The rare planet doctrine—the conclusion that Earth has many unique, apparently designed, features that enable it to support life and in particular advanced life—is now well established within the scientific community. Likewise, the discovery of over 300 extrasolar gas planets combined with spacecraft missions to explore the outer solar system is beginning to establish the rare gas giant planet system doctrine.
Life on Other PlanetsBacteria or Boulders? Methane and Life on Mars
During the summer of 2005, Paramount Pictures released a remake of H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds, a story about a Martian invasion of Earth. The real "invasion," however, has been occurring in reverse: it's NASA and ESA (European Space Agency) scientists who have been probing Mars. 9th International Society for the Study of the Origins of Life Meeting
Summary by Fuz Rana & Hugh Ross
A Spectrum of Views on ETI
4/1/1998 The “Christian position” on extraterrestrial intelligence (ETI) has been a matter of debate since the time of Thomas Aquinas.1, 2 Scholars have taken sides for various biblical reasons. Those who believe ETI exists see it as a display of God’s omnipotence and creativity. A Twin or Not a Twin?
4/1/1999 All the star-planet systems discovered so far represent extremely hostile environments for life. GAS GIANTS such as Jupiter lack the capacity to support life. Aliens From Another World? Getting Here From There
4/1/2001 A rising challenge to Christianity, both within and beyond the borders of America, springs from the popular obsession with UFOs (unidentified flying objects) and ETI (extraterrestrial intelligent life). Anthropic Principle: A Precise Plan for Humanity
1/1/2002 Human beings climb. Always have, always will. First hills, then mountains, then pinnacles so high they're called "death zones." That's as high as legs could carry them, but not high enough. So people invented balloons, blimps, airplanes, and spacecraft, the higher the better—to a point. Anybody Out There?
David H Rogstad, Ph.D. Ever since childhood I have been fascinated with the idea that there are other intelligent beings living in outer space. At the age of seven, I heard about the crash of a recovered on a Astrology: Help, Hoax, or Harm?
by Hugh Ross, Ph.D. To unravel any possible confusion over what astrology is, I would like to begin by establishing what it is not. First, astrology is not science, though a number of its adherents claim it to be. How can I make such a strong statement? Consider the following points: Bacteria or Boulders? Methane and Life on Mars
During the summer of 2005, Paramount Pictures released a remake of H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds, a story about a Martian invasion of Earth. Biospheres Deemed Failures
7/1/2001 Two tests of space travelers’ ability to support themselves independent of Earth have taken place in the Arizona desert (see www.bio2.edu). In 1991 a team of eight adults were sealed inside a 3.15-acre “capsule” for a two-year stint. Black Holes, Singularities, and Wormholes
4/1/2001 Two tests of space travelers’ ability to support themselves independent of Earth have taken place in the Arizona desert (see www.bio2.edu). In 1991 a team of eight adults were sealed inside a 3.15-acre “capsule” for a two-year stint. Blind Faith Fuels Origin-of-life Quest: A Report on ISSOL '99
by Fazale Rana The biological community’s mindlock on a natural-process origin of life seems to hold, but its irrationality becomes increasingly obvious with time. Hugh Ross and I made this observation as we spent time recently among some of the most distinguished scholars in the origin-of-life ranks at the combined 12th International Conference on the Origin of Life and the 9th ISSOL (International Society for the Study of the Origin of Life) meeting at the University of California, San Diego.
Continental Landmass Growth and the Genesis 1 Chronology
10/8/2007 Thanks to a spectacular new discovery concerning the geophysical history of the earth, one more detail in biblical author Moses’ chronology of Earth’s creation history has been scientifically verified. The breakthrough yields yet more evidence for the divine inspiration of the Bible’s words and message. First, let me offer some personal background for this discovery. Design of the Solar System’s Gas Giants
8/11/2008 New understanding of the solar system by team of five theoreticians from three different continents has produced even more evidence for the design of the solar system’s gas giant planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune) for the benefit of advanced life on Earth. The masses and orbits of the solar system’s four gas giant planets are crucial for life on planet Earth. Designed to Live, Designed to Die
1/1/2008 "Why don't we see new species emerging now?" Charles Darwin faced this question nearly 150 years ago when he proposed the theory of evolution. His answer–all Earth's habitats are full. Designed to Shake
4/1/2007 My family lives in one of the fastest-rising neighborhoods in the nation—not economically, but topographically. Our home rises by an average of 9 millimeters (1/3 inch) per year. Sometimes the elevation gain (via earthquake) seems a bit disturbing. Sometimes it's destructive. Digging on Mars with Phoenix
The Phoenix spacecraft that recently landed on Mars is getting a lot of attention in the media. This NASA mission left Earth about 9 months ago and successfully landed a spacecraft near Mars’ north Do Humans and Chimps Belong In The Same Genus?
