Phosphorus plays a crucial role in life chemistry. Phosphates serve as the backbone for all nucleic acids and are the major repository of chemical energy for metabolism. The human body contains about 11,000 parts per million of phosphorus by weight.
Solar System DesignA Bright Young Sun
10/1/2003 Caltech astrophysicists Juliana Sackmann and Arnold Boothroyd have achieved a breakthrough. In spring 2003, they unveiled a new and more accurate model for the Sun’s life cycle, a model that addresses and may help resolve “the faint Sun paradox.” This new model has significant implications for God’s involvement in life’s origin on Earth—as well as for the subsequent history of life, including human life. A Comment on Humility Theology
1/1/2002 The anthropic principle faces serious challenges from outside the disciplines of astronomy and physics. Many scholars in the humanities and social sciences fear that the anthropic principle will somehow legitimize false notions of human supremacy, justifying exploitation of the environment to the detriment of other species. A Complete Sample of Extrasolar Planets
5/25/2009 Researchers first detected a star-orbiting planet outside the solar system in 1995.1 It was found orbiting the star 51 Pegasi. Today, astronomers know of 347 extrasolar planets. A Critique of Victor Stenger's Paper – Intelligent Design: The New Stealth Creationism
2/8/2001 "Intelligent Design is the new buzz word for what used to be called 'creation science.' ” With the quote above as his summary statement, Victor Stenger, Professor Emeritus, University of Hawaii, seeks to discard the work of some of today’s great pioneering scientists. 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. Bombardment Makes Civilization Possible
What is the common thread among the following items: pacemakers, spark... Chronology of Early Solar System Events
I enjoy traveling, whether taking a trip to visit relatives for Christmas or a summertime vacation to witness the beauty of creation. However, any trip with my family (wife and five kids) requires lots of preparation in order to achieve success. Clothes must be packed, bills paid, lodging reserved, and the list goes on. Climatology Reveals Creation Clues
10/1/2001 By day, climatologist Kevin Birdwell seeks answers to mysteries of human history via climatological records. By night, he uses that research to enhance his teaching at a Christian college. Close Encounters of a Deadly Kind
4/1/2000 Recent studies of the Edgeworth-Kuiper asteroid belt reveal the “amazing circumstances” required to make our solar system a suitable place for life.1 The belt itself is a recent discovery. It consists of thousands of asteroids orbiting beyond Neptune. In January 2000, an international team of astronomers recognized that the orbits of these asteroids faithfully record our sun’s close encounters with other stars over the past 4.6 billion years. Comments on Comets
Some members of the creationist community have astronomers’ explanation for the replenishment of short-period comets in our solar system. Instead, these skeptics argue that the Coreless Terrestrial Planets
1/19/2009 It is now obvious to all planetary scientists that Earth possesses many apparently designed features that have enabled it to support life for billions of years, and to support advanced life in particular. As I described in last week’s Today’s New Reasons To Believe, two MIT planetary scientists added to the list of these features. Debris Disks and Planets Show Solar System Design
8/31/2009 Analysis of objects orbiting stars has provided evidence for the supernatural design of our solar system. Deep Core Tests for the Age of the Earth
7/1/2005 The clash between young-earth and old-earth creationists can seem bewilderingly technical at times. Is there any easy-to-understand scientific data for determining whether Earth is young or old? In recent months, new evidence has emerged that may be simple enough for everyone to understand, regardless of science background-as simple as counting tree rings. Defusing the Antimatter Bomb
5/19/2009 Design and the Anthropic Principle
1/1/1989 Summary: Human existence is possible because the constants of physics and the parameters for the universe and for planet Earth lie within certain highly restricted ranges. John Wheeler and others interpret these amazing "coincidences" as proof that human existence somehow determines the design of the universe. Design Evidences in the Cosmos (1998)
1/1/1998 Adapted with updates from the author’s books, The Fingerprint of God, second edition (Promise, 1991), The Creator and the Cosmos, second edition (NavPress, 1995), and Beyond the Cosmos (NavPress, 1996). References may be found in these books and in the reference addendum at the end of this paper. 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. Earth's Carefully Crafted Crust
1/1/2000 Researchers have discovered still more indicators of divine design in Earth’s fine-tuned geophysical processes. These indicators belong to an intricate, life-essential cycle (called the carbonate-silicate cycle). This cycle compensates for the ongoing gradual increase in the sun’s brightness. 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?” Finding Oceans and Continents and Extrasolar Planets
