Today's New Reason To Believe Archives

August 2003

---

Nothing was posted for Saturday, August 30, 2003 or Sunday, August 31, 2003

---

Today’s New Reason To Believe – Friday, August 29, 2003

• Recent studies into Greenland’s ice reveal that humanity resides in an exceptionally brief and benign episode of Earth’s climatic history. From deep ice core samples in adjacent regions, researchers were able to establish that annual average temperatures on Earth have occasionally shifted by as much as 12° Fahrenheit (7° Centigrade) in a period of less than fifty years. Such shifts would dramatically reduce human population and civilization.
  • Spencer Weart, “The Discovery of Rapid Climate Change,” Physics Today (August 2003), 30-36.
  • National Academy of Sciences, Committee on Abrupt Climate Change, Abrupt Climate Change: Inevitable Surprises (Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 2002).
• Related Resource: A Brighter Young Sun, by Hugh Ross
• Product Spotlight: The Genesis Question, by Hugh Ross

Today’s New Reason To Believe – Thursday, August 28, 2003

• In light of the controversy surrounding the existence of multipotent stem cells, this study confirms that adult bone marrow stem cells (thought to be multipotent) can become cells of the nervous system. These types of advances make it increasingly unnecessary to rely on embryonic stems cells to develop tissue replacement therapies.
  • Yuehua Jiang et al., “Neuroectodermal Differentiation from Mouse Multipotent Adult Progenitor Cells,” PNAS USA 100 (2003), early edition.
  • “Adult Mouse Bone Marrow Stem Cells Can Become Cells of the Nervous System,” Science Daily
• Related Resource: A New Direction for Stem Cell Research, by Fazale “Fuz” Rana
• Product Spotlight: A Christian Perspective on Biotechnology, by Dr. Fazale “Fuz” Rana

Today’s New Reason To Believe – Wednesday, August 27, 2003

• Another indicator of careful cosmic design comes from recent studies of type Ia supernovae, specifically from new insights about how they form. Astronomers have found that a white dwarf star will accrete enough matter from a red giant partner star to become a type Ia supernova ONLY if the density of the surrounding (circumstellar) medium is just right. In turn, the number density of type Ia supernovae is crucial for the existence of life anywhere at any time in the universe.
  • Mario Hamuy, “An Asymptotic-Giant-Branch Star in the Progenitor System of a Type Ia Supernova,” Nature 424 (2003), 651-54.
  • Eddie Baron, “An Elementary Puzzle,” Nature 424 (2003), 628-29.
• Related Resource: Design and the Anthropic Principle, by Hugh Ross
• Product Spotlight: Journey Toward Creation, 2nd edition (VHS or DVD)

Today’s New Reason To Believe – Tuesday, August 26, 2003

• Skeptics frequently ask: “Why did God create bacteria, since they cause disease?” This paper suggests an answer. This review article summarizes the key role that stomach bacteria play in maintaining human health and well-being.
  • Alexis Dufresne et al., “Honor Thy Symbionts,” PNAS,USA 100 (2003), 10452-59.
• Related Resource: Discussion of gut bacteria and their benefit to human hosts, Creation Update (airdate 04-01-03).
• Product Spotlight: Sign up for our auto-delivery program and a cassette of each week’s edition of Creation Update will be shipped directly to your door in quarterly installments. Call 800-482-7836 for details.

Today’s New Reason To Believe – Monday, August 25, 2003

• Two studies report on new insights into the differences in gene expression between embryonic and adult stems cells. Application of these advances in understanding should lead, one day, to the ability to reprogram adult cells, eliminating the need to experiment with and destroy human embryos.
  • J. B. Gurdon et al., “Nuclear Reprogramming and Stem Cell Creation,” PNAS, USA 100 (2003), early edition.
  • Kevin A. D’Amour and Fred H. Gage, “Genetic and Functional Differences between Multipotent Neural and Pluripotent Embryonic Stem Cells,” PNAS, USA 100 (2003), early edition.
• Related Resource: A New Direction for Stem Cell Research, by Fazale “Fuz” Rana
• Product Spotlight: Biotechnology Update, Creation Update (airdate 08-12-03). Call 800-482-7836 to order a cassette of this broadcast.