Fazale (Fuz) Rana, Ph.D. A recent scientific study created a stir by asserting that humans and chimpanzees belong to the same genus.1 Morris Goodman, an evolutionary biologist from Wayne State University, and his research team generated this excitement when they compared human and chimpanzee genes.2 Does the Probability for ETI = 1?
12/3/2007 Earlier this fall (September 25) I had a three-minute debate on Mancow’s Morning Madhouse, a nationally syndicated radio show, on the topic “Is there scientific evidence for intelligent life in the universe?” My debate opponent was Amir Aczel, a nationally known mathematician and best-selling author. Doubts About Some Water on Mars
David H Rogstad, Ph.D. The question of whether there’s water on Mars has, once again, come into public view. This time doubts are being cast on previous conclusions that water is a prevalent force on the surface of Mars, Effect of Distant Orbiters on Habitability
6/4/2007 Distant bodies in a planetary system are like some distant in-laws. Even when they live far away and never visit they can still cause lots of problems. Exotic Life Sites: The Feasibility of Far-Out Habitats
10/1/2001 People often joke about the certainty of death and taxes. Astronomers can add another certainty to that short list: Sooner or later someone will ask, “What do you think about the possibility of life out there?” First Detection of Earth-sized Planet?
10/1/2000 A team of 41 astronomers from Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and the United States took advantage of a naturally occurring telescope to image a small planet orbiting a star somewhere between us and the Galactic Bulge (the dense concentration of stars that exists at the core of our Milky Way galaxy). Follow the Water...to Life?
by Hugh Ross, Ph.D. Astrobiology, the search for life beyond Earth, is the fastest growing scientific discipline, at least in terms of increased government funding. However, despite a quadrupling of funds in just six years (compared to a vastly smaller increase for all the other sciences) and despite decades of diligent searching, no one has found any evidence for life beyond planet Earth. Yet scientists in the astrobiology community and the politicians who fund them remain convinced that life will inevitably be found. Galactic Habitable Zones
In April 2008, the fifth Astrobiology Science Conference convened in Santa Clara, California. According to its mission statement, the SETI Institute, which hosts these conferences, seeks to “explore, understand and explain the origin, nature and prevalence of life in the universe.” Ideal Biomarker
by Hugh Ross Astrobiology still ranks as the only data-free discipline in science. Part of the problem is that in their search for signs of present or past existing life beyond planet Earth, astrobiologists have been attempting to detect biomarker molecules that already are known to yield ambiguous results. In the Habitable Zone But With No Water
7/11/2007 Planets around M dwarf stars have generated a lot of interest lately—especially with the recent discovery of an earth-mass planet in the region where liquid water could exist on the surface. Interstellar Rocks Miss the Mark
4/1/2001 Where, when, and how did life originate? Answers to these questions prove more elusive than ever to the science community—specifically to those who demand a naturalistic answer. Is It All a Mirage?
David H. Rogstad, Ph.D. “Follow the water” has been the mantra of scientists looking for the evidence of life, past or present, beyond our own planet. Observers of Mars in past centuries were filled with hope that Mars Is Life Possible on a Moon?
12/10/2007 A team of American astronomers recently announced the discovery of the first known planet outside our solar system to spend its entire orbit within the “habitable zone.”1 When astronomers talk about a habitable zone for a planet they simply mean that the planet is orbiting within that distance from its star where surface liquid water would be possible–assuming the atmosphere of the planet is fine-tuned so as to trap the just right amount of heat from the planet’s star. Life on Titan?
by Hugh Ross Members of the Cassini-Huygens mission to Saturn’s moons have published the first of their findings from the second close flyby by the planetary probe of Saturn’s largest moon, Titan. They announced that they had found evidence that Titan might possess a liquid water ocean below several tens of kilometers of surface ice Life Zones in Space
10/1/1999 Life is hardy, but it needs some basics—conditions which can only be found in systems of planets orbiting stars. No wonder these systems hold such fascination for scientists, for everyone! In October 1999, Science focused an entire edition on planetary systems. Live Here or Nowhere
10/1/1999 In the latter half of this decade, science revealed the importance of our solar system’s position in the galaxy between two spiral arms, where certain life-disturbing phenomena rarely occur and where our view of the galaxy and of the universe beyond is unobstructed.1 A new piece of research by two Russian astronomers shows that our position is special in yet another respect.2 Our sun and its satellites stay between the spiral arms. Mars Life: A Second Opinion
by Fazale R. Rana The “possible” discovery of Martian life made headlines again in March 2001. In a strained effort to uphold the evolutionary paradigm, secularists seize any hope of a Martian origin-of-life scenario with gleeful enthusiasm. Mars Rover Findings- the Real Story
by Hugh Ross, Ph.D. Enthusiasm and hope for a possible Martian origin of life have suffered a major scientific setback. The prestigious journal Science recently exploded most of the media's "life-site" hype over the latest-and still laudable-Mars mission.1 Twelve peer-reviewed articles tell the true story: no lake and no life chemistry. However, Spirit Rover's remarkable instruments did reveal at least five relevant discoveries. Mars: Evidence for E.T. or Confirmation of Design?
A review of the data by Dr. Hugh Ross Interest in the highly publicized Martian meteorite, ALH84001, still runs high. Ordinarily I would be thrilled to see science news make headlines for months on end. But in this case, I see a serious distortion of science and tabloid-like treatment in reputable news media; signs of the times, perhaps. Martian Climate Instabilities Compared to Earth’s
7/28/2008 Sometimes the shortest path to learn about the scientific details of our planet Earth is to study similar details on other planets where the phenomena under investigation are simpler to investigate and understand. Mars is a good example of such a pathway. It also is a good example of how the study of other planets can expose hidden evidences for supernatural design in our own planet. Metal Matters
4/1/2001 Uranium and thorium play a vital role in the plate tectonics and volcanism of planets. Consequently, the amount of these two metallic elements influences the ability of any planet to support advanced life. Milky Way Galaxy’s Tiny Black Hole
9/1/2008 Through a variety of means astronomers have determined that a black hole exists at the center of the Milky Way Galaxy. The latest and most definitive measurement puts the mass of that black hole at 3,6000,000 times the mass of the Sun. Multiverse Musings - Are We Simulations?
Jeff Zweerink, Ph.D. In past Multiverse Musings TNRTBs, I have described not just one, but two bizarre implications of the multiverse. This TNRTB addresses a third. Multiverse Musings-Boltzmann Brains
Jeff Zweerink, Ph.D. It is widely accepted that cosmologists, astronomers, physicists, chemists and geologists have detected fine-tuning and design in the universe. Natural Sugar Synthesis?
by Hugh Ross Compulsory features for the replicating molecules of life (DNA and RNA) include five-carbon sugars, namely deoxyribose for DNA and ribose for RNA. These sugars form the backbone of DNA and RNA. Thus, for a naturalistic explanation for the origin of life to become a possibility, some nonbiological source of five-carbon sugars must be found. Oceans Under Ice
By Fazale R. Rana Recent work at the University of Arizona leaves planetary scientists who have been searching for life on the Jovian moon Europa skating on thin ice. However, the actual problem involves thick ice. This water world encased in a continuous sheet of ice is one of NASA’s chief targets in its quest to find life beyond Earth. Photosynthesis Is Not Enough
9/22/2008 After the first appearance of life on Earth, the Great Oxygenation Event marked the biggest chemical transformation of the planet. This event occurred approximately 2.4 billion years ago. The oxygen content of Earth’s atmosphere rose from just one thousandth of a percent (10-5) of its present level (about 21 percent of the total volume of the atmosphere) to several percent of its present level. Planet Migration Tests Solar System Design
10/29/2007 Astronomers have discovered over 250 planets outside of our solar system residing in over 200 different planetary systems. However, all of these extrasolar planets exhibit characteristics that would eliminate the possibility of another planet residing in the same planetary system that could possibly support advanced life for a brief time or even primitive life for a long time. Planet Quest- A Recent Success
By Hugh Ross Using the world’s largest optical telescope, the 400-inch KECK, three American astronomers recently discovered two Saturn-sized planets outside our solar system. Both orbit “main sequence” stars (stable, hydrogen-burning stars) like our sun.1 Planet Rotation Design
10/1/2007 Scientists have recognized for some time that the rotation rate of a planet must be fine-tuned to make advanced life on that planet possible. If the planet rotates too slowly, the temperature differences between day and night will become too extreme. If the planet rotates too quickly, the jet streams will become too laminar and too stable, causing parts of the planet to be too wet and the rest to be bone dry. Rare Earth Confirmed
David H. Rogstad, Ph.D. A couple of months ago I discussed an upgrade to the Arecibo Radio Telescope that would make it more effective for searching for intelligent life in outer space (SETI). That article included Rare Solar System Location
10/20/2008 Many astronomers have noted that the present solar system environment is amazingly benign for advanced life. The solar system’s current position (in between two nearby exceptionally symmetrical and widely separated spiral arms that are devoid of any significant spurs or feathers) keeps the solar system’s planets well-protected from gravitational interactions with stars and dense molecular clouds. Search for Planets Draws a Blank
