Sciences of Man (2/4)

Wind Control:

The atmosphere is in constant motion. The chief reason for its movement is the heat produced by the sun, which, being the most concentrated around the equator, heats the air at the equator. This air then expands and rises, a process that creates a low-pressure area into which trade winds blow from north and south. This low-pressure area around the equator is often called the doldrums. The warm air from the equator cools as it rises, spreads north and south, and then finally sinks back to the ground around a latitude of 30°north and 30°south. The descending air creates high-pressure regions, known as the horse latitudes, in these latitudes. Part of the air from these latitudes flows back to the equator while another part flows toward the poles, where it meets cold dense air. In these ways, winds redistribute heat around the earth.

Air currents do not flow from north to south, for they are deflected by the Coriolis force. This force is caused by Earth's rotation and is similar to the effect achieved if one runs a piece of chalk straight down a spinning globe from north to south. When one stops the globe, one will find that the line is curved. Due to the Coriolis force, winds in the northern hemisphere are deflected to the right of the direction in which they are blowing, while winds in the southern hemisphere are deflected to the left. As a result, winds blowing into the equatorial doldrums from the south become north­east trade winds, and winds in the southern hemisphere become south-east trade winds. Winds flowing north from the northern horse latitudes become south-westerlies, and winds blowing south from the southern horse latitudes become north-westerlies.

During the summer, winds blow from the sea toward the land. In the winter, this process is reversed. A similar process can be seen, to a lesser degree, during the day and the night. In many areas, local winds play a major role, such as the cold Mistral wind in the Rhone Valley, the warm Chinook wind in Canada, and many others. Winds move the clouds that could bring rain, depending on the temperature, humidity, and latitude.

Does this all just happen by coincidence, or is someone in control? It must be controlled by a supernatural power that ensures their continuity (Surah Al-Jathiyah, 45:5). In England, it has been established that rain falls every year and that the country would become a desert if it did not (Surah Fatir, 35:9). God is the only power that can decide the fate of nations. He has done so in the past and will continue to do so in the future. History provides us with several examples of nations that have disappeared due to a radical climactic change. The presence of oil in desert countries is strong evidence that such land, at some point in the past, must have been fertile and covered with trees.

“In the alternation of the night and the day, and the fact that God sends down sustenance from the sky and revives there­with the dead earth, and in the change of the winds, are signs for those who are wise.” (Surah Al-Jathiyah, 45:5)

“It is God who sends the winds to raise the clouds. Then We send them to a land that is dead and revive it therewith. Even so (will be) the resurrection.” (Surah Fatir, 35:9)

Supersonic Waves:

The speed of sound was reached in 1947 by an American Air Force officer and also in 1948 by RAP Squadron Leader John Derry (in a DeHaviland 108 research aircraft). During the Second World War, sonic waves were used to detect submarines and other ships. Subsequently, they were used in metallurgy and then in medicine to diagnose pregnant women who were carrying twins, triplets, or more embryos. Such advanced techniques as sonography are now used to image vessels and an individual's internal organs.

This practice was, by no means, the first in the world, for bats use an echo-locating system to pinpoint their prey and to avoid obstacles while in flight. Contrary to popular belief, bats are not entirely blind: they can see in twilight. In the darkness they send out high-frequency squeaks, only some of which are audible to man. The returning echoes tell the exact position of any obstacle. They fly in groups of thousands but respond to their own individual echo-signals and are not confused by other noises. Scientists have tried to jam these radar signals by aiming at them noise two thousand times more intense than theirs and at the same frequency-it did not disturb them at all. High frequency sound waves have been used to destroy bacteria and other micro-organisms, to prepare bacterial antigens, and to prepare vaccines. Man is still very primitive when it comes to using sound.

God has used sound to destroy nations (Surah Al-Hijr, 15:83: Surah Hud, 11:94; Surah Hud, 11:67). Moreover, He will use it to destroy the planet on the Day of Doom (Surah Az-Zumar, 39:68) and to raise everyone from the dead (Surah Az-Zumar, 39:68; Surah Ya-Sin, 36:51,53). Thus, sound can both destroy and reconstruct human beings. This is a completely new application that may prove very valuable as a new area of research.

“But the (mighty) blast seized them during the morning.” (Surah Al-Hijr, 15:83)

 “After We issued Our decree, We saved Shu'ayb and those who believed with him by a (special) mercy from Ourselves. But the (mighty) blast seized the wrong-doers, and they lay prostrate in their homes by the morning.” (Surah Hud, 11:94)

 “The (mighty) blast overtook the wrong-doers, and they lay prostrate in their homes before the morning.” (Surah Hud, 11:67)

“The trumpet will be sounded, and then all that is in the heavens and on the earth will swoon, except those whom God will decide (to exempt). Then a second one will be sounded when they will be standing and looking on.” (Surah Az-Zumar, 39:68)

“The trumpet shall be sounded, and (men) will rush forth from the sepulchers to their Lord..... It will be no more than a single blast, after which they will all be brought up before Us.” (Surah Ya-Sin, 36:51, 53)

(Continued)