Today's New Reason To Believe Archives
June 2005
Today’s New Reason To Believe-Thursday, June 30, 2005
Design of Opacity in Spiral Galaxy Disks
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An international team of astronomers has developed additional confirmation for
an important design feature for the Milky Way Galaxy. The team demonstrated
that dust extinction in the galaxy’s disk is correlated with the type, mass,
and age of the galaxy. The degree of dust extinction is one factor determining
what kinds of stars and planets will form and, of course, freedom from dust
extinction is critical for observers to gain an unobstructed view of the galaxy
and the universe. The team’s research shows that for the solar system to
possibly support life it must form in a galaxy with the just-right dust
extinction characteristics and the solar system must form in a just-right
high-dust-extinction region of that just-right galaxy. For advanced life to be
possible and to gain a clear cosmic view, the solar system must be quickly
ejected from a high-dust-extinction region to an extremely low-dust-extinction
region. All this just-right fine-tuning testifies of a superintelligent,
supernatural Creator.
- B. W. Holwerda et al., "The Opacity of Spiral Galaxy Disks. III. Automating the Synthetic Field Method," Astronomical Journal 129 (2005): 1381-95.
- B. W. Holwerda et al., "The Opacity of Spiral Galaxy Disks. IV. Radial Extinction Profiles from Counts of Distant Galaxies Seen Through Foreground Disks," Astronomical Journal 129 (2005): 1396-1411.
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Related Resource
- Hugh Ross, "Anthropic Principle: A Precise Plan for Humanity"
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Product Spotlight
- The Creator and the Cosmos, 3rd ed., by Hugh Ross
Today’s New Reason To Believe-Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Chemical Problems for the Origin of Life
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New research highlights one of the myriad problems that face evolutionary
origin-of-life scenarios. One of the most important evolutionary explanations
for life’s start posits that RNA molecules, which possessed both information
storage capacity and catalytic properties, preceded the DNA-and-protein world
of contemporary biochemistry. This so-called "RNA World" hypothesis rescues the
evolutionary paradigm from the chicken-and-egg paradox that naturally arises
because of the interdependence of DNA and proteins. For the RNA World model to
have merit, origin-of-life researchers need to demonstrate that RNA’s
components can be produced under conditions applicable to early Earth. For RNA
molecules to be produced, a chemical pathway to attach phosphate groups to the
sugar ribose must operate under the conditions of the primordial Earth. New
research demonstrates that no such pathway appears to exist. As origin-of-life
researcher Leslie Orgel has stated, "It would be a miracle if a strand of RNA
ever appeared on the early Earth."
- R. M. De Graaf and Alan W. Schwartz, "Thermal Synthesis of Nucleoside H-Phosphonates under Mild Conditions," Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres 35 (2005): 1-10.
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- Origins of Life: Biblical and Evolutionary Models Face Off, by Fazale Rana and Hugh Ross
Today’s New Reason To Believe-Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Lunar Mass Design
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A mathematician and an astrophysicist at Princeton University have found more
evidence for the supernatural design of the Moon for the benefit of advanced
life. Their analysis greatly strengthens the plausibility of the Mars-sized
impactor that led to the formation of the Moon. Theoreticians have been in
agreement that a Mars-sized planet colliding with Earth early in its history is
the only way that the Moon (with all of its life-supporting features) could
form. However, they were mystified by how a Mars-sized planet could form in a
manner that would permit it to make a low-velocity, relatively low-angle
collision with Earth. The Princeton team demonstrated that such a planet indeed
could form at one of the "Lagrange" points in Earth’s orbit and then slowly
drift toward Earth as it interacts with remaining planetesimals in the solar
system’s disk. In showing that such a planet could possibly form, the team also
demonstrated that both the planet’s formation and its collision with Earth had
to be fine-tuned to produce a Moon with all the features necessary to make
advanced life on Earth possible.
- Edward Belbruno and J. Richard Gott III, "Where Did the Moon Come From?" Astronomical Journal 129 (2005): 1724-45.
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- Hugh Ross, "Anthropic Principle: A Precise Plan for Humanity"
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- The Creator and the Cosmos, 3rd ed., by Hugh Ross
Today’s New Reason To Believe-Monday, June 27, 2005
Biblical Account of Humanity’s Origin Confirmed
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Genetic studies to date of DNA taken from representatives of different
population groups demonstrate that humanity had a recent origin from a single
location. These studies also indicate that humanity’s original population size
was small and that all of humanity traces back to a single woman, called
mitochondrial Eve, and a single man, called Y-chromosomal Adam. Genetic data
also affirms that humanity expanded from near the Middle East to populate the
globe. These insights square with the biblical account of humanity’s origin.
New research examines the genetic variation of Asian and Australasian people
groups and confirms the primeval migrational pattern of humanity from near the
Middle East into Asia and Australia. This new work shows rapid human migration
along the southern coast of the Middle East through India and other parts of
Asia. As anthropologists study human genetic variation, the biblical
description of human origins continues to gain support.
- Vincent Macauly et al., "Single, Rapid Coastal Settlement of Asia Revealed by Analysis of Complete Mitochondrial Genomes," Science 308 (2005): 1034-36.
- Kumarasamy Thangaraj et al., "Reconstructing the Origin of Andaman Islanders," Science 308 (2005): 996.
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Today’s New Reason To Believe-Sunday, June 26, 2005
Baryon Fraction in Galaxy Clusters
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New computer simulations performed by Chinese astrophysicists have solved a
long-standing anomaly in the biblically predicted big bang creation model.
X-ray measurements had shown that the fraction of baryons (protons and
neutrons) in galaxy clusters is slightly less than what would be predicted from
the synthesis of baryons in the big bang creation event. The team’s computer
simulations establish that about 3% of the cosmic baryons produced in the big
bang creation event would remain "hidden," that is, undetectable by x-ray
observations, at distances corresponding to the state of the universe 11
billion years ago. About 14% would remain hidden for nearby distances that
correspond to the present age of the universe. Adding the hidden amounts of
baryons to the observed amounts is adequate to resolve the anomaly. This
resolution vindicates the biblical cosmic model while striking a blow at many
atheistic and young-earth models.
- Ping He, Long-Long Feng, and Li-Zhi Fang, "Distributions of the Baryon Fraction on Large Scales in the Universe," Astrophysical Journal 623 (2005): 601-11.
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- Hugh Ross, "Predictive Power: Affirming Cosmic Creation"
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- A Matter of Days, by Hugh Ross
Today’s New Reason To Believe-Saturday, June 25, 2005
Biochemists Discover Paley’s Watch
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In the early nineteenth century, British natural theologian William Paley
advanced the well-known watchmaker argument for God’s existence: Just as a
watch requires a watchmaker, so life requires a Creator. Although Paley’s
analogy has suffered criticism for nearly two centuries, a biochemist from Yale
University has just discovered "Paley’s watch" in cyanobacteria. The
biochemical systems of these microbes display periodic behavior linked to the
day-night cycle. This so-called "circadian oscillation" is regulated by a
rotary device composed of proteins that literally functions as a clock. This
actual biochemical watch renders the philosophical criticisms leveled at
Paley’s watchmaker argument irrelevant. The cyanobacterial rotary clock
logically compels the existence of a Divine Watchmaker.
- Jimin Wang, "Recent Cyanobacterial Kai Protein Structures Suggest a Rotary Clock," Structure 13 (2005): 735-41.
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- Fazale R. Rana, "Nanodevices Make Megascopic Statement"
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- Travels to the Nanoworld, by Michael Gross
Today’s New Reason To Believe-Friday, June 24, 2005
Resolving Nickel Overproduction Anomaly
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New measurements by Japanese nuclear physicists have solved a long-standing
anomaly in the biblically predicted big bang creation model. For the last few
decades, astronomers have noted an overabundance of nickel-62 in the universe
compared to what the synthesis of heavy elements in the furnaces of massive
stars would predict for a big bang universe that has been expanding for about
14 billion years. The team demonstrated that previous neutron cross-section
measurements (a measure of how big a target area nickel-62 presents to
free-moving neutrons) of nickel-62 were incorrect. Their measurements
established that the cross section instead was three times larger. When this
corrected value is used, the nickel-62 anomaly in big bang cosmology
disappears. This resolution vindicates the biblical cosmic model while striking
a blow at many atheistic and young-earth models.
- Tomyo et al., "62Ni(n, g)63Ni Reaction and Overproduction of Ni Isotopes," Astrophysical Journal Letters 623 (2005): L153-L156.
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Related Resource
- Hugh Ross, "A Beginner’s-and Expert’s-Guide to the Big Bang"
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- The Creator and the Cosmos, 3rd ed., by Hugh Ross
Today’s New Reason To Believe-Thursday, June 23, 2005
Leprosy Research Confirms Biblical Account of Human Origins
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A new study tracking a human parasite provides evidence for RTB’s biblical
creation model for human origins. Because of the intimate association between
disease-causing bacteria and their hosts, leprosy serves as a proxy for
primeval human history. Researchers have examined the genetic variation of the
bacterium that causes leprosy, and found that the variation confirms earlier
genetic studies on humanity’s origin and spread around the world. The earlier
genetic studies of DNA taken from representatives of different population
groups demonstrate several criteria: 1) humanity had a recent origin from a
single location; 2) humanity’s original population size was small and all of
humanity traces back to a single woman, called mitochondrial Eve, and a single
man, called Y-chromosomal Adam; and 3) humanity expanded from near the Middle
East to populate the globe. These insights square with the biblical account of
humanity’s origin.
- Marc Monot et al., "On the Origin of Leprosy," Science 308 (2005): 1040-42.
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Today’s New Reason To Believe-Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Formation Environment for the Solar System
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Geophysicists from the University of California at Los Angeleshave uncovered
more evidence confirming an important design feature of the solar system. They
have found that the oxygen isotope anomaly in meteorites arises from carbon
monoxide photodissociation. Such photodissociation implies that the solar
system was blasted with intense far ultraviolet radiation at the time the
planets were forming. Such far uv light typically truncates the outer part of
the planetary disk and, thus, offers a good explanation for why astronomers
have yet to discover gas giant planets orbiting their stars more distantly than
do the solar system’s gas giants. Photo-erosion from such light would also
increase the concentration of heavy elements in the planetary disk, which would
help explain Earth’s exceptionally high abundance of heavy elements. However,
to get a planetary system with both an extremely heavy-element-rich planet and
a suite of distantly orbiting gas giant planets (both are required for life to
be possible) demands extraordinary fine tuning in either the formation process
of the gas giants, the heavy-element-rich planet, or both. These conclusions
imply that the solar system features are so rare as to suggest supernatural
design.
- James Lyons and Edward Young, "The Formation Environment of the Solar Nebula as Inferred from Oxygen Isotopes in Meteorites," Abstract # 990, Abstracts of the Biennial Meeting of the NASA Astrobiology Institute, April 10-14, 2005, Astrobiology 5 (2005): 186-87.
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Related Resource
- Hugh Ross, "Anