Ifundisani Indalo?

“Ngiyacela, buza izilwane ezifuywayo, zizokufundisa; nezidalwa ezinamaphiko zamazulu, zizokutshela. Noma ukhathalele umhlaba, uzokufundisa; nezinhlanzi zolwandle zizokumemezela kuwe.”—JOBE 12:7, 8.

EMINYAKENI yamuva nje ososayensi nonjiniyela baye bavumela izitshalo nezilwane ukuba zibafundise ngokoqobo. Ukuze bakhe izinto ezintsha futhi bathuthukise imishini esikhona kakade, bayacwaninga bese belingisa izici ezithile zezinto ezidaliwe—okuwumkhakha obizwa ngokuthi i-biomimetics. Njengoba ucabangela izibonelo ezilandelayo, zibuze, ‘Ubani ngempela okufanele athole udumo ngale miklamo?’

Ukufunda Emaphikweni Omkhomo

Umkhomo ungabafundisani abaklami bezindiza? Kubonakala sengathi bangafunda lukhulu. Umkhomo osukhulile unesisindo esingamathani angaba ngu-30—okuyisisindo seloli eligcwele nswí—futhi unomzimba oqinile ngandlela-thile namaphiko amakhulu. Lesi silwane esingamamitha angu-12 ubude sishesha ngendlela ephawulekayo ngaphansi kwamanzi. Ngokwesibonelo, lapho uzingela ukudla, umkhomo ungase uphenduphenduke njengoba ukhuphuka emanzini ngaphansi kwezimfanzi noma izinhlanzi ezizoba ukudla kwawo, futhi ngaso sonke leso sikhathi ukhipha amagwebu amaningi. Leli netha elincane elingamagwebu, elingamamitha angu-1,5 ububanzi, libutha izilwane ezintanta ngaphezulu. Khona-ke umkhomo ube usukuthí loshe loku kudla kwawo okuhlelwe kahle.

Okwabahlaba umxhwele kakhulu abacwaningi indlela lesi silwane esinomzimba oqinile esasakha ngayo lezi ziyingi ezibonakala zizincane kakhulu. Babona ukuthi imfihlo isendleleni akheke ngayo amaphiko omkhomo. Izingxenye ezingaphambili zamaphiko azibushelelezi njengephiko lendiza, kodwa zimazengazenga, zinamaqhubu alandelanayo okuthiwa ama-tubercle.

Njengoba umkhomo utshuza emanzini, la maqhubu  andisa ijubane lokukhuphuka okwenza ungashoni phansi. Kanjani? Lapho lichaza ngalokhu, iphephabhuku i-Natural History lithi la maqhubu enza amanzi ajikeleze ngokushesha ngendlela ehlelekile phezu kwamaphiko, ngisho noma umkhomo utshuza uqonde ngqo phezulu ukhuphuka emanzini. Ukube amaphiko omkhomo abebushelelezi ngaphambili, ubungeke ukwazi ukwenza lezi ziyingi ezincane lapho ukhuphuka ngoba amanzi abeyojikeleza ngemva kwamaphiko, futhi ngenxa yalokho ungabi namandla okukhuphuka.

Abacwaningi bangakusebenzisa kanjani ngokoqobo lokhu? Kubonakala sengathi amaphiko ezindiza aklanywe njengawemikhomo abeyodinga izingxenye ezimbalwa kakhulu zokulawula umoya ogelezayo. La maphiko abeyophepha kakhulu kube lula nokuwanakekela. Isazi sokusebenza kwemisipha uJohn Long sikholelwa ukuthi ngelinye ilanga maduze nje “singase sibone indiza ngayinye yohlobo lwe-jet inamaqhubu afuze awamaphiko emikhomo.”

Ukulingisa Amaphiko E-seagull

Yiqiniso, amaphiko ezindiza afana nawezinyoni. Kodwa muva nje onjiniyela benze intuthuko ephawulekayo endleleni abalingisa ngayo amaphiko ezinyoni. I-New Scientist iyabika: “Abacwaningi e-University of Florida baye bakha indiza eyisibonelo elawulwa ikude ekwazi ukuntweza emoyeni, itshuze ishone phansi ibuye ikhuphuke njenge-seagull.”