9/7/2009 The quest to find an Earth-like planet capable of supporting advanced life will not be fulfilled simply by discovering a planet approximating the mass of Earth that orbits its star at a distance that would permit surface liquid water to exist. Astronomers are finally recognizing the futility of this search. Fine-Tuning for Life in the Universe (2001)
1/1/2001 For life to be possible in the universe, several characteristics must take on specific values, and these are listed below. In the case of several of these characteristics, and given the intricacy of their interrelationships, the indication of “fine tuning” seems incontrovertible. Fine-Tuning For Life In The Universe (AUG 2006)
8/29/2006 For physical life to be possible in the universe, several characteristics must take on specific values, and these are listed below. In the case of several of these characteristics, and given the intricacy of their interrelationships, the indication of divine "fine tuning" seems incontrovertible. Fine-Tuning For Life In The Universe (DEC 2004)
3/22/2005 For physical life to be possible in the universe, several characteristics must take on specific values, and these are listed below. In the case of several of these characteristics, and given the intricacy of their interrelationships, the indication of divine "fine tuning" seems incontrovertible. Fine-Tuning for Life in the Universe (JUNE 2002)
6/25/2002 For physical life to be possible in the universe, several characteristics must take on specific values, and these are listed below.1 In the case of several of these characteristics, and given the intricacy of their interrelationships, the indication of divine “fine tuning” seems incontrovertible. Fine-Tuning for Life on Earth (2001)
1/1/2001 The environmental requirements for life to exist depend quite strongly on the life form in question. The conditions for primitive life to exist, for example, are not nearly so demanding as they are for advanced life. Also, it makes a big difference how active the life form is and how long it remains in its environment. Fine-Tuning for Life on Earth (JUNE 2002)
6/25/2002 The environmental requirements for life to exist depend quite strongly on the life form in question. The conditions for primitive life to exist, for example, are not nearly so demanding as they are for advanced life. Also, it makes a big difference how active the life form is and how long it remains in its environment. Fine-Tuning For Life On Earth (JUNE 2004)
6/8/2004 The environmental requirements for life to exist depend quite strongly on the life form in question. The conditions for primitive life to exist, for example, are not nearly so demanding as they are for advanced life. Also, it makes a big difference how active the life form is and how long it remains in its environment. 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). From Dust to Planets
David H. Rogstad, Ph.D. When the Bible tell us that we have been made from the “dust of the earth,” and will eventually “return to the dust,” it is more true than perhaps the authors realized. Prevailing theory for the formation of planets maintains that they form when Global Warming
3/1/2007 Global warming is real. But its causes–therefore its solutions–are more complex than most people seem to realize. We tend to think Earth’s climate will always be optimal for human civilization if we just take good care of it. But nothing could be farther from the truth. When we put emotion and politics aside and take a rational look at our planet’s history, we see a different picture. Global Warming -- How concerned do we really need to be?
Renowned astronomer and physicist Dr. Hugh Ross and astronomer Dr. Jeff Zweerink are available for comment about the science behind global warming. To: National Desk Contact: Reasons To Believe, 731 East Arrow Highway, Glendora, CA. 91740 (626) 335-1480 NEWS ADVISORY, December 18, 2006, Standard Newswire Service -- Global warming is real. But its causes -- and therefore its solutions -- are more complex than most people seem to realize. Habitability and God's Design for Earth
Jeff Zweerink, Ph.D. Scientists have already discovered over 200 planets, and the list continues to grow rapidly. So what prompted the abundance of media coverage regarding a planet discovery announced at the end of April 2007? According to scientists, this was the first potentially habitable planet. Habitable Planets Rarer than Originally Thought
10/1/2006 Tradesmen get a lot of business from people who start projects that appear simple. ("How hard can it be to install a new shower?") What initially looks like a straightforward task ends up requiring much more skill, time, and financial resources than expected. After many hours of frustration, and often many dollars spent, the exasperated homeowner calls the expert. In those circumstances, the skill and resourcefulness of the craftsman is readily appreciated. How Unlikely Is Our Planetary System?