4/1/2001 Is the universe really rife with life sites, as Carl Sagan asserted? Research data continues to shape an answer to this question, but the weight of evidence falls, thus far, on the negative side. The ever-optimistic naturalist must work harder and more imaginatively to keep up appearances—and hope. Search for Reservoirs of the Building Blocks of Life
by Hugh Ross Less than a two-hour drive from Reasons To Believe’s headquarters is an amusement park called Legoland, where one can gaze at amazingly complex structures built from a rather small set of simple building blocks called Legos. Even the simplest life-form is orders of magnitude more complicated than anything on display at Legoland. Nevertheless, like the Legoland structures, life molecules are assemblages of a relatively small set of comparatively simple molecules. Searching for Earths
10/1/2007 I once saw a toy that served as a visual example of the saying "one in a million". It consisted of a clear plastic ball about 4 inches in diameter filled with literally a million little plastic cubes. All were painted silver but one, which was painted red. The object was to find the red cube! Needless to say, finding it was no mean task. Smaller Stars Offer Little Hope
5/2/2007 The recent discovery of an Earth-sized planet around a nearby star generated a lot of excitement in the scientific community - and rightly so. For one thing, most exoplanets (planets outside the solar system) are gas giants like Jupiter and thus have no potential to sustain life. The Heavens Resound with a Message for Mankind
1/1/1999 Three astronomers have discovered yet another of the many delicate balances operating in our solar system, balances that protect life on this planet. Their investigation of planetary resonances (the intensification of gravitational effects resulting from orbital patterns and repeated, regular planetary alignments) indicates that without an Earth-Moon system just like ours, The Oxygen–Antioxidant Paradox
by Hugh Ross The oxygen-antioxidant paradox seriously challenges all naturalistic models attempting to explain the history of life on Earth. Consequently, confirming its validity would do much to establish a biblical creation model. The results of a recent test have provided that validity. Too Much Sulfur
10/6/2008 Recent studies conducted on Venus and Mars illustrate just how carefully fine-tuned a planet’s abundance of sulfur must be for life to be possible. Sulfur plays a crucial role in life chemistry. This fact became personal for me a year ago when I was diagnosed as sulfur deficient. Many protein functions crucially depend on sulfur. Fortunately, most agricultural soils contain plenty of sulfur that vegetables, like onions and garlic, readily absorb. Too Salty for Life
David H. Rogstad, Ph.D. The presence of liquid water is thought to be a necessary condition for life on a planet. Consequently, the search for life outside of Earth has embraced the mantra, “follow the water”. But, Unnecessary Apologetic Baggage
I travel frequently for work and pleasure. Whether loading up the minivan for a vacation or packing bags to fly to a speaking event, I work hard to avoid carrying unnecessary baggage. Viking Invasion of Mars Thwarted
Posted by Fazale ‘Fuz’ Rana, Ph.D. New Study Indicates No Organics in the Martian SoilWater on Mars Too Salty for Life
Posted by Fazale ‘Fuz’ Rana, Ph.D. I always know when our water purification system isn’t working right. All it takes is a gulp of water from the kitchen tap. The intense salty taste followed by spewed water in the sink is a telltale Water on Mars: What Does It Mean?
by Hugh Ross On June 22, NASA astronomers held a press conference to announce their discovery of “recently” cut gullies, indicators of flowing water, on the Martian surface.1, 2 The discovery stirred excitement for several reasons—some practical, some ideological, and some (perhaps) political. Water, Water, Everywhere…
By Hugh Ross, Ph.D. Without water life is impossible. Without "drinkable" (liquid) water, life is still impossible. The problem with water in the universe is perhaps best depicted in Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s epic poem, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner: "Water, water every where / Nor any drop to drink." When Life From Mars Isn't
David H. Rogstad, Ph.D. When the Mars meteorite ALH-84001 discovered in 1984 in the Antarctic, was announced in 1996 it got a lot of media attention. Even President Clinton commented. At the time it was very exciting for Where to Look for Earth's First Life
Hugh Ross, Ph.D. There's a down side to earthquakes and mudslides far beyond what most people are aware of. Plate tectonics and erosion are responsible for destroying the fossilized remains of Earth's first life. Life on Other PlanetsLife on Other Planets |