Ama-seagull enza le migilingwane yasemoyeni ngokulokhu evula abuye avale amaphiko awo. Lo magazini uthi: “Le ndiza eyisibonelo engamayintshi angu-24 [amasentimitha angu-60] inomshini omncane olawula uxhaxha lwezinsimbi ezinyakazisa amaphiko ayo,” okuyindlela esuselwa kweyamaphiko e-seagull alawuleka kalula. La maphiko aklanywe ngobuhlakani enza le ndiza encane ikwazi ukutshuza iye phezulu ibuye yehle phakathi kwamabhilidi amade. IButho Lasemoyeni Lase-United States limagange ukwakha indiza elawuleka kalula ngale ndlela eliyoyisebenzisa ekuthungatheni izikhali zamakhemikhali noma zamagciwane abulalayo emadolobheni amakhulu.

Ukulingisa Izinyawo Zesigcilikisha

Izilwane ezihlala ezweni nazo zingasifundisa lukhulu. Ngokwesibonelo, isibankwa esincane esaziwa ngokuthi isigcilikisha sinekhono lokukhuphuka ezindongeni nokubambelela ophahleni. Ngisho nangezikhathi zeBhayibheli, lesi silwane sasaziwa ngaleli khono laso elimangalisayo. (IzAga 30:28) Isigcilikisha sikwazi kanjani ukumelana namandla adonsela phansi?

Okwenza isigcilikisha sikwazi ukunamathela ngisho nasezintweni ezishelela njengengilazi uboya obuncanyana, obubizwa ngokuthi ama-seta, obumboza izinyawo zaso. Izinyawo azikhiphi  nomfi. Kunalokho, zisebenzisa amandla amancane ama-molecule. La ma-molecule akheka phakathi kwezinyawo zaso nendawo esihamba kuyo ayahlangana ngenxa yamandla amancane anamathelisa izinto aziwa ngelithi ama-van der Waals force. Ngokuvamile, amandla adonsela phansi ayawanqoba la mandla, okwenza umuntu angakwazi ukukhuphuka odongeni ngokumane abeke izandla kulo. Nokho, ama-seta amancane esigcilikisha andisa ubukhulu bonyawo lwaso odongeni. Lapho la ma-van der Waals force ephindaphindeka kula ma-seta ayizinkulungwane asezinyaweni zesigcilikisha enza amandla anele okuthwala isisindo salesi sibankwa esincane kanjalo sinamathele odongeni.

Lokhu okutholwe abacwaningi kungase kusetshenziswe kanjani? Izinto zokwenziwa ezilingisa unyawo lwesigcilikisha zingase zithathe indawo ye-Velcro—omunye umkhiqizo owatholakala ngokulingisa imvelo. * Iphephabhuku i-Economist licaphuna omunye umcwaningi ethi izinto ezenziwe nge-“gecko tape” zingaba usizo kakhulu “ekwelapheni lapho kungenakusetshenziswa khona amakhemikhali anamathelayo.”

Ubani Okumelwe Athole Udumo?

Phakathi naleso sikhathi, i-National Aeronautics and Space Administration ibiqhubeka yenza irobhothi elinemilenze eminingi elihamba njengofezela, futhi onjiniyela eFinland sebewakhile kakade ugandaganda onemilenze eyisithupha okwazi ukweqa izithiyo njengoba nje kwenza isinambuzane esikhulu. Abanye abacwaningi baklame indwangu enezinto ezincane eziphephezelayo njengezigaxa zikaphayini ezivuleka ziphinde zivaleke. Enye imboni yezimoto yenza imoto eklanywe njenge-boxfish eshelela ngendlela emangalisayo. Kanti abanye abacwaningi bahlola ukwakheka kwamagobolondo enhlanzi i-abalone okwenza ukuba aqine angalimali lapho eshayiseka, ngenjongo yokwakha izivikelo zomzimba ezilula kodwa eziqinile.

Indalo iye yaveza imiqondo eminingi kangangokuthi abacwaningi baye bahlela isimiso sama-computer esinokwaziswa okuningi ngezimiso ezihlukahlukene zezinto eziphilayo. I-Economist ithi ososayensi bangacwaninga kulesi simiso ukuze bathole “izixazululo ezingokwemvelo zezinkinga ezisemiklamweni yabo.” Kuthiwa “izinto eziphilayo zingabanikazi” balezi zimiso ezingokwemvelo. Ngokuvamile, inkampani noma umuntu unikezwa igunya elingokomthetho njengomnikazi womshini awusungulile noma umqondo othile avele nawo. Uma ichaza leli qoqo lokwaziswa, i-Economist ithi: ‘Uma abacwaningi bethi izinto eziphilayo zingabanikazi bale miqondo yendalo okususelwa kuyo izinto eziklanywayo, empeleni bamane bagcizelela ukuthi yindalo engumnikazi.’

Indalo yayithathaphi yonke le miqondo emihle kangaka? Abacwaningi abaningi bebeyothi le miklamo emihle ebonakala endalweni yavela ngenqubo yokuziphendukela kwemvelo eyathatha izigidi zeminyaka. Nokho, abanye abacwaningi bafinyelela esiphethweni esihlukile. Ephephandabeni i-New York Times ngo-2005, isazi sezinto ezincane kakhulu eziphilayo uMichael Behe, sabhala: “Ubufakazi obuqinile bomklamo [emvelweni] busenza siphethe ngale ndlela eqinisekile: Uma umklamo othile ubonakala ufana, uhamba futhi ukhala njengedada futhi kungekho bufakazi obuphikisana nalobo, khona-ke, sinesisekelo esiqinile sokuphetha ngokuthi lowo mklamo uyidada.” Wafinyelela siphi isiphetho? “Umklamo akumelwe ushaywe indiva ngoba nje kuwumklamo ojwayelekile.”

Ngokuqinisekile, unjiniyela oklama iphiko lendiza eliphephile futhi elisebenza kangcono bekuyofaneleka ukuba anikezwe udumo ngalowo mklamo wakhe. Ngokufanayo, umsunguli webhandeshi elisebenza ezimweni ezihlukahlukene—noma indwangu ethambile noma imoto esebenza kahle—kufanele athole udumo ngomklamo wakhe. Empeleni, umuntu owakha izinto ezisekelwe emklamweni womuntu othile kodwa ahluleke ukunikeza lowo mklami udumo angase abhekwe njengesigebengu.

Ingabe kunengqondo kuwe ukuthi abacwaningi abafunde bagogoda, abasebenzisa izimiso zezinto ezidaliwe ukuze baxazulule izinkinga ezinzima zobunjiniyela, bathi yonke le miqondo ehlakaniphile ebonakala endalweni yavela ngokuziphendukela kwemvelo okungenakuhlakanipha? Uma umklamo osekelwe komunye udinga umklami ohlakaniphile, kuthiwani-ke ngomklamo wokuqala? Empeleni, ubani okufanele athole udumo kakhulu, ingcweti noma umfundi olingisa imiklamo yengcweti?

 Isiphetho Esinengqondo

Ngemva kokubukeza ubufakazi bokuthi kukhona umuntu owaklama indalo, abantu abaningi abacabangayo bavumelana namazwi omhubi, owabhala: “O Jehova, yeka ukuthi miningi kangakanani imisebenzi yakho! Yonke uyenzé ngokuhlakanipha. Umhlaba ugcwele imikhiqizo yakho.” (IHubo 104:24) Umlobi weBhayibheli uPawulu wafinyelela esiphethweni esifanayo. Wabhala: “Ngoba izimfanelo [zikaNkulunkulu] ezingabonakali zibonakala ngokucacile kusukela ekudalweni kwezwe kuye phambili, ngoba ziqondakala ngezinto ezenziwe, ngisho namandla akhe angunaphakade nobuNkulunkulu bakhe.”—Roma 1:19, 20.

Nokho, abantu abaningi abaqotho abahlonipha iBhayibheli futhi abakholelwa kuNkulunkulu bebeyoma kwelokuthi kungenzeka ukuthi uNkulunkulu wasebenzisa ukuziphendukela kwemvelo ukuze adale izimangaliso zendalo esemhlabeni. Kodwa lifundisani iBhayibheli?

[Umbhalo waphansi]

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 5]

Indalo yayithathaphi imiqondo eminingi kangaka emihle?

[Amazwi acashunwe esihlokweni ekhasini 6]

Ubani ongumnikazi wendalo?

 [Izithombe ekhasini 7]

Uma umklamo osekelwe komunye udinga umklami ohlakaniphile, kuthiwani-ke ngomklamo wokuqala?

Izinyawo zesigcilikisha azingcoli, azilokothi zishiye umkhondo, zinamathela kuyo yonke into ngaphandle kwe-“Teflon,” kanti futhi zinamathela zibuye zisuke kalula. Abacwaningi bazama ukuzilingisa

Le ndiza ephenduphendukayo inamaphiko alawuleka kalula njengawe-“seagull”

Umzimba we-“boxfish” obushelelezi ngendlela emangalisayo wanikeza abaklami umqondo wokwakha imoto

[Imithombo]

Airplane: Kristen Bartlett/ University of Florida; gecko foot: Breck P. Kent; box fish and car: Mercedes-Benz USA

[Ibhokisi/Izithombe ekhasini 8]

ABATHUNGATHI BENDLELA ABAHLAKANIPHE NGOKOMZWELO

Izilwane eziningi “zihlakaniphile ngokomzwelo” ngendlela ezithola ngayo indlela okufanele ziyilandele kuyo yonke iplanethi ewuMhlaba. (IzAga 30:24, 25) Cabangela izibonelo ezimbili.

◼ Izintuthwane Ezinemithetho Yomgwaqo Izintuthwane ezihamba zifuna ukudla ziyithola kanjani indlela yokubuyela ekhaya? Abacwaningi e-United Kingdom bathola ukuthi ngaphandle nje kokushiya iphunga elithile eziphawula ngalo indlela, ezinye izintuthwane zisebenzisa izibalo zama-engela ukuze zakhe imizila ekwenza kube lula ukuthola indlela eya ekhaya. Ngokwesibonelo, i-New Scientist ithi izintuthwane zohlobo lwe-pharaoh “zakha imizila ehlukana ngama-degree angu-50 kuya kwangu-60 esuka endaweni ezihlala kuyo.” Yini ephawulekayo ngale mizila? Njengoba lezi zintuthwane ziqondiswa imizwelo engokwemvelo, zithi uma zifika lapho le mizila ihlukana khona njengoba zibuyela ekhaya, zithathe umzila ochezuka kancane oqonda ngqó ekhaya. Lesi sihloko sithi: ‘Indlela yalezi zintuthwane yokwakha imizila ehlukana ngama-degree athile, yenza kube lula ukuhamba kwazo kulolu xhaxha lwemizila, ikakhulu lapho ziphambana endleleni, futhi kwenza intuthwane ngayinye ingachithi amandla ayo ngokuthatha indlela okungeyona.’

◼ Amakhampasi Ezinyoni Izinyoni eziningi ziyithola ngokunembile indlela yazo nakuba zihamba amabanga amade ezimweni zezulu ezihlukahlukene. Kanjani? Abacwaningi bathole ukuthi izinyoni ziyakwazi ukuzwa amandla kazibuthe omhlaba. Nokho, iphephabhuku i-Science lithi ‘imigqa yamandla kazibuthe omhlaba iyahlukahluka izindawo ngezindawo futhi ayiyibonisi ngaso sonke isikhathi indlela eqondile eya ngasenyakatho.’ Yini-ke evimbela lezi zinyoni ezifudukayo ukuba zingaduki? Kubonakala sengathi njalo kusihlwa, izinyoni zivumelanisa ikhampasi yazo yangaphakathi nokushona kwelanga. Njengoba ukuma kwelanga lapho lishona kushintshashintsha kuye ngenkathi yonyaka nokuthi lelo lizwe lingakuphi nenkabazwe, leli phephabhuku i-Science lithi abacwaningi bacabanga ukuthi lezi zinyoni kumelwe ukuba ziyakwazi ukuzivumelanisa nalolu shintsho ngenxa “yewashi lomzimba elizitshelayo ukuthi isikhathi sini sonyaka.”

Ubani owenza ukuba izintuthwane ziqonde izibalo zama-engela? Ubani owafaka ikhampasi newashi lomzimba ezinyonini futhi wenza ukuba ingqondo yazo ikwazi ukufunda ukwaziswa okunikezwa yila mathuluzi? Ukuziphendukela kwemvelo okungenakho ukuhlakanipha? Noma uMdali ohlakaniphile?

[Umthombo]

© E.J.H. Robinson 2004