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.
Speciation EventsA Second Opinion on the Giant Panda's Thumb
by Hugh Ross If you have encountered Stephen Gould’s famous critique of Christianity, you will be glad to know that it has been contradicted in recent months by the work of six Japanese biologists. Gould once argued that the giant panda’s thumb represents a clumsily adapted wrist bone, not the work of a divine Designer.3 A number of rebuttals to Gould’s assertion have been published since the mid-1980s when it appeared,4 but the most rigorous to date comes from a Japanese study published early in 1999. Ancient Tree Answers Challenge to Genesis One
by Hugh Ross assisted by Guillermo Gonzalez Secularists have openly and vociferously mocked the biblical creation account for placing the origin of "trees, seed, and fruit" as early as the third creation day. Biblical apologists point out that the ancient Hebrew words for "tree," "seed," and "fruit" are more broadly defined than we English readers assume as we study our translations.1 Bacteria Help Prepare Earth For Life
By Hugh Ross Sulfate-reducing bacteria are among the oldest life forms on Earth. They are dominant in the geologic record from 3.9 to 2.9 billion years ago, an era in which oxygen concentrations in Earth’s atmosphere were relatively low. Researchers discovered not long ago that sulfate-reducing bacteria play a critical role in Earth’s sulfur and carbon cycles, both of which are essential for life.1 More recent studies reveal bacteria’s additional contribution to life sustenance. Bacteria's Long Reign
By Hugh Ross Why do stars twinkle? Why does God sometimes seem silent? Some “why” questions are more elusive than others. When presented with RTB’s biblical creation model people often ask, “If God designed the Earth and its life to provide a home for humans, why did he waste so much time with bacteria?” This question arises from the new strong evidence that early bacteria, every bit as advanced as bacteria today, and dating back 3.5 – 3.9 billion years, remain the only detectable life forms on Earth until 2.3 billion years ago. Big Bacteria Help Resolve Big Creation/Evolution Debates
By Hugh Ross For most jobs the size of the applicant does not matter. But, there are exceptions: basketball centers must be tall, offensive tackles in professional football must be heavy, and World War II submarine sailors had to be both short and lean. In biology size did not become a significant factor until the Cambrian explosion some 542 million years ago. At this event most of today’s main groups of animals, or animal phyla, suddenly appeared. Biology’s Big Bangs
Posted by Fazale ‘Fuz’ Rana, Ph.D. Explosive Innovations Point to a Creator’s Role in Life’s History Chordate Fossils Foil Theory
By Fazale R. Rana China’s rich cache of fossils provides paleontologists with a window to the time in Earth’s history when complex animal life first appeared. As scientists peer through this window, they see a scene that defies naturalistic explanation. 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. 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. Evolution as Mythology, Part 3 (of 5): The Myth of Abiogenesis
The last two articles have discussed how the theory of evolution has characteristics of a myth (which cannot be proven or disproven by the... Evolution as Mythology, Part 4 (of 5): The Myth of Macroevolution
Editor’s note: Today we present an article by guest scholars Dr. Hugh Henry, Ph.D. , Daniel J. Dyke, M.Div., M.Th., and Dr. Charles Cruze, Ph.D. The last article discussed the mythlike characteristics of abiogenesis, a key component of the theory of evolution, that says living organisms appeared spontaneously from nonliving matter. This article discusses evolution itself, which is separated into two categories: Evolution as Mythology, Part 5 (of 5): Conclusion
Editor’s note: Today we present an article by guest scholars Dr. Hugh Henry, Ph.D. , Daniel J. Dyke, M.Div., M.Th., and Dr. Charles Cruze, Ph.D. The four previous articles in this series have shown that the theory of evolution is more like a creation myth than a scientific theory. A myth may be true or false, but its principle characteristic is that it validates the thinking, practices, and ideals of a culture. Evolution explains our existence within the framework of our modern culture of naturalism, which has no need for a god. Evolution Loses Its Direction
Posted by Fazale ‘Fuz’ Rana, Ph.D. Fossil evidence reveals that evolutionary change is seldom directional. Evolution Loses Its Equilibrium
Posted by Fazale ‘Fuz’ Rana, Ph.D. Punctuated equilibrium doesn’t have a viable mechanism Extinction Risks and Speciation Models
When human beings first arrived on the terrestrial scene, more than... Extinction Risks For Birds
By Hugh Ross One of the complex challenges facing evolutionists can be described in simple terms. It is the problem of time. For naturalistic evolution to work, the rate of speciation (introduction of new species) must, by nature alone, exceed the rate of extinction. Observed reality says it does not. In fact, extinction is accelerating (for some obvious reasons) while speciation has virtually stalled. Gamma Rays Burst Biological Evolution
1/1/2003 The energy released during a gamma ray burst strains the imagination. With the power of 10 billion billion suns, gamma ray bursts are the most brilliant photon emitters in the universe. By comparison, supernovae emit (at peak) the energy equivalent of 100 billion suns. If such a gamma ray burst occurred closer than millions of light years away and lasted longer than a few minutes—or in some cases, milliseconds—humanity would be wiped out. Motion for Summary Judgment: Insufficient Evidence at Hand for Darwinism
We've all watched courtroom dramas or followed real-life trials as attorneys on both sides use witnesses and evidence to argue their case. As a forensic engineer, I am often called... Mutations Exceed Expectations
by Hugh Ross assisted by Guillermo Gonzalez Ironically, modern "advances" could serve to hasten humanity's demise. For the first time, geneticists have measured the proportion of harmful mutations arising in one generation of advanced species. The numbers are staggering. 10,11 Ode to Oxygen
4/1/2007 My seventh-grade science teacher asked the class to list “the three most essential needs of human life.” The “correct” answer—water, food, and sleep—illustrates how easily people take for granted the air we breathe, specifically its oxygen content. Most humans can live a few days without water, food, and sleep, and yet we can’t go more than a few minutes without oxygen. I understood that much in junior high, but at the time I had no idea that Earth’s oxygen-rich atmosphere represents—and facilitates—a miracle. 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. Rapid Post-Flood Speciation: A Critique of the Young-Earth Model
8/25/2004 Creationists disagree on the extent of Noah’s Flood. The main reason young-earth creationists insist the Flood was a global event is their model demands it. The Flood is the mechanism they use to explain the earth’s geological features. Rather than forming over millions or billions of years as most scientists believe, young-earth creationists maintain the earth’s features are the result of global floodwaters and processes that accompanied the Flood, like erosion, volcanism and tectonics. Symbiosis- More Complex Than We Knew
by Hugh Ross assisted by Guillermo Gonzalez Biological symbiosis, the mutual dependence of two species on each other (such as bees and flowers) for survival, has often been cited as evidence supporting divine design. Symbiosis demands that two different but uniquely compatible species arise at the same time and in the same place with the morphological structures in place to support the interdependence. Timely Appearance of Land Life Benefits Humans
By Hugh Ross Two more pieces of evidence strengthen the case for the early appearance of land life. The significance of such findings is two-fold. First, it demonstrates the accuracy of the Genesis 1 record, which says that God created land life early, very early, in the creation week. Second, it demonstrates God’s planning and provision for the needs of advanced life, especially of humans in the development of their civilization. Vital Poisons
by Hugh Ross Perhaps you have noticed the addition of Food and Drug Administration warnings to packages of dietary supplements sold in drug and health food stores. If not, please do. These warning labels subtly announce dramatic new evidence for the divine design of life—and of the earth for sustaining life.
Whale Ankles- No Support for Neodarwinism
By Hugh Ross Proponents of gradualism often trot out so-called “transitional” whale fossils as evidence supporting their view.1, 2 In my book, The Genesis Question, I explain why no other animal has a higher risk of rapid extinction and a lower chance of natural advancement than the whale.3 Why Would a Good God Create Parasites?
by Hugh Ross, Ph.D. Some skeptics base their rejection of the Christian faith on bugs-specifically parasites. They argue that the existence of parasites is incompatible with belief in the all-loving, all-powerful God of Christianity. While human beings will never know all God's reasons for creating parasites, the following true story1 illustrates how their existence may be considered a good thing, rather than an excuse for rejecting God. Speciation EventsSpeciation Events |