From Birds to Booms: Messages, Machines, and Nature

Are All Electronic Devices Actually Computers?

Today, computers are all around us, in homes, businesses, cars, and even refrigerators. But what exactly makes something a computer?

A device is considered a computer if it does four things: it receives input (like data from a user), stores the data, processes it in some smart way, and then produces some kind of output. So, based on that, we can ask: is an ATM (automated teller machine) a computer? What about a kitchen mixer?

It’s interesting to look at our daily devices this way. Thinking about what qualifies as a computer helps us appreciate the complex design and wisdom behind modern technology and how everything in our world reflects Hashem’s gift of understanding to humankind.

How Did Pigeons Help People Communicate?

Before cell phones, email, and even the mail system, people still needed ways to send important messages across long distances. Believe it or not, one of the earliest “delivery systems” involved birds specifically, homing pigeons.

These special birds have an amazing natural ability: no matter how far they are taken from home, they can find their way back with surprising speed. That’s why, even back in ancient Egypt, armies would take pigeons with them into battle. When they needed to send a message to their leaders or families, they would attach a tiny scroll to the pigeon and release it. The bird would fly back home, bringing the news safely.

The rock pigeon was the main bird used for this kind of communication, though a few other types were trained as well. It’s incredible to think that Hashem created a creature with such a built-in sense of direction, long before GPS existed.

Which Volcano Threw Rocks the Farthest?

One of the most powerful volcanic eruptions in recorded history happened in Iceland, at a volcano called Askja. Located on the Dyngjufjöll mountain range in the eastern-central highlands of the country, Askja rises 1510 meters high and spans 50 square kilometers.

At its center is a deep lake called Lake Öskjuvatn, the deepest lake in Iceland, at 217 meters. In 1875, Askja erupted with such unbelievable force that rocks from the eruption flew more than 1000 kilometers, all the way to mainland Europe!

This kind of natural power reminds us how small we are next to the might of Hashem’s creation. In Jewish thought, events in nature whether calm or dramatic, never random. They are signs of Hashem’s greatness, and we are meant to reflect on them with humility and awe.