When Will We Have an Exascale Supercomputer? - IEEE Spectrum

When Will We Have an Exascale Supercomputer? - IEEE Spectrum 

Here is what my thought goes on exascale computing machine for which computer professors around the world are endeavoring/dreaming of. 

We are on the path of infinite lane. The quest for knowledge(something that is fun to us) takes us, guides us or misguides us and makes us to walk on that lane. 

 There was a day when we never had anything like computer. Now we are in the quest  for exascale system. We have trust on machine. We believe that machine
makes our life easier and faster. We want to solve some problems. We want to know the future right now. We are preparing ourselves for the future to come such that we can survive with happiness. We are looking for happiness in each and every moment. We pay price for that and have to pay there is no free lunch in this Nature. Where are we heading? We have already made much advancement in terms of science and technology yet we see many many miseries around the world. We are also planning to escape the miseries on this Earth and wanted to have nice home at Marsor Moon. Are we sure that the similar problem will not arise over there? No, we are not sure of that, we have however some faith because we wanted somehow or other a happy life. Our journey is actually to search the happiness, the lasting happiness. We never wanted to suffer. However the reality is turning out to be something else, each and every moment we find something miserable is happening in this earth. Our day to day life is actually becoming more and more fearful, we are not certain that our happy life now will still last till evening. Technology and science which indeed has given us lot of hope that it will deliver the need of our life. However we see that the science and technology are giving us a lot many trouble of different kind. Technological defects, human error, over utilization of machines, improper utilization of machines are actually causing us pain and suffering. Lot many problems can be listed, one among them is the giant global warming and nuclear weapons . Where we have went wrong? Have we missed something? We must look back our science and must reformulate the goal of science and technology.

We may one day build a exascale computing machine, and I am sure sooner or later it is to come. But we must learn that the problem that we are going to solve using such machines must be in aligned with the goal of human life. I am again and again emphasizing the "goal of human life" because that is what is our goal. The goal of human is very very important, once we become sure of the goal we no longer remain confused. We the people in scientific community must be open minded to explore the knowledge system available in other realm. There are knowledge system followed by the sages of ancient India to learn the truth-we do not want to suffer yet we are forced to do so, why? The Vedic system of knowledge however is different from our current science. The Vedic system of knowledge is holistic. The purpose of life is well defined. Rest of the knowledge are supplement to the primary knowledge that is the goal of life. The utility of knowledge is well defined. The sages knew very well that what is meant for what and for whom. Science will be benefited by integrating the Vedic system of knowledge into its current scientific paradigm.

Further Reading:

[1] T D Singh, Essay on Science and Religion, Bhaktivedanta Institute, Kolkata

[2] T D Singh and D Tutu , Towards Harmony and Peace, Bhaktivedanta Insitute, Kolkata

[3] A C Bhaktivedanta Swami, Laws of Karma, Bhativedanta Book Trust, Bombay, India.  

Jaynarayan, 

Bangalore, India

Effect of Earth's Magnetic Field on Earthly Creatures- Primary Emphasis on Human Being

INTRODUCTION:

There are many rituals being practiced in different religious practices. Some of the them seems to be illogical in current context and some seems to be completely baseless without any foundation. However a proper study of such practices with reference to the authorized literatures brings a clarity in understanding and make a complete sense of it. Hence the rituals should be practiced under the authorized spiritual guidance and should not be done based on cheap sentiment. Here in this article I have tried to understand a ritual of sleeping with respect to the directions of south-north or east-west. The question is why do we sleep in south-north or east-west direction? This is article is an initial attempt to understand it from scientific perspective, means how does the sleeping direction affects our body, mind, and how does it help us evolving ourselves spiritually?

BIRDS AND MAMMALS CAN DETECT THE EARTH MAGNETIC FIELD:

A pigeon can decode the earth magnetic field to the extend that they can decode it to know the direction of field. And hence they can change their flying  direction and can orient accordingly. Similarly the mammals can detect the magnetic field[1]. 