Today’s New Reason To Believe – Saturday and Sunday, August 23-24, 2003

• This review article summarizes advances made towards understanding the molecular mechanisms associated with the movement of the bacterial flagellum. As described in this paper, this literal rotary motor is powered by “electrical current” (proton translocation). The elegance, irreducible complexity and remarkable resemblance to man-made rotary motors provide powerful evidence for Intelligent Design.
  • David F. Blair, “Flagellar Movement Driven by Proton Translocation,” FEBS Letters 545 (2003), 86-95.
• Related Resource: Protein Structures Reveal Even More Evidence for Design, by Fazale “Fuz” Rana
• Product Spotlight: Beyond Irreducible Complexity, by Fazale “Fuz” Rana

Today’s New Reason To Believe – Friday, August 22, 2003

• Evolutionary theory and computer simulation studies predict that evolution should be historically contingent. In other words, evolution should not repeat. This study, conducted from an evolutionary perspective, argues that the natural history of four iguanian-lizard taxa (groups) follows a well-defined pattern. This represents a direct challenge to a key prediction that emanates from the evolutionary paradigm.
  • Luke J. Harmon et al., “Tempo and Mode of Evolutionary Radiation in Iguanian Lizards,” Science 301 (2003), 961-4. (Free registration required.)
• Related Resource: Convergence: Evidence for a Single Creator, by Fazale “Fuz” Rana
• Product Spotlight: Biological Convergence (audiotape from the 2003 Conference: Who is the Designer?)

Today’s New Reason To Believe – Thursday, August 21, 2003

• This paper provides further confirmation that noncoding DNA is not “junk,” but plays a key functional role in gene expression. This work also confirms that human and great ape genetic differences are much greater than the commonly stated 99%.
  • J. W. Thomas et al., “Comparative Analyses of Multi-Species Sequences from Targeted Genomic Regions,” Nature 424 (2003), 788-93.
• Related Resource: Yet Another Use for “Junk” DNA, by Fazale “Fuz” Rana
• Product Spotlight: Evolution: A Theory in Crisis, by Michael Denton

Today’s New Reason To Believe – Wednesday, August 20, 2003

• This study reports on the genome sequence of Prochlorococcus marinus. This genome contains less than 1,950 genes and likely represents the near minimal gene set for photosynthetic bacteria. The early appearance of photosynthetic microbes in Earth’s history at this level of minimal complexity is more indicative of Divine design than gradual natural process evolution.
  • Alexis Dufresne, et al., “Genome Sequence of the Cyanobacterium Prochlorococcus marinus SS120, A Nearly Minimal Oxyphototrophic Genome,” PNAS, USA 100(2003), 10020-25.
  • Donald A. Bryant, “The Beauty in Small Things Revealed,” PNAS, USA 100(2003), 9647-49.
• Related Resource: Telltale Rocks, by Fazale “Fuz” Rana
• Product Spotlight: The Origin of Life, by Fazale “Fuz” Rana, (audio tape from our Beyond Genesis 1, 2001 Conference)

Today's New Reason To Believe - Tuesday, August 19, 2003

• This report highlights the manatee's "fragility."  This supports RTB's speciation model which maintains that animals with large body sizes and low populations are unable to evolve, but rather are susceptible to extinction.
  • How a Little Bit of Cold Can Kill a Big Manatee, And What It Might Mean for the Species
• Related Resource: Marine Body Sizes Add Weight to Creation Model, by Fazale "Fuz" Rana
• Product Spotlight: The Genesis Question, by Hugh Ross

Today's New Reason To Believe - Monday, August 18, 2003

• Studies Support WMAP Results: Ground-based cosmic background radiation maps and surveys of the (large scale) spatial distribution of galaxies and galaxy clusters independently confirm, with nearly equal precision the cosmic age, geometry, and density measurements achieved by the WMAP satellite. This confirmation further strengthens the case for the biblically described ("big bang") creation event as well as for God's design of the universe for humanity's existence.
  • J. L. Sievers et al., "Cosmological Parameters from Cosmic Background Imager Observations and Comparisons with BOOMERANG, DASI, and MAXIMA," The Astrophysical Journal, 591 (2003), 599-622.
• Related Resource: WMAP Offers Spectacular Proofs of Creation Event, by Hugh Ross
• Product Spotlight: Journey Toward Creation, 2nd edition (VHS or DVD)