8/3/2009 The year 1995 marked the first time astronomers discovered an extrasolar planet.1 It was found orbiting the star 51 Pegasi. Today, scientists know of more than 350 planets residing outside the solar system. 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. Is the Solar System Special?
Since its inception 22 years ago, Reasons To Believe has held the position that our Solar System is extremely unusual, probably unique in the observable universe. We base this view on the Solar System’s various characteristics required to provide the long-term conditions necessary for life in general and especially for the advanced life on Earth. On the other hand, it is the contention of the naturalistic scientific community, for the most part, that there is nothing unique about our Solar System or Earth. Is the Solar System Special?
Since its inception 22 years ago, Reasons To Believe has held the position that our Solar System is extremely unusual, probably unique in the observable universe. We base this view on the Solar System’s
Is the Sun Unique?
8/29/2008 What if we could exchange our Sun for another star? Would we still have an environment that supports advanced life? Or would the change prevent the continuation of that life? Jupiter's Migration Miracle
By Hugh Ross A few years ago, a probe sent on a self-destruct mission into the interior of Jupiter revealed that Jupiter’s atmosphere grew dark and dry very soon after its formation.1 Continuing analysis of the data from that probe shows that Jupiter must have formed in a much colder place than where it now resides. The movement of Jupiter from its birth site to its present location, ideal for life on Earth, gives one more piece of evidence for the divine design of the solar system. Jupiter, Friend or Foe?
Jeff Zweerink, Ph.D. A couple of months ago Dave Rogstad reported on a study assessing the current importance of Jupiter in shielding Earth from cometary impacts. An article appearing in Science Daily prompted the discussion. It seems that for one class of comets (the “Jupiter Family Comets”), Jupiter plays an ambiguous role. 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. Location! Location! Location!
4/1/2007 Either a beachfront home or a secluded mountain ranch costs far more than a house in suburbia. A secluded mountain ranch with a beachfront on the other hand—now that would be valuable property. The real estate maxim applies in a similar way when considering the location of any potential life-supporting planet—but with far greater consequences than material wealth. 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 Gobbled Gobs of Galaxies
NASA scientists recently published a stunning reproduction of the Milky Way Galaxy using data taken with the Spitzer telescope. As seen in the image below, two large spiral arms emanate from a central bar and encompass a number of smaller arms and substructure. Missing Solar Neutrinos Found
By Hugh Ross What makes the Sun shine? Where does Earth’s life-sustaining radiation originate? Astronomers answered these questions in part with the discovery of nuclear fusion, the same process that powers the hydrogen bomb. More Evidence for the Design of Earthquake Activity
8/18/2008 Stanford University geophysicists Norman H. Sleep and Mark D. Zoback note that the higher tectonic activity during Earth's early history could have played a key role in cycling critically important nutrients and energy sources for life New Evidence for Life's Rapid Origin
1/1/2001 Recent research indicates that the Moon suffered intense asteroid and meteoroid bombardment impacting its entire surface some 3.9 billion years ago.1, 2 Because of the Moon’s proximity to Earth and because of Earth’s greater gravity, we can reasonably infer that Earth, too, suffered heavy bombardment at that time— an assault as much as thirty times more intense. 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 Formation: Problems with Water, Carbon, and Air
1/12/2009 Thanks to a study from two MIT planetary scientists, the rare planet doctrine now finds additional support. This is the conclusion that Earth has many unique, apparently designed features that enable it to support life and, in particular, advanced life. 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. Probabilities for Life on Earth (2001)
1/1/2001 An Estimate of the Probability for Attaining the Necessary Parameters for Life Support Probabilities for Life on Earth (JUNE 2002)
6/25/2002 An Estimate of the Probability for Attaining the Necessary Parameters for Life Support Probability For Life On Earth (APR 2004)
5/6/2004 Probability Estimate for Attaining the Necessary Characteristics for a Life Support Body 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. Rare Sun
4/1/2002 How often have you heard that “the Sun is just an average star?” If you’ve watched many TV documentaries or read introductory astronomy books, chances are you’ve heard it more than once. In fact, even most astronomers still believe the Sun is just an average star. 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 the Sun’s Twin
by Hugh Ross The conclusion that Earth displays many unique, apparently designed, features that enable it to support life, and, in particular advanced life (known as the rare planet doctrine) is now well established within the scientific community. The discovery of over 270 extrasolar planets, combined with spacecraft missions to explore the outer solar system, likewise is beginning to establish the rare planetary system doctrine. Signatures of Migrating Planets
I like watching NUMB3RS. Two brothers, one a top-notch FBI agent, the other a star mathematician, seek to solve tricky cases using... Solar System’s Extraordinary Birth Environment
2/16/2009 One of the most extraordinary features of the solar system is that it contains adequate abundances of all the elements essential for advanced life. What makes it so exceptional is that the elements must come from different sources. Staving Off an Ice Age
4/1/2005 Global warming may not be all bad, and it may not be all that recent. Drilling deep into the ice of Antarctica and Greenland, scientists have found a different story, including some thought-provoking surprises.1 They see hints of a providential connection between global warming and civilization's development-not to mention survival. Sun’s Stable Fluctuations
4/1/2002 The Sun has the reputation of being the most stable burning star, astronomers observe. Its extreme stability allows humans to exist on Earth. But this stability won’t last forever. The Faint Sun Paradox
7/1/2002 Debates over global warming—how to measure it, the causes and effects, what to do about it and when—have raged for decades, with no resolution yet in view. Huge media coverage and multiplied millions of research dollars have focused on the possible impact of a fraction-of-a-degree average temperature increase worldwide over the span of a century or so. 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 Measurability of the Universe––a Record of the Creator’s Design
10/1/2000 If the universe were not measurable, scientific study would be impossible. Astronomy, biology, chemistry, cosmology, geology, physics, and the other disciplines of science would be no less quixotic than alchemy or astrology. Science would not—could not—shed much light in the cosmic darkness. The Sun's Stable Diameter
10/1/2001 The Sun has the reputation of being the most stable burning star that astronomers observe. Its extreme stability allows humans to exist on Earth. Variations in its burning, periods of significantly greater intensity followed by periods of lesser intensity would render advanced life impossible. The Tidal Habitable Zones
8/10/2009 Habitable zones support an important line of evidence for the supernatural design of life-friendly planets. Two such locations include the water and the ultraviolet radiation habitable zones. 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. Two Steps Forward, One Step Back
9/28/2007 One of the crucial tests in science (or any field, for that matter) for the validity of a theory or explanation is how well it stands up to the test of time. As more evidence is gathered, does this evidence support the theory (requiring only minor modifications), or does the evidence undermine key elements of the theory such that it is best abandoned altogether. Unique Moon Rising?
12/19/2007 Among all the moons in the solar system, Earth’s is unique in that it is so massive compared to the planet. The ratio of the Moon’s mass compared to Earth’s is almost 50 times larger than the next closest ratio of moon mass to planet mass (that would be Saturn’s moon Titan). Violent Solar System Birth
Imagine a luxurious house on a remote ranch. Looking out the windows you see majestic mountains on one side and a scenic ocean expanse out the other. The location insures that you can enjoy the awe-inspiring scenery without disruptions. Volcanism and Plate Tectonics on Earthlike Planets
9/21/2009 At long last astronomers are recognizing that their quest to find a life-friendly, earthlike planet will not be fulfilled simply by discovering a planet approximating the mass of Earth that orbits its star at a distance that would permit surface liquid water to exist. 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. Why Jupiter and Saturn Have No Twins
9/29/2008 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. Why the Universe Is the Way It Is
1/1/2006 In the best-selling science book of all time, author Stephen Hawking explains that no human is content until he or she has complete answers to the following questions: "What is the nature of the universe? What is our place in it and where did it and we come from? Why is it the way it is?" You Are Star-Stuff
David H. Rogstad, Ph.D. In the television series Cosmos: A Personal Voyage , originally broadcast in 1980, , the highly successful popularizer of astronomy, coined the phrase “we are made of star-stuff.” Youngest Solar Systems Detected
When I first started graduate school in 1991, only the planets in our solar system were known. By the time I finished almost six years later, astronomers had found over a dozen planets beyond the solar system. They dubbed these new planets exoplanets. Solar System DesignSolar System Design |