indus Valley flush toilets or other adequate sanitation from the name of the Greek goddess that date back to 3000 BCE. This system that protects the user and the surrounding Hygieia, who was the goddess of health was quite an advanced network of sewers community from harmful health effects. and cleanliness. She was worshipped that helped in getting rid of human waste. This is a crucial issue that needs to in Ancient Greece as the deity who can One of the most advanced systems of be addressed and fixed in order to lower prevent sickness and can bless you with the toilets and sewers in the Ancient World people’s susceptibility to disease that continuation of having good health. was found in Mohenjo-Daro site, which is could easily be avoided. Those in charge Nowadays, hygiene is a term that located in today’s Pakistan. This urban of improving their nation’s well-being need encompasses everything that has to do settlement was built around 2600 BCE, and to make it their top priority to provide their with sanitation, the preservation of health, had houses with lavatories outside them. people with a healthy environment, which is and the practices that help in preventing the The waste would go down a vertical chute key to a good life. spread of disease. With the eruption of virus into covered waste drains, which would References epidemics every other year, hygiene has then be washed away by water channeled http://www.cleaninginstitute.org been receiving a lot of attention, especially through them. http://www.amnation.com in places where there is a large gathering Having proper toilets is the key to http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov of people, you will find many posters having proper sanitation to avoid outbreaks http://www.ancient.eu http://www.dw.de reminding people to wash their hands, of diseases such as Cholera. Cholera is http://www.sciencedaily.com cover their mouths when they sneeze, and caused by consuming water or food that such other advice. Hygiene practices date far back to prehistoric times, even though we have no written record of that time, we have evidence in artifacts to help us better understand our ancestors. Besides erecting settlements near sources of water, prehistoric people also used different tools to help in personal appearance; they used tweezers made from seashells to help pluck hair, and they also used combs to brush hair and make

| WINTER 2015 sure nothing untoward is stuck in it. Washing your hands helps in the removal of infectious microbes as well as dirt and other unwanted elements, and taking regular baths is important in maintaining a clean body. Many religions encourage its followers to always stay clean

14 By: Omar Raafat

WATERAround the world, millions of the poor Diarrhea dehydration. Although many infected hope to have a clean glass of water. This Diarrhea is having frequent, loose, people may have minimal or no symptoms, seems impossible as the problem of water watery stool. You may get diarrhea after they still can spread the infection. sanitation increases especially in poor being in contact with someone else who has Typhoid countries. it, or you may get it from food poisoning— Typhoid fever is an acute illness According to the World Health after eating contaminated food or drinking associated with fever caused by the Organization (WHO), around 1.1 billion contaminated water. Salmonella typhi bacteria. It can also be people globally do not have access to Almost everyone has diarrhea at some caused by Salmonella paratyphi, a related improved water supply sources, whereas point in his/her life, including a holiday bacterium that usually causes a less severe 2.4 billion people do not have access to abroad, called traveler’s diarrhea. illness. The bacteria are deposited in water any type of improved sanitation facility. Arsenicosis or food by a human carrier and are then About 2 million people die every year due Drinking water rich in arsenic over a spread to other people in the area. to diarrheal diseases; most of them are long period leads to arsenic poisoning or Typhoid fever is contracted by drinking children aged less than 5 years old. arsenicosis. Many waters contain some or eating the bacteria in contaminated The most affected are the populations arsenic, and excessive concentrations are food or water. People with acute illness in developing countries, living in extreme known to naturally occur in some areas. The can contaminate the surrounding water conditions of poverty, normally peri-urban health effects are generally delayed and the supply through stool, which contains dwellers or rural inhabitants. People who most effective preventive measure is supply a high concentration of the bacteria. drink this kind of water or people who do of drinking water low in arsenic concentration. Contamination of the water supply can, in not have access to any type of improved Cholera turn, taint the food supply. The bacteria can sanitation facility, suffer from various Cholera is an acute infectious disease survive for weeks in water or dried sewage. diseases, such as Diarrhea, Arsenicosis, caused by a bacterium, Vibrio cholerae Governments should provide more Schistosomiasis, Cholera, Intestinal worms, (V. cholerae), which results in a painless, attention to populations living in areas Typhoid and Trachoma. watery diarrhea in humans. Some affected suffering from water sanitation problems These diseases occur due to the lack individuals have copious amounts of and its borne diseases. The human right to of attention given to the sector, lack of diarrhea and develop dehydration so a clean glass of water and leading a healthy financial resources, lack of sustainability severe that can lead to death. life are fundamental to the realization of all of water supply and sanitation services, Most people who get the disease human rights. poor hygiene behaviors, and inadequate ingest the organisms through food or water References sanitation in public places including sources contaminated with V. cholerae. www.unicef.org www.who.int hospitals, health centers and schools. Symptoms of cholera can begin as soon as | WINTER 2015 www.medicinenet.com Providing access to sufficient quantities a few hours or as long as five days after www.webmd.boots.com of safe water, the provision of facilities for a infection, the symptoms are often mild. www.sahealth.sa.gov.au sanitary disposal of excreta, and introducing However, sometimes they are very serious. www.plannedparenthood.org hygiene behaviors are of capital importance About one in twenty people infected www.cdc.gov umm.edu to reduce the burden of disease caused by have severe watery diarrhea accompanied www.lenntech.com these risk factors. by vomiting, which can quickly lead to www.nhs.uk

15 ater has always been taken for granted—it Wmakes 70% of the Earth’s surface—however, it is scarce. Most of the Earth’s fresh water is imprisoned as glaciers and subsequently hard to get hold of;

SCIENCE IN OUR LIFE only 2.5% out of the 70% available water on Earth is fresh.

By: Basma Fawzy

Water has always been taken for them to rotate and electricity is generated. when a country’s demand exceeds the granted—it makes 70% of the Earth’s All industries use water; in some industries, amount of water available, while the surface—however, it is scarce. Most of water is “hidden” though. For example, in economic scarcity is when the water is the Earth’s fresh water is imprisoned as order to make 0.5 kg of plastic, 91 liters of enough but the population cannot obtain glaciers and subsequently hard to get hold water are used. it due to lack of investments and proper of; only 2.5% out of the 70% available water The growing number of people, the management. on Earth is fresh. advances in science and technology, and Water scarcity is not only affected by Recently, the problem of water scarcity the sophisticated lifestyle make supplying population growth, it is also affected by finally received proper attention; over the water more challenging. In spite of all that, pollution. Pollution causes global warming, years, the quantity of water has not changed it is worth mentioning that the water scarcity and global warming directly affects water but the Earth’s population has increased problem has not plagued all countries yet. cycle. Rising temperatures causes water to significantly. The increasing numbers of This has to do with how water is evaporate and increases the atmosphere’s people drains Earth out of its resources as distributed, whether it is easy to access or ability to store water, thus drought replaces the demand on water and food increases. not, and whether the country is advanced rainfall. When the air cools, the large The most apparent usage of water is or rich enough to be able to obtain it. amount of water stored in the atmosphere domestic usage, which includes drinking Freshwater, unfortunately, cannot only be is released causing floods. The speed of

| WINTER 2015 and personal hygiene; agriculture uses found in rivers, lakes, ponds, and streams; water makes it difficult for people to store it approximately 70% of the world’s fresh most of it is frozen in glaciers, and the rest and hence it is lost. water, while hydroelectric power uses the is trapped underground, so of all fresh As stated earlier, most of the fresh water rest in generating electricity. water on Earth, only 0.3% is surface water. is stored in glaciers; the rising temperature Hydroelectric power uses flowing water There are two kinds of water scarcity: will make these glaciers melt. Some areas to create energy; for example, dams. The physical water scarcity and economic depend mainly on glaciers, and once those flow of water goes through turbines, forcing scarcity. The physical scarcity happens glaciers melt, there is nothing to be done to

16 about water, theessenceoftheirexistence. blessings it bestows upon them, they forget resource—make Obsessed as they are with oil and the non-renewable a haste tohaveasmuchofittheycan. that is beings—realizing it human it, devour without it. As engineseverydayferociously modern wayoflifecannotbemaintained main reasonsforwagingwarsbecausethe if notwars.Oilwasandstillisoneofthe conflict, cause to likely are demands rising every yeartopurifythemselvesoftheirsins. in Hinduism, bathe millions in this River misusing waterresources;itisaholyriver Ganges Riverisanotherexampleof to preventnucleardustfromspreading. people. NowtheLakeiscoveredinstone a lotof by nuclearmaterialtomoveandkill and windforceddustthatiscontaminated into it;duringthe1960s,Lakedriedup In the1950s,nuclearwastewasdumped one ofthemostpollutedplacesinworld. Karachay inRussia,whichisconsidered beyond repair, one of them is Lake and Malaria. waterborne diseasessuchas Typhoid fever who drinkcontaminatedwatersuffer from has a tremendous effect on health; people reach the river through sewage. Pollution cleaning productsandchemicalsthose not only contain human waste; people use do totheirwaterresources.Sewagedoes most destructive things that human beings them intotheriver. the cropsstayinsoilandrainpushes into water, insecticidesthatfarmersusefor some factoriesdumptheirwasteproducts their few water resources. Unfortunately, human beingsaddinsulttoinjurybyruining warming thattamperswithwatercycle, areas willsuffer fromwatershortage. reclaim them and the inhabitants of those Pollution, growingpopulation,andthe Some water resources are polluted Dumping sewage in rivers is one of the global with afflicted being to addition In problems are,ofcourse,numerous. to drink contaminated water and the health other areas.Sometimes,peopleareforced or travel for long distances to get water from of undesirable outcomes. People either die more than“some”tension. be to going definitely is it done, be should agreement andworktogetheronwhat River. Unlessthetwocountriesreachan the waterEgyptiansusecomesfromthat depends mainly on River Nile, 94% of will reducetheirquota(share)ofwater. (GERD) and that Dam, Egyptians complain, Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam resource. The Ethiopiansareconstructing the twocountriessharesamewater interests ofthetwocountriesclashed,as there hasbeenquitesometensionasthe the future.Nowarwaswaged;however, as awarningtowhatmighthappenin take adifferent direction. as a result; wars of the future are bound to Water, nowadays,isknownas“thenewoil” another outcometowatershortage. another As water is used for growing crops, hunger is water, andthushavenotimetogoschool. day inordertosupply their families with areas with no water are forced to travel every education asyoungboysorgirlslivingin have analternative;however, somecountries, water. Unfortunately, unlike oil, water does not factories fromdumpingwastematerialintothe problem, it should beaddressed. itshould problem, Also, aspollutionhasalargeimpactonwater thosepipescanhelp. pipes, sochanging of water arelost every day due to leaking America, for example, 227,124,707,040 liters leaking pipes slightly add to this problem; in is,ofcourse,notwastingwater.problem Old the easiestandmostlogicalsolutiontothis Difficulty to access clean water has a lot It is worth mentioning that Egypt The caseofEgyptandEthiopiaacted As astart,governmentsshouldstop There is no use crying over spilt milk; Surprisingly, shortage of water affects countries fromapplyingit. expensive. The highcostsofitdiscourage easy asitmaysound,desalinationisvery is the process of removing salt from water; desalinateseawater.nowadays, Desalination of lifebutalsotomaintaintheirsurvival. each against other, fighting not only to maintain their modern way of instead scarcity water together fight and heed take should whatever ishappeningintheplanet,they elixir oflife.Inseparableastheyarefrom and forthepreservationofwater, the and theenvironment,thenforthemselves ifnotforthewelfareofplanet pollution; do somethingtoreduceglobalwarmingand Human beings should take a stance and http://www.athirstyplanet.com http://www.forbes.com http://www.eschooltoday.com http://www.africareview.com http://www.waterwise.co.za http://www.gracelinks.org http://www.theguardian.com http://www.takepart.com http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org http://www.bbc.co.uk http://thewaterproject.org http://wwf.panda.org http://www.renewableenergyworld.com http://www.worldometers.info http://www.nature.org References 17 | WINTER 2015 ood is a life necessity and a right for every person on Earth; we cannot Fsurvive without it. From food our body gets the nutrients it needs to grow and do its vital processes. According to the UN World Food Programme, 925 million people in the world do not have enough to eat. Food security as defined by the World Food Summit is “when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life”. Lack of food leads to malnutrition because the body does not receive adequate nutrients from its diet; this causes damage to the vital organs and functions of the body, and it is common in the poorer and developing countries. Sometimes, it is not only the lack of food or the inefficient diet that causes

SCIENCE IN OUR LIFE malnutrition; some people become malnourished because of certain diseases or conditions that prevent them from digesting or absorbing their food. For example, people who suffer from celiac disease have intestinal problems that are triggered by a protein called gluten found in wheat, rye, and barley. Celiac disease can interfere with the intestine’s ability to absorb nutrients, which may result in nutritional deficiencies. By: Shahenda Ayman Irregular intake of food is one of the main causes of malnutrition. The timings for breakfast, lunch, and dinner must be fixed; indiscipline in this matter is very bad. A GROWING THREAT This bad habit of taking irregular meals causes indigestion and finally results in population growth rates, political conflicts, and children most vulnerable to the malnutrition. climate changes, and the endemic poverty devastating effects. Malnourished mothers In addition to these food-related causes in some regions. are at a greater risk of dying in childbirth of malnutrition, there are some general Poverty and food shortage are the main and of delivering low-birth-weight babies causes such as unclean environments, reasons behind the food insecurities and who fail to survive infancy. Children also bodily diseases, heavy work and lack of malnutrition problems in Africa. In 2004, suffer from the malnutrition consequences exercising, lack of fresh and pure air, lack 121 million sub-Saharan Africans lived on because of their physiology and high of sunlight, etc. less than a meagre USD 0.50 a day. People calorie needs for growth and development. It is worth mentioning that despite the living on less than USD 1.00 per day are Malnutrition is the underlying cause of nations’ efforts to solve the food insecurity unable to pay the prices they would need to death of more than 2.6 million children problem, which is one of the reasons that buy all of the food they require; meat and each year. lead to malnutrition, Africa’s food security fish consumption for the many poor Africans Malnutrition should be seen as a global and nutrition situation is growing worse. is a luxury. problem with severe consequences. The Africa has been experiencing several In addition, over the past 30 years, Africa fight to combat food insecurity is a tough episodes of acute food insecurity causing has become subject to erratic weather but not an insurmountable one. Future an immense loss of life and livelihoods over patterns and is often plagued by prolonged efforts will require active governments; and the past decades. droughts followed by floods. These natural multilateral and bilateral donors pledging African countries have collectively shocks trigger adverse consequences, long-term funding to commit to national made the least progress towards achieving including widespread food insecurity. Since efforts to end famine and food insecurity the Millennium Development Goal of most of the region’s inhabitants depend on at a level that is commensurate with the reducing hunger by 2015, and currently rain-fed agriculture for their livelihoods, only scale of the problem. Only then, we can | WINTER 2015 nearly one-third of its population lives 4% of cropland in sub-Saharan Africans is overcome malnutrition problems. in chronic hunger. Twenty-three million irrigated. Furthermore, the rural farming References people in 11 countries in the African regions populations are the most affected because http://www.news-medical.net are affected by acute food insecurity and of their extremely low adaptive capacity, http://kidshealth.org are facing malnutrition. which is linked to acute poverty levels. http://www.preservearticles.com Among the factors that lead to this Malnutrition has many consequences http://www.consultancyafrica.com situation include exceptionally high for health and development, with mothers

18 Bosch process process, natural gas (CH hydrogen and the nitrogen (N nearly aseffective asN-P-Kfertilizer. a naturalfertilizer. However, manureisnot time. Another approachistousemanureas a techniqueof leaving thelandfallowfora fertilizer atall.Sometimes,thefarmerapplies much oftheagriculturallanddoesnotuse the norm; in thedevelopingworld,however, from theair. This ammonia isusedasa ammonia (NH double the yields. than more would field unfertilized Potassium (N-P-K)fertilizertoaformerly- adding abasicNitrogen–Phosphorous– of fertilizerstudieshaveshownthatsimply less productive than it could be. A number world, isunfertilizedand therefore much currently beingusedtogrowfoodforthe principal factorsisfertilizers. responsible forthisdisparity;oneofthe than developing nations. Many factors are generally havemuchhighercropyields nation toanother;developednations modifying itswaterretentionandaeration. enhance theeffectiveness ofthesoilby mode bywhichsomefertilizersactisto additives that provide nutrients. The second two broadways;thetraditionalonebeing the growth of plants. This goal is met in natural orsyntheticcommercialfertilizer. 30% to 50% of crop yields are attributed to growth. Conservative estimates report that more plantnutrientsessentialto synthetic originappliedtosoilssupply All nitrogenfertilizersaremade from In thedevelopedworld,usingfertilizeris A vastquantityoffertilizerarableland, Crop yieldsvarygreatlyfromone Generally speaking, fertilizers enhance Fertilizer isamaterialofnaturalor 3 ), produced by the Haber- (1) . In this energy-intensive 4 ) supplies the 2 ) is derived HUNGER WORLD BATTLING and hydroxyapatite Ca (NH such as anhydrous ammonium nitrate feedstock forallothernitrogenfertilizers, minerals are fluorapatite Ca fluorapatite are minerals to collectivelyasphosphaterock. The main phosphate-containing minerals are referred of phosphateminerals. The mostpopular salts areproducedbychemicaltreatment the with treated are crushed mineral,butmostoftenmoresoluble fields cases, rare In from mineralscontainingtheanionPO argument. The issueisthatwetend touse environment has always beenasubjectof processing, peat,manure,slurry, and guano. organic matterasanimalwastesfrom meat Organic fertilizersincludenaturallyoccurring rock orproducedindustrially, like ammonia. extracted from minerals, such as phosphate majority of chemical fertilizerswhichare compost andmanure;asopposedtothe animal matterorvegetablematter, suchas organic fertilizersarederivedfrom phosphoric acids. phosphate saltsbytreatmentwithsulfuricor minerals areconvertedtowater-soluble K salt. SometimesPotashisreferredtoas to example, for remove sodiumchloride(NaCl),common steps, purification some producing this nutrient from the ore involves is soluble in water, so the main effort in potassium mineralcompounds.Potash made of Potash which is a mixture of carbonate, orpotassiumnitrate. chloride, potassium sulfate, potassium Potash fertilizersareusuallypotassium describing the potassium content; in fact, 2 O, as a matter of convenience to those As for potassium fertilizers, they are All phosphates are obtained by extraction The impactof fertilizers industryon In contrastwithchemicalfertilizers, 4 NO 3 ) andureaCO(NH By: Moataz Abdelmegid By: 5 (PO 2 ) 5 2 (PO 4 . ) 3 OH. These 4 ) 3 F (CFA) 4 . side effects inthelongrun. growth ofplants;theyalsohavetheirdrastic and minerals, although help in boosting the as nitrogen and potassium. These chemicals fertilizers, whichcontaincomponentssuch isoutofsyntheticorinorganic production As mentioned,ahugeratioofthetotalyield have tocatertheglobaldemandoffood. too muchfertilizerinthesoilbecausethey needs ofthehungryoutweigh thosevalues. needs and lowerimpactontheenvironment,but food productionmayresultinhealthier of aconcernfortheenvironment.Organic fertilizer tothedevelopingworldmerelyout http://environment.nationalgeographic.com http://www.sustainablebabysteps.com http://hungermath.wordpress.com References 1. Glossary future offertilizersindustry. usshapealternativescenarios forthe help that cancompetewithchemicalfertilizersto fertilizers withhigherqualityandlowerprice is to workon developing moreorganic environmental impacts.Whatwecando using chemicalfertilizersduetotheir andclimatechange. equilibrium other impactsrelatedtoenvironmental generally affecting humanhealth,and altering the biology of water bodies, around depletionthequalityofsoil, Basically, theproblemsfacedrevolve application, andthefrequencyofusage. of thefertilizer, themethodandrateof according tothechemicalcomponents invented byGermanChemistFritzHaber. and hydrogen to produce ammonia; it was implementation ofthereactionnitrogen The Haber–Bosch process is the industrial We cannotsuddenlydecidetostop Yet, commercial artificial deny cannot we The environmentaleffect varies 19 | WINTER 2015 SCIENCE IN OUR LIFE you have to know that this man is credited for their existence. If we go back to the second hijri century/ eighth century CE, we will find al-Khwarizmi (aka Algoritmi), whose name was linked with algebra for his great contributions, the effects of which resonated in astronomy and observation, where the first book was the Astronomical Tables of Sind and Hind, which became the turning point in Islamic observational astronomy. The book observed the movement of the Sun, the Moon, and the five planets known at the time, where he entered concepts translated from Indian and taken from Ptolemy to the Arab astronomy, developed them, and from which he initiated new discoveries in astronomy. We cannot talk about observational of astronomical instruments to monitor the astronomy without mentioning Maragheh By: Dr. Mohamed Soliman sky day and night. observatory, located in the west of Director, Manuscripts Museum There is no doubt that the contributions Maragheh, in Azerbaijan, which was founded of the Arabs in astronomy in the Middle Ages by astronomer, mathematician, chemist, In that vast wilderness that occupies the or the Golden Age of the Arab Civilization physicist, philosopher, and physician Nasir largest area of the Arabian Peninsula, it was are well known everywhere. It is enough to al-Din Tusi in 657 AH/1259 CE. necessary for the Arabs to find what could know that the names used to this day for Maragheh observatory was attended guide them through it; otherwise, they would the stars and planets discovered by the by many scholars, such as: Qutb al-Din al- have been lost and faced death. People of Arabs 1,500 years ago are Arabic names, Shirazi, Ibn al-Shater, Najm al-Din al-Qazwini, the desert are in the habit of moving and as well as some astronomical terms; such Ali Qushji, Abdul Ali al-Birjandi, and Shams traveling, looking for water, food, and grass; as almucantar, azimuth, and alidade. al-Din al-Khafri, Muhyi al-Din al-Maghribi, Ibn thus, finding a way to observe and identify Perhaps one of the most important al-Fuwati and many others. The Observatory locations was a necessity. sources that reached us in the field of contained more than 400,000 volumes, which With the dawn of Islam and the observational astronomy is the Book of made it the first academy for scientific research commandment of prayer and fasting, it Fixed Stars by Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi, in the field of astronomy and observation that became also a necessity to determine the who died in 376 AH/976 CE. The book revolted against the principles and ideas of directions to face Al-Aqsa Mosque, and later described the planets in the sky, which Ptolemy in astronomy. the Ka’aba, at five specific times daily; as amounted to forty-eight planets that were On the other hand, al-Biruni (Abu well as identifying the months of the Hijri thoroughly illustrated as imagined by the Rayhan)—born in 362 AH/963 CE in the Calendar—lunar calendar—and determining Arabs then without the use of complex capital of the Khwarezmian Empire—was the new moons as festivals and fasting of modern machines in our time. After al- described as one of the greatest minds that Muslims depend totally on the sightings of Sufi’s death, his daughter Arajoza Bint al- the Islamic civilization has ever known; he the Moon and its phases. Sufi resumed his observations, in addition excelled in astronomy and observation. His Stellar guidance was mentioned in the to the development of observational and designs of astrolabes and observational Qur’an, where Allah says in Surat Al-An’am approximation instruments by scholars of instruments for sites, stars, and planets, and (The Cattle), verse 97: “And it is He who the Islamic civilization of the time. their development were groundbreaking for placed for you the stars that you may be We can also only imagine how Ibn al- astronomy and observation, and preparatory guided by them through the darknesses of Haytham—who died in 430 AH/1040 CE— for the invention of the mechanical clock. the land and sea. We have detailed the signs with the means available at his age, wrote Al-Biruni was the first to invent the vertical for a people who know.” Moreover, there are a treatise entitled The Trace on the Moon’s astrolabe in the first decade of the eleventh other Qur’anic verses that call for meditation face—one of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina’s century, and he was also the first to say that and observation of the Universe’s creation. collections—in which he addressed and the Earth rotates around its own axis. Even before Islam, some old religions scientifically analyzed the topography of The list of scientists and contributions goes that emerged in the Arabian Peninsula took the Moon and its volcanic craters. on and on as the manuscripts of astronomy on the worship of planets and stars instead Before al-Sufi and Ibn al-Haytham and observational methods in the written | WINTER 2015 of idols, such as Sabianism, where celestial (aka Alhazen), there was Abu Abdullah Arab heritage mount to thousands that still bodies such as the Moon, Venus, and al-Battani—born in 240 AH/854 CE. He need to be exposed or re-discovered. Indeed, Mercury, had great stature. was one of the most significant scientists astronomy was a necessity for survival of the All these introductions and reasons in astronomy and observation in the Arab Muslims, and for the application of their made astronomy one of the necessities world, prompting some people to call him holy religion; this article is thus but a drop for survival among the Arabs, and urged Ptolemy of the Arabs. If you have studied in the ocean of the contributions of the Arab them to dig deep in observation, analysis, trigonometry and trigonometric functions— Civilization in that area. establishment of theories, and the invention sine, cosine, and tangent—for example, 20 irritably frustrating.Sometimeswe do noteventhinkabouthowwe or fulfilling supremely be can It world. the and others with interact appearances suchasclothing,hairstyle, homedecor, andmore. Self-expression mayalsobethrough bodylanguageormere speech or writing, or through one of an endlesspoolof art forms. setting forthone’s thoughts, feelings, and opinions,mayitbeby tapping intoacorenecessitysuchasthatofself-expression. issue abouttheBareNecessitiesoflifeconclusiveenoughwithout upcoming issueentirelytoit. education, however, is not just any necessity, so we dedicate our forget otheressentialnecessitiessuchaseducationforexample; of modernlifefromdifferent pointsofview, etc.We mustnot of necessity; the actual bare necessities of life, the necessities agonized expressionagainstalandscapewithtumultuousorangesky. an with figure a show which of all works, these to gave Munch title the is Nature) Edvard Munch between 1893 and 1910. Der Schrei der Natur (The Scream of composition, createdasbothpaintingsandpastels,byNorwegianExpressionist http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/munch/Image Necessity of The Self-expression isasvitaltoliving asbreathing;itishowwe What is self-expression you ask; well, it is the ability and act of Nevertheless, itismypointofviewthatwecannotconsideran Throughout this issue, we have discussed several aspects "The Scream"byEdvardMunch(1863–1944)-WebMuseum atibiblioPage: The Screamisthepopularnamegiventoeachoffourversionsa By: Maissa Azab Maissa By:

www.themindfulword.org www.eachmindmatters.org www.desert-alchemy.com References cultivates bothindependenceandconnectiontoothers. to asoulfulpieceofmusicordoodlingtheimagelovedone;art danceable beat, they also provide spiritual wellness.By meditating think howtheseforms of expression not only look pretty or have a her ownheadintoameditativestatewhereinnerpeaceispossible. creates asafespaceforanyonetotemporarilyescapefromhis/ usto realizeaworldbeyondourpersonalstruggles. allows Art to temporarily escape our social bubble. Entering alternate realms this sense. inspiration; the quest to spiritual wellness is an individual journey in can belistenedto,whatcolorsarepermitted,shouldcultivate with artputstheindividualincontrol.Noonecanenforcewhat from familystress,awaysociety’s expectations,connecting thought independent and actions. Away from appointments, away share itwithlovedones. after studying orcreatingapiece,wecan enjoy theproductand product, finished the produces an irreplaceable sense of productivity and worth. Likewise, experiencing and task, any completing and everyonetoworkthroughanysourceoftrauma.Starting allows connected throughartdespiteourvariedskilllevels. an imagethatprovokeshappiness or guilt. After all,we are all a song that remindsusofour childhood best friend; weallknow emotion or content of a piece to our own struggle. We all know aself-portrait,mostofuscanuseoursensestoconnectthe paint a healingprocess. managed andcelebrated;inthissense,self-expressionservesas be transcribed. Through art,thesebasichumanfeelingscanbe suffocated—can or ignored be not should that fears—feelings and rage, pain, or emotional baggage into something tangible. Hopes common struggle orhope.Creatingartwork transforms inner deeply connectustopeople,images,andsounds,exudinga outside sourcesimpactourlife. spiritual agony with listening or seeing; channeling art solidifies how personal explorationthroughself-expressionordelvingintoone’s themselves andrelationswiththeoutsideworld. Art generates history, people have used art to cultivate positive changes within to Chopin, art provokes spiritual wellness. Indeed, throughout are somanywaystoengage. how scared you may feel to express yourself, remember that there are shy, we because communicating insecure, orjustfeelthatourcommunicationskillsarelacking. difficulty have us of Some want tocommunicate,butwedonotknowhowmakeitmanifest. what we want to express. Other times, we have an idea of what we fall shortofwhatwemeanttogetacross. other times, we may strivetoexpresssomethinganddisappointedly express ourinnerrealitytothoseoutside;itjusthappensnaturally. At We allinteractwithartondailybasis;however, fewstopand New depictionsofthepast,future,andevenlocation,enableus Although art connects people, it can also administer a sense of Art’s facilitation of self-esteem and stress-reduction potentially Even if we do not have the technical ability to write a poem or and preferences our unique develop experiences Difficult Lady Gaga landscapes, intricate to finger-painting From A wayforself-expressionisthroughthecreativearts.Nomatter Sometimes wecannotaccessinspirationorcreativitytoknow 21 | WINTER 2015 5 By: Dr. Omar Fikry Head, Planetarium Section Planetarium Science Center

Happiness overwhelms you as you your gesture and they did not understand without knowing the date and time, but we hear the creatures offering to tell you their its meaning. You state steadily: “Please, have come from a place where the date is secrets voluntarily. The fattest said: “We leave my room peacefully; I do not want to 3115. Time is essential and important to us have agreed now my friend to tell you our continue”. also. However, what is the importance of secret, but under one condition”; many The tallest gets closer to you saying: knowing God?” questions pop up in your head when you “What has upset you like that? Why do you You answer: “I cannot really answer hear this: Where did they come from? Why want us to leave? You have been so friendly this question for you. But let me tell you did they choose you specifically? Did they and welcoming, and you are a good person; that among Earth’s inhabitants there are visit anyone before you? What is happening do you fear us now? You take a step back some who do not know God and do not to me? What is their condition? What time and answer: “Yes, especially after your consider that a life necessity. However, the is it now? friend stated that we are in 3115 and his majority believes in His existence although Your incessant confusion and denial of God’s existence”. we know Him here in different ways and anticipation come to an end when the tallest The shortest answers you: “We are really we worship Him in dissimilar ways; among talks to the fattest saying: “Yes my friend, in 3115, and I did not deny the existence of us you can find the Jewish, the Christians, but this agreement is conditioned by his the God you are talking about; I said that and the Muslims. Those different ways are showing us a place where we can talk to we do not know Him”. He then turns to the called ‘religions’ and the majority of people the planet’s inhabitants, which is our only fattest who continues: “Is it important to you who believe in these religions consider the condition”. You return to your questions that we know God? Is it important to agree existence of God and worshiping Him a life again and you address them saying: “I am on what year we are in, whether we are in necessity”. now in a science fiction movie and I want it 2015 as you said or 3115 as we said? You look at them and they listen to to come to an end now. Although we are in You answer with determination: “You you attentively; they show no expression 2015, I am in my room, talking to aliens who were about to answer me about your on their faces, so you continue: “Life have a weird request. For God’s sake, who identity and the place where you came necessities on our planet differ from time will believe me? Why do you want to talk to from, and you were also about to tell me to time. For example, in 2015 here and the planet’s inhabitants?” your secret; but it seems that you do not 3115 at your place, life necessities include The fattest answers while leaning on understand life priorities and essentials electricity, the Internet, mobile phones, the shortest back and looking at the tallest on our planet. I hope that you understand and other technological devices. However, amazingly: “Did he say 2015? Did he say something important; we here on this planet in some parts of the planet, these things for God’s sake?” The tallest shrugs his cannot live without some important things are unfortunately considered luxuries and shoulders, answering in astonishment: “I we have agreed upon and consider basics not necessities. Moreover, science and think he said so”. The shortest asks you: of life. Among these basics are knowing the knowledge are common factors throughout “Who said that we are in 2015? We are in date and time, and knowing the year we live the ages; they are essential for getting 3115. And what is the meaning of ‘for God’s in; so, when your friend say that we are not basic life resources like food, water, air, sake’? We do not know God”. in 2015 I must feel afraid”. heath, preserving the environment, …” An eerie silence prevails after the The fattest answers you quietly: You stop talking suddenly then continue: shortest speech; you cannot really fathom “I understand now my friends; Earth’s “But what are your life necessities where what he had said. After a while, you lift your inhabitants according to what he said you come from?” However, you do not see hand to point towards the door, signaling measure time in a different way than we any expression, motion, or gesture from them to leave your room; the three do do, so they are in 2015 now but we are in them and silence prevails. the same and point the door the same 3115”. He then addresses you saying: “We See you next episode way you did. So, they did not understand are like you dear friend; we cannot live | WINTER 2015

22 (BA) inMarch2015forthe8 hosted bytheBibliotheca Alexandrina and Engineering Fair (Intel BASEF) the IntelBibliotheca Alexandrina Science in collaborationwithIntelCo.isorganizing mathematics, astronomy, orplant sciences. medicine and health sciences, physics, transportation, environmentalmanagement, and mechanicalengineering,energy Earth andplanetarysciences,electrical as: such sciences, biochemistryandmicrobiology, themes, scientific sciences,behavioral andsocial animal of variety a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,10-15May2015. competition thatwilltakeplacethisyearin will representEgyptintheIntelISEF Intel BASEFtopthreewinningprojects Affiliate BA. the at 2015 March 16-18 finals BASEF both Local FairswillqualifytocompeteinIntel of projects Affiliate and Alexandria within Fairs School winning The expected toreceiveabout200projects. participation insciencefairs;thefairsare in Alexandria toencourageschools’ students pergroup). orateamproject(maximumtwo individual can participateinIntelBASEFwithan BASEF through LocalFairsorSchoolFairs. They Intel in participate Matrouh—can Gharbeya, Kafr ElSheikh,Beheira,Damiettaand El Governorates—Dakahlia, competition. the largest world pre-college science Science andEngineeringFair(IntelISEF); International Intel the to affiliated is BASEF The PlanetariumScienceCenter(PSC), Students can choose from among Fairs Affiliate organizes BASEF Intel Students from Alexandria and six other th year. Intel • • • [10:30, 11:30, 12:30,13:30,14:30] Sunday to Thursday: Guided Tours Schedule Saturday: Sunday – Thursday: [9:30-16:00] Opening Hours Visitors INFO History ofScience Museum History • • Visitors INFO holders. Museum Tours arefreeforticket Museum entryfeesareEGP 2.- For non-audienceofthePlanetarium, all Planetariumshowstickets. Museum entryfeesareincludedin at any time without prior notification. the righttocancelorchangeshows reasons, thePlanetariummaintains Kindly note that, for technical www.bibalex.org/psc officialwebsite: Center’s and fees,pleaseconsultthe For thePlanetariumdailyschedule 45 min.LiveShowbythePSC VISITORS INFO VISITORS Alexandria, TheCradleof 22 min.Full-domeShow 35 min.Full-domeShow 33 min.Full-domeShow 30 min.Full-domeShow 35 min.Full-domeShow 25 min.Full-domeShow Stars ofthePharaohs Resident Astronomer Available Shows Mystery oftheNile Planetarium 35 min.IMAXShow 45 min.IMAXShow The Life ofTrees Seven Wonders Cosmic Voyage Oasis inSpace Kaluoka’hina Stars Show Astronomy [12:00-16:00] Now Showing

Non-students: EGP 15.- Students: EGP 10.- 4D shows: Non-students: EGP 10.- Students: EGP 5.- 3D shows: Non-students: EGP 4.- Students: EGP 2.- DVD shows: Show fees • • Listen andDiscover Non-students: EGP 10.- Students: EGP 5.- Entry Fees Tuesday: Saturday: Thursday: Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Guided Tours Schedule Saturday: Sunday to Thursday: Opening Hours Discovery Zone Visitors INFO before thedesireddate. PSC Administrator, at least one week For reservation,pleasecontactthe www.bibalex.org/psc. officialwebsite: Center’s the schedule, please consultthe at the“ListenandDiscover” For the list of shows available ALEXploratorium [ [ [ 9:30, 11:00 12:00, 14:00 9:30, 11:00, 12:30,14:00 [ [ ] 12:00-16:00 9:30-16:00

] ] ] ] 23 | WINTER 2015 Never to Ol t Selfi

oh son, leave this What grandpa? phone and talk Sorry, to me…

this piece of I did not hear, iron is driving what were you you crazy. saying?

Grandpa Grandpa pa Grand Grand paaaa paaaa Grandpa

Grandpa | WINTER 2015 Illustrated by: Mohamed Khamis Check out the “A World Without Internet” article, page 12 World Check out the “A

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