Today's New Reason To Believe - Sunday, August 17, 2003

• This study helps elucidate the molecular mechanism responsible for the remarkably high operational efficiency of this bio-molecular motor. Not only does the existence of this literal rotary motor in the cell make belief in a Creator rational, but its incredibly high efficiency highlights this motor's superior design compared to man-made machines.
  • Iris Antes et al., "The Unbinding of ATP from F1-ATPase," Biophysical Journal 85 (2003), 695-706.
• Product Spotlight: Darwin's Black Box, by Michael Behe

Today's New Reason To Believe - Saturday, August 16, 2003

• These studies provide additional support for an emerging new paradigm for cell membrane structure, the dynamically structured mosaic model. This model maintains that the cell membrane's structure possesses greater complexity and hierarchical organization than previously recognized. Such complexity and organization bear the fingerprints of Intelligent Design.
  • John R. Silvius, "Fluorescence Energy Transfer Reveals Microdomain Formation at Physiological Temperatures in Lipid Mixtures Modeling the Outer Leaflet of the Plasma Membrane," Biophysical Journal 85 (2003), 1034-1045.
  • Brian Cannon, et al., "Regulation of Calcium Channel Activity by Lipid Domain Formation in Planar Lipid Bilayers," Biophysical Journal 85 (2003), 933-942.
• Related Resource: Biotic Borders: Cell Membranes Under Scrutiny, by Fazale "Fuz" Rana
• Product Spotlight: Travels to the Nanoworld

Today's New Reason To Believe - Friday, August 15, 2003

• New Way to Study the Cosmos: Astronomers have found a way to detect the remnants of isolated population III stars (the first stars to form). Though long ago burnt out, such stars leave behind medium-sized black holes that act as "gravitational lenses" (observational tools that make use of gravity's ability to bend light). This emerging technology can locate such lenses, and the lens properties can confirm or deny what the big bang creation model predicts about the first stars in the universe.
  • Kaiki Taro Inoue and Masashi Chiba, "Direct Mapping of Massive Compact Objects in Extragalactic Dark Halos," Astrophysical Journal Letters 591 (2003), L83-L86.
• Related Resource: A Precise Plan for Humanity, by Hugh Ross
• Product Spotlight: Journey Toward Creation, 2nd edition (VHS or DVD)

Today's New Reason To Believe - Thursday, August 14, 2003

• Fossilized "nanobacteria" found in Martian meteorite ALH84001 is frequently cited as "evidence" for extraterrestrial life. This study correlates with previous work that fossilized "nanobacteria" are not the remnants of nanolife, but artifacts generated by the decay and geological processes. These results weaken the case for ancient Martian life.
  • Jurgen Schieber and Howard J. Arnott, "Nanobacteria as a By-Product of Enzyme-Driven Tissue Decay," Geology 31 (2003), 717-720.
  • Philip Ball, "Nanofossils May Be Digested Organic Matter," Nature Science Update (August 6, 2003).
• Related Resource: Mars Life: A Second Opinion, by Fazale "Fuz" Rana
• Product Spotlight: The rUFO Hypothesis (VHS or DVD)

Today's New Reason To Believe - Wednesday, August 13, 2003

• Evolutionary biologists maintain that "junk" DNA provides incontrovertible evidence for evolution. These studies enhance our understanding of how noncoding DNA and RNA regulate gene expression and add to mounting evidence that noncoding DNA is not "junk". Rather it plays a key functional role consistent with an Intelligent Design paradigm.
  • Yan Zeng, et al., "MicroRNAs and Small Interfering RNAs Can Inhibit mRNA Expression by Similar Mechanisms," PNAS, USA 100 (2003), 9779-9784.
  • Elena Allen, et al., "High Concentrations of Long Interspersed Nuclear Element Sequence Distinguish Monoallelically Expressed Genes," PNAS,USA 100 (2003), 9940-9945.
• Related Resource: "Junk" DNA Not So Junky, by Fazale "Fuz" Rana
• Related Resource: Yet Another Use for "Junk" DNA, by Fazale "Fuz" Rana
• Product Spotlight: Unlocking the Mystery of Life (VHS or DVD)