HUMAN MAY HAVE INNATE MECHANISM TO DETECT THE GEOMAGNETISM:

As the animal and birds have the ability to see or sense the geomagnetic field due to the presence of a specific type of protein called 'cryptochrome 2'. The study conducted by UMAS researcher published in Nature communication suggest that indeed the protein molecule cryptochrome 2 expressed retina helps in detecting the earth magnetic field when it is planted in bird. Hence the possibility of human be able to detect the field is very much there[1].

EARTH MAGNETIC FIELD AND ITS EFFECT ON HUMAN AND ANIMAL:

An interesting article on how the living creatures on this earth are subjected to earth's magnetic  field and to other man made fields is very elaborately explained here[2a][2b].

Some of the recent findings suggest that the earth's magnetic field polarity could possible get altered soon, changing the field direction from north-south to south-north. There could be health hazards due to change in polarity[3].

EARTH MAGNETIC FIELD AS IT IS KNOW TO VEDANTIST:

It is a popular rule generally followed by almost all Indians in orienting themselves while taking rest by sleeping posture. The rules is to sleep such that the south-north or east-west, head to south or head to east is considered auspicious, direction should be maintained. So, few questions arises here. Whether this sleeping posture is related to the earth's magnetic field or there is other spiritual reasons. If the reason is geo-electro magnetic field(GEMF) then the next question arises is how far the knowledge of GEMF is explained in Vedic literatures? And also why it is considered east to be auspicious, it is does not seems to be related with magnetic field? However it might be having relationship with rotation of earth. This needs to be explained or researched thoroughly. Directions are also been given much importance in other aspect of spirituality like Vastu, temple construction, sitting while doing fire sacrifices etc. So there must good reasons for all of these things. And also everything need not be scientific I mean it may not be feasible to explain some of the phenomena with physical rules or rules of physics and mathematics, because they are of different nature. [more to be written].

RELIGION IN GENERAL:

Defining religion plays very important role in understanding what religion is actually. It helps us removing our prejudice that religion is just a belief. The sanskrit word for religion supposed to be DHARMA however some of the dictionary defines religion as a faith of group of people. The word DHARMA however is not defined as a faith or belief in original sanskrit dictionary[4]. The word DHARMA comes from the root word DHAR which means something which sustains.  In other word we can say that the thing which sustains something is fundamental to it, which means a fundamental properties of certain object(living or non-living). So accordingly the DHARMA of SOUL(ATMA) is revealed in Vedic literatures primarily in Bhagavad Gita and also in other literatures  like Bhagavatam and Upanisadas. According to the literature the soul has got three fundamental properties, these are SAT(Eternity), CHIT(Knowledge), and ANANDA(Bliss). The remaining qualities are the derivatives of these three. These three characteristics are very much visible in human being as well as in other living entities. The SAT manifest in terms of the desire that want to live for ever, we want to be happy for ever. The CHIT manifest as the quest for knowledge. And as a result of CHIT we have got science, philosophy, logic etc. The ANANDA manifest as our hankering for everlasting happiness. Now this is the philosophy part of religion. The other part is rituals or daily practices to make the progress in the path of self realization or knowing that we are not this material body but spirit soul[4].

It is very important to understand that the basic characteristic never changes where as the rituals or practices may change according to the time, place, and circumstances. So we may some time find some of the rituals to be inapplicable or invalid in the current context. However this never disqualify the spirituality as the reality based on the fundamental characteristic of spirit soul.

CONCLUSION:

A careful study of science and religion(spirituality) will surely brings harmony between these two realm[5].

REFERENCES:

[1] http://drpawluk.com/education/geomagnetic-fields/

[2a] http://www.nature.com/ncomms/journal/v2/n6/full/ncomms1364.html

[2b] http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110621121319.htm

[3]  http://newscenter.berkeley.edu/2014/10/14/earths-magnetic-field-could-flip-within-a-human-lifetime/

[4]  Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bhagavad Gita As it is, BBT Mumbai.

[5]  Dr. T. D. Singh, Essay on Science and Religion, Bhaktivedanta Institute, Kolkata.

Jaynarayan, Bangalore, India