such potential

It is widely known that Muslims made great contributions to scientific fields, particularly betweeen the 8th and 13th centuries. In medicine, Muslims are known to have developed the use of anesthetics and thus made headway in many kinds of surgeries. They also successfully investigated the inner workings of the human eye and the first successful cataract surgery is attributed to an Egyptian surgeon. In Mathematics, the world Algebra is of Arab origin, while the number Zero and the decimal system were developed by Muslim mathematicians. In astronomy, the names of many stars are Arabic in origin and the earliest astrolabs were discovered in the Middle East. The earth's circumference, accurate within 70 miles, was calculated in the 8th century by a Muslim scholar. There is no dearth of intellectual legacy in non-scientific fields, either. To me, however, the scientific discoveries are astounding given their prominence in modern science and technology.

Why then do we never manage to ascertain the start of Ramadaan until the midnight before it starts? Why does half of the Muslim world celebrate it on one day while the other half the following day? Why is there any ambiguity at all?

Actually, the way things are going it seems this is the least of our problems.