Today’s New Reason To Believe - Tuesday, August 12, 2003

• WMAP results showing that the first stars formed early and were very massive have essentially ruled out one proposed set of big bang models — the warm dark matter models. Astronomers’ success narrows the field of possible big bang models (focusing in on the cold dark matter set) and gives further affirmation to the biblically described creation event.
  • Naoki Yoshida, et al., “Early Structure Formation and Reionization in a Warm Dark Matter Cosmology,” Astrophysical Journal Letters 591 (2003), L1-L4.
• Related Resource: WMAP Offers Spectacular Proofs of Creation Event, by Hugh Ross
• Product Spotlight: The Creator and the Cosmos, by Hugh Ross

Today’s New Reason To Believe - Monday, August 11, 2003

• This study uses the JC virus to investigate the origin and spread of humanity. The genetic fingerprint of this virus indicates that humanity originated in a single region, near the Middle East, and spread around the world in a way that is consistent with Genesis 11.
  • Angelo Pavesi, “African Origin of Polyomavirus JC and Implications for Prehistoric Human Migrations,” Journal of Molecular Evolution 56 (2003), 564-572.
• Related Resource: Fuz Rana comments on a similar study where scientists used the malaria parasite to track early human migration. (Creation Update, air-date: 4-22-03)
• Related Resource: Diseases Follow Human Origin and Spread, by Fuz Rana
• Product Spotlight: The Genesis Question, by Hugh Ross

Today’s New Reason To Believe - Sunday, August 10, 2003

• Astronomers have discovered that “spots” (as in sunspots) on the surface of many stars (including stars about the same mass as the sun) can and do grow so large as to generate enormous and rapid variations in stars’ luminosity (radiance). Such variations — even at a much lower level — are detrimental to any possible life nearby (say, on an orbiting planet). Thus, the fine-tuning of our sun seems all the more evident.
  • Sarah Tackett, William Herbst, and Eric Williams, “Periodic Variability in the Pre-Main Sequence Object CB 34V,” Astronomical Journal 126 (2003), 346-352.
• Related Resource: Rare Sun, by Dr. Guillermo Gonzalez
• Product Spotlight: The Creator and the Cosmos, by Hugh Ross

Today’s New Reason To Believe - Saturday, August 9, 2003

• This study examined the diversity of Alu DNA sequences for 31 population groups and concluded that humanity originated from a single location and a small population. These results are consistent with the biblical description for humanity’s origin.
  • W. Scott Watkins, et al., “Genetic Variation Among World Populations: Inferences from 100 Alu Insertion Polymorphisms,” Genome Research 13 (2002), 1607-1618.
• Related Resource: Chromosome Study Stuns Evolutionists, by Hugh Ross
• Product Spotlight: Who Was Adam?

Today’s New Reason To Believe - Friday, August 8, 2003

• This study shows that while a high degree of genetic similarity exists among humans and the great apes, these species all display unique and defining gene expression patterns that likely account for the anatomical and behavioral differences among humans and apes.  This provides further evidence that genetic similarity doesn’t seem to be an accurate way to measuring the Darwinian presumption that apes and humans descended from a common ancestor. Rather, it seems that gene expression is the key to uncovering the differences between the primate species.
  • Mazen W. Karaman, et al., “Comparative Analysis of Gene-Expression Patterns in Human and African Great Ape Cultured Fibroblasts,” Genome Research 13 (2002), 1619-1630.
• Related Resource: Humans and Chimps Differ, by Fuz Rana
• Product Spotlight: Who Was Adam?

Today’s New Reason To Believe - Thursday, August 7, 2003

• This study estimates that life in its minimal form requires ~313 genes. This level of minimal complexity cannot be adequately explained through natural process evolution. RTB’s biblical creation model for life’s origin predicts that life in its minimal form is chemically complex, a prediction satisfied by this study.
  • Rosario Gil, et al., “The Genome Sequence of Blochmannia floridanus: Comparative Analysis of Reduced Genomes,” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA 100 (2003), 9388-9393.
• Related Resource: Origin of Life Predictions Face Off, by Fuz Rana
• Product Spotlight: Rare Earth, by Donald Brownlee and Peter Ward

Today’s New Reason To Believe - Wednesday, August 6, 2003

• This study presents evidence that the sexual dimorphism of the australopithecines was similar to that of modern humans. (Sexual dimorphism provides insight into social structure and reproductive behavior.) Instead of progressively evolving from a primitive form of sexual dimorphism to a modern one, the hominid fossil record over the last 4 million years is defined by stasis (no evolutionary change). This study represents another failed prediction for gradual process evolution.
  • Philip Reno, et al., “Sexual Dimorphism in Australopithecus afarensis Was Similar to That of Modern Humans,” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA 100 (July 23, 2003), 9404-9409.
  • Clark Spencer Larsen, “Equality for the sexes in human evolution? Early hominid sexual dimorphism and implications for mating systems and social behavior,” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA 100 (July 28, 2003).
• Related Resource: A Scientific and Biblical Response to: "Up from the Apes. Remarkable New Evidence Is Filling in the Story of How We Became Human" Time, August 23, 1999, by Hugh Ross, Fuz Rana and Richard Deem
• Product Spotlight: Evolution: A Theory in Crisis, by Michael Denton

Today’s New Reason To Believe - Tuesday, August 5, 2003

• Discovery of the Day: Thirteen multiple planet systems have been discovered to date. These systems, however, all appear to manifest characteristics that are detrimental to life. This research highlights two problems in particular, mean motion resonances and apsidal phase locking. So far, the more astronomers learn about extrasolar planetary systems the more they discover the uniqueness of our solar system for life support.
  • Jianghui Ji, et al., "The Librating Companions in HD 37124,HD 12661, HD 82943, 47 Ursa Majoris, and GJ 876: Alignment or Antialignment?" Astrophysical Journal Letters 591 (2003), L57-L60.
  • Debra A. Fischer, et al., “A Planetary Companion to HD 40979 and Additional Planets Orbiting HD 12661 and HD38529,” The Astrophysical Journal 586 (2003), 1394-1408.
• Related Resource: Aliens From Another World? Getting Here From There, by Hugh Ross
• Product Spotlight: Lights in the Sky and Little Green Men, by Hugh Ross, Kenneth Samples and Mark Clark

Today’s New Reason To Believe - Monday, August 4, 2003

• Discovery of the Day: Astronomers have proposed a resolution to a small discrepancy in their distance measurements to the Large Magellanic Cloud. This resolution provides crucial confirmation of the extragalactic distance scale which, in turn, provides a more consistent big bang creation model.
  • M. Salaris, et al., "The Distance to the Large Magellanic Cloud Cluster NGC 1866 and the Surrounding Field," The Astrophysical Journal 588 (2003), 801-804.
• Related Resource: Tolman’s Elegant Test, by Hugh Ross
• Product Spotlight: The Creator and the Cosmos, by Hugh Ross

Today’s New Reason To Believe - Sunday, August 3, 2003

• Discovery of the Day: Cryo-electron microscopy uncovers the elegant, machine-like behavior of the ribosome during translation (protein synthesis). This adds to the evidence that indicates the cell’s biochemical systems were the product of a Creator.
  • Mikel Valle et al, “Locking and Unlocking of Ribosomal Motions,” Cell114 (2003),123-134.
• Related Resource: Protein Structures Reveal Even More Evidence for Design, by Dr. Fazale “Fuz” Rana
• Product Spotlight: Darwin’s Black Box, by Michael Behe

Today’s New Reason To Believe - Saturday, August 2, 2003

• Discovery of the Day: Japanese astronomers discover new support for the anthropic principle: the number, sizes, and average longevity of intergalactic hydrogen gas clouds in the Local Group must be fine-tuned for Milky Way star formation to yield, ultimately, a planetary body suitable for life.
  • Yutaka Komiyama, et al., “Discovery of Latent Star Formation in the Extended H I Gas Around the Local Group Dwarf Irregular Galaxy NGC 6822,”The Astrophysical Journal Letters 590 (2003), L17-L20.
• Related Resource: Search for Planets Draws a Blank, by Dr. Hugh Ross
• Product Spotlight: Journey Toward Creation, 2ndedition

Today’s New Reason To Believe - Friday, August 1, 2003

• Discovery of the Day: This study reveals the machine-like character of the ribosome (the cell structure responsible for protein synthesis) and provides a fingerprint for Divine Design in the cell’s chemistry.
  • Florence Tama, et al., “Dynamic Reorganization of the Functionally Active Ribosome Explored by Normal Mode Analysis and Cry-Electron Microscopy,” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA 100 (2003), 9319-9323.
• Related Resource: Protein Structures Reveal Even More Evidence for Design, by Fazale “Fuz” Rana
• Product Spotlight: Travels to the Nanoworld