Articles (Sociology)

Air Conditioners of Ancient Times
(Inventions and Innovations)

Modern air-conditioning has emerged from advances in chemistry during the 19th century; the first large-scale electrical air-conditioning was invented and used in 1902 by American inventor Willis Carrier.

Rufaida bint Saad Al-Aslameya: The First Muslim Nurse
(Inventions and Innovations)

Arab pioneers in medicine were not only physicians and surgeons, but Arab nurses played a valuable part too. One of the most famous names in Arab nursing is Rufaida bint Saad Al-Aslameya, the first nurse in the Islamic and Eastern world.


The Arabs and Science: From the Past to the Present
(Inventions and Innovations)

Since the dawn of history, the Arab region has always been home for prominent scientists. Brilliant scientists have been born, brought up, and studied on this land; those scientists have always been the pride of the Arab world even if the interest given to science and scientists has greatly decreased.


The Arabs and the Enlightenment of Optics
(Inventions and Innovations)

Optics and vision theories were attractive topics of study for ancient scientists. Famous mathematicians as Euclid and Ptolemy adopted the theory of extramission; they interpreted vision as light emitted from the human eyes on the object, where the reflected rays help the individual perceive the color, shape, and size of the object. Another opposing theory was adopted by Aristotle and Galen; the intromission theory, where they thought that light was transmitted to the eye from the object or its surroundings.


The Arabs and the Advancement of Astrolabes
(Inventions and Innovations)

One of the Arab scientists’ major contributions was in astrolabes. Astrolabes were primarily invented by the ancient Greeks in 225 BCE by Apollonius based on the theories and the findings of Hipparchus. The main uses of astrolabes were to tell time during day or night, to identify the time of sunrise and sunset, and the length of the day, and to locate celestial objects in the sky. These uses were essential for astronomers, astrologers, and of course navigators.


Arabesque: A Genuine Arabian Abstract Art
(Science in Arts and Culture)

Ever since the Stone Age, Man has used geometrical decorations in nearly all civilizations because of his innate tendency towards abstraction. During the Islamic-Arab civilization, geometrical decoration gained a unique persona and importance; it became the principal design element that covered wide areas.

The Arabs and the Establishment of Hospitals
(Health and Diseases)

From the early ages to this day, medicine has experienced a huge development; each civilization has made its own contribution to the development of medicine and health care practices. Arab scientists, who were once widely known for their excellence in all fields of science, significantly improved medical care. With their mastery in chemistry, biology, and dissection, Muslim physicians proved their abilities in all the fields of medicine.


Ancient Egypt in Medieval Arabic Writings
(Inventions and Innovations)

It is often assumed that Arabs/Muslims tended to destroy pagan monuments of pre-Islamic cultures. However, the reality is different, as such destruction was rare and exceptional. As a matter of fact, the famous historian Al-Baghdadi expressed his admiration for Muslim kings in protecting such monuments.


The Magician of Medicine: Abu Bakr al-Razi
(Inventions and Innovations)

Al-Razi, known as “Rhazes” in the West, was a physician, philosopher, and scholar who made fundamental contributions to many scientific fields, especially medicine, pioneering in the fields of pediatrics, obstetrics, and ophthalmology. A special feature of his medical system was that he favored cure through correct and regulated food, avoiding excessive use of chemical drugs. Moreover, he tested remedies on animals in order to evaluate their effects before using them on humans.


A Surgeon for All Times: Abu al-Qasim Al-Zahrawi
(Inventions and Innovations)

The pioneer of modern surgery, known in the West as “Abulcasis”, Abu al-Qasim Al-Zahrawi was not just a pioneer in surgical innovation; he was also a great teacher whose medical texts had shaped the European surgical procedures up until the Renaissance and later.


Mostafa Mahmoud: A Thinking Phenomenon
(Inventions and Innovations)

Mostafa Kamal Mahmoud is an Egyptian scientist, thinker, author, and philosopher known for his role in bridging science and religious faith. He was trained as a doctor, but later chose a career as a journalist and author, traveling widely and writing on many subjects related to the philosophy of science and religion.


Arab Psychiatry in Medieval Times and Its Impact on Humanity
(Health and Diseases)

Psychological disorders are as old as Man himself. In Ancient Times, it was believed they happened due to supernatural powers, evil spirits, and black magic. Consequently, they were treated by charms, amulets, and spells, according to the spiritual and social beliefs.


Food Sharing Programs
(Education, Business, and Society)

Every Wednesday morning Mr. Günther, an old helpless man living in an outskirt of Berlin, wakes up in the morning, wears the nicest thing he has, carries his big basket, and heads to the weekly central food-sharing gathering in his area. After the gathering, Mr. Günther comes back home with a smile on his face and a basket full of fresh and delicious food enough for one week until the next gathering, all for free. I had the pleasure meeting Mr. Günther during my short stay in Berlin. As a person who lived in Egypt for a lifetime, I was quite impressed by the strictly systemized and regulated German food-sharing system. As we rode together on the train, Mr. Günther explained how the system works.

Gandhi: Gentle Strides of Peace
(Education, Business, and Society)

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born in India, in 1869. He was an exceptionally goodhearted person and because of that people called him Mahatma Gandhi, “Mahatma” meaning “great soul”.

Helen Keller: The Creation of a Miracle
(Education, Business, and Society)

The eyes and the ears are human beings’ most valuable possessions that keep them connected to the world.

Bloodstain Pattern Analysis
(Human Body)

The success or failure of any criminal investigation often depends on the recognition of physical evidence left behind at a crime scene and the proper analysis of that evidence.


Ecosystems in Egypt: Challenges and Opportunities
(Microorganism, Animal and Plant Life)

Egypt is a land of exquisite—but fragile—ecosystems, such as The Red Sea coral reef, the wetlands bordering the Nile freshwaters, the bitter lakes, and the coastal lagoons.


Immortal Cells
(Human Body)

All humans are made of the same organs, but we are all unique. One of the greatest features of humanity is each person’s individuality, and this can extend even to your cells. One such individual with cells like no other is Henrietta Lacks.

Inventions that Changed the Course of History: The Rocket
(Inventions and Innovations)

Throughout history, there has been confusion between the words rocket and missile. A rocket generally refers to a device, which after launch, is recovered using a parachute or streamer. A missile is defined as a flying device which is not recovered.

Agriculture and Civilization
(Earth Sciences)

Only with agriculture did humans really become humans. It is when Man lifted himself out of the savage life of foraging: living in caves, searching for food from dawn until dusk, chasing beasts or being chased by them, always hungry and worried where to find the next meal.

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