Üsküdar University Founding Rector, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “The universe is a product of intelligent design. The belief in Tawhid is the closest explanation of existence to reason as a mathematical reality. Therefore, not being seen cannot be proof of non-existence.”
Neurology Specialist Prof. Dr. Sultan Tarlacı, who developed a tremor-preventing wristband inspired by earthquakes, said, “We developed a wearable device in the form of a wristband that does not contain any drugs or chemicals. This device shows its effect immediately upon being worn. It has an effectiveness of approximately 76 percent. It also has no side effects.”
Prof. Dr. Osman Çerezci: “We should especially not sleep with the television and computer on in the bedroom.”, Psychiatry Specialist Prof. Dr. Gül Eryılmaz: “Either we are chasing someone or we are running away.”
TEDX Üsküdar University 2023, organized at the Nermin Tarhan Conference Hall of Üsküdar University Main Campus, was held with the main theme of “Changing Human, Changing Science” and under the title “Holistic Science, From Philosophy to Medicine.”
At TEDX Üsküdar University 2023, which hosted many important experts in their fields, Üsküdar University Founding Rector, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, who gave a speech titled “Does Religion Enter the Laboratory?”, stated that two common points in religious sciences and natural sciences can be brought together, and quoted Hawking’s answer to the question ‘Why does the universe exist?’ as ‘If we find the answer to that, it would be the ultimate triumph of human reason—for then we would know the mind of God.’
Tarhan stated that the ‘Higgs Boson’ thesis received the Nobel Prize in 2013, adding, “Since the existence of dark matter has been proven, the universe is not empty.”
Pointing to the functioning of the human brain, Tarhan said, “It seems that there is a counterpart of the universe in space within the human brain. This suggests an intelligent design to us,” and explained Hegel’s saying ‘What is reasonable is real; and what is real is reasonable,’ and that things brought into the laboratory of reason are real.
According to Hegel, logic is the most fundamental science
Tarhan also stated that according to Hegel, logic is the most fundamental science, referring to the three stages of Hegel's dialectic—thesis, antithesis, and synthesis—and said, “The thesis says energy exists, the antithesis says energy does not exist, electricity emerges as a synthesis. God exists is the thesis, God does not exist is the antithesis, the synthesis is at the end of the presentation…”
Tarhan, also providing information about ‘modal logic,’ explained that the actual universe dictates a necessary truth: ‘The angles of a triangle in a Euclidean plane are 180 degrees’; the impossible universe dictates a necessary falsehood: ‘The angles of a triangle in a Euclidean plane are 192 degrees,’ and noted that in the probabilistic universe, a different result should emerge on another plane.
Tarhan stated that in the actual universe, ‘God exists or does not exist’ cannot be demonstrated, and in the possible universe, ‘can it be demonstrated?’ is the question, adding that Einstein referred to the relativity of time according to quantum mechanics.
The proposition ‘The universe is an intelligent design’…
Tarhan, explaining that the relativity of matter was also clarified in 2022, pointed to the proposition “The universe is an intelligent design.”
Drawing attention to the necessary truth that “Every design requires a designer,” Tarhan said, “If there is a design, if there is a database, and that database has transformed into a design, then the existence of this information by chance is impossible. This is a necessary truth.”
Tarhan, also stating that probabilities above 10 to the power of 50 are mathematically impossible, said, “There must be a designer. The equivalent of this in religious literature is the concept of Vacibul Wujud (Necessary Being).”
Tarhan, stating that there are currently 4,300 religions in the world, asked, “If there is an external will, an external intelligence, which of these could be true?”
Tarhan also related that Hawking, who advocated for the multiverse, was asked ‘If there are other lives, why don't they visit us?’, and noted that Hawking stated ‘They would come and invade Earth.’
“The belief in Tawhid is the closest explanation of existence to reason as a mathematical reality.”
Tarhan, also reminding that Spinoza said ‘God is nature’ and that nature is very intelligent, continued:
“How will we proceed? How should it be? This power must be unique and singular, one who knows everything, controls everything, possesses all power, and acts with wisdom and meaning. Among all 4,300 religions, the concept of God that best fits this description is the belief in Tawhid, which is why I state as a mathematical reality: being invisible, or not being seen, cannot be proof of non-existence. The laboratory of reason says Tawhid…
In summary, the universe is a product of intelligent design. The belief in Tawhid is the closest explanation of existence to reason as a mathematical reality. Therefore, not being seen cannot be proof of non-existence. Our inability to see an external power, will, or intelligence does not mean it does not exist. For this reason, after quantum physics, we now need to restructure, rewrite, and re-evaluate our concept of God. The belief in Tawhid is not just a belief; it is a mathematical truth.”
They drew inspiration from earthquakes in the treatment of hand tremors
Üsküdar University NPİSTANBUL Hastanesi Neurology Specialist Prof. Dr. Sultan Tarlacı, in his speech titled “Hand Tremor Treatment Inspired by Earthquake Isolators,” stated the following:
“I will explain how a medical device we developed with inspiration from nature came about and its effect. How can an earthquake inspire the development of a medical device? We are an earthquake country, and because we live intertwined with earthquakes, when you look at nature, there are very clear relationships between what is below and what is above. When you see this, you can transfer knowledge gained in one area to another.
What we call an earthquake is the vibration of the earth's crust. The medical equivalent of vibration is tremor. The tremor of the earth's crust also occurs during earthquakes. What inspired us are the seismic dampers placed under buildings. That is, the separator that prevents earthquake waves from shaking the building.”
Medications also have many side effects
Tarlacı stated that when it comes to tremors, there are two main forms: Parkinson's and essential tremor, adding, “The effects of the medications used are quite weak. On average, we can improve the daily lives of 30 percent of patients. The side effects of the medications are also quite numerous. The effects of physiotherapy applications are quite limited. Apart from these, the most effective method is to implant a pacemaker in the brain or to intentionally damage a specific area of the brain, but these methods carry certain risks.”
We developed a device in the form of a wristband
Tarlacı explained that some mechanical devices have been developed to prevent tremors since the 1970s, stating, “However, many of them are quite difficult to use in daily life, and none of them have been released from the laboratory to the public. We wondered if we could develop a device like a seismic damper. As a result, we developed a wearable device in the form of a wristband that does not contain any drugs or chemicals. This device shows its effect immediately upon being worn. It has an effectiveness of approximately 76 percent. It also has no side effects.”
“We should especially not sleep with the television and computer on in the bedroom.”
Üsküdar University Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences Dean Prof. Dr. Osman Çerezci, in his speech titled “Electromagnetic Pollution, Its Effects on Our Health, and Protection,” pointed to electromagnetic fields and their health effects, saying, “The most affected groups will be the elderly and children. We must protect against the negative effects this exposure will have on bodies.”
Çerezci also stated that the effects include Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, heart rhythm disorders, leukemia, and damage to sperm cells, adding, “We should especially not sleep with the television and computer on in the bedroom.”
The black box of romantic relationships: the power of memory
Üsküdar University NPİSTANBUL Hastanesi Psychiatry Specialist Prof. Dr. Gül Eryılmaz, in her speech titled “The Black Box of Relationships: Implicit Memory and Romantic Relationships,” spoke about the power of memory as the black box of romantic relationships.
Eryılmaz stated that among air pollution, obesity, excessive alcohol, and loneliness, loneliness is the most lethal, adding, “It is our destiny to attach and form relationships. Among dyadic relationships, partner relationships are much more sensitive and fragile. The factors affecting these are equally important.”
Gül Eryılmaz said, “When we fall in love or are in a relationship, this relationship experience opens the black box in our brain. If the information in this black box is negative—because romantic relationships do not always bring health, they are also a source of threat, and the most important threat is the threat of not being loved and being abandoned. Therefore, if the information in this file is negative, it affects our current relationships.”
Either we are chasing someone or we are running away
Referring to how this black box is formed, Eryılmaz said, “After birth, the first relationships begin to be established with the mother or caregiver. These first experiences are received through the body. As time progresses, the child then looks at themselves through the mother's eyes. When they look at themselves through the mother's eyes, the information ‘I am good, I am valuable, I am loved’ goes to the brain this time. All this information determines an address in the black box regarding the security of future relationships and whether they will be loved. When a relationship experience is lived, this information opens up and can project the ugly face of the past onto the present relationship almost without a time stamp.”
Eryılmaz, also explaining that they see the problems people experience in romantic relationships along two main axes, said, “On the vertical axis, we generally see power and competition issues. On the horizontal axis, we see more attachment issues. People react to the problems they encounter on both axes in two ways. Either we are chasing someone or we are running away. As a result, the information in the black box brings us to this point.”
Does a weightless environment change genetics?
Asst. Prof. Dr. Cihan Taştan from the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Üsküdar University Transgenic Cell Technologies and Epigenetic Application and Research Center (TRGENMER), who delivered a presentation on “In Pursuit of Undiscovered Genetics in Space and Antarctica,” stated that humanity possesses a vast genetic material comprising a genetic book of three billion letters and over twenty-five thousand distinct genetic elements, yet for thousands of years, has been a creature compelled to live solely under terrestrial conditions, focused on life on Earth.
Taştan, stating that humanity must now force itself to live in a space environment, shared the following information in his speech:
“We genetic scientists must also investigate how much our genetic material can adapt to space. In a movie, a billionaire with cancer lives in a low-oxygen, weightless environment, saying, ‘It’s the only thing that will prevent cancer from finishing me.’ I am researching exactly the same thing. How is our own genetic material affected in a near-zero gravity environment? Even within plants, there are genetic expressions that sense gravity and contain the impression and message of counteracting it. Why shouldn't our own genetic material sense gravity and react to it? To investigate this, we need a weightless environment or another controlled environment where gravity is increased. These two environments are space and Antarctica. For this research, we have started collaborations with the Turkish astronaut who will go to space in January.”
TEDX Üsküdar University continued with diverse topics
At TEDX Üsküdar University, Asst. Prof. Dr. Elvan Çiftçi from NPİSTANBUL Hastanesi presented “These Are Not in My Hands,” Clinical Psychologist Özgenur Taşkın presented “Mental Labyrinths: A Journey into the Depths of Obsessions,” Clinical Psychologist Penbesel Özdemir Yağız presented “Can Anyone Hear Me? Living in the Shadow of the Earthquake,” Clinical Psychologist Çağrı Akyol Çevirir presented “High Intelligence, Substance Use, and the Path to Messianism,” and Clinical Psychologist Aybeniz Urhan presented “One of Adolescence's Biggest Problems: Eating Disorder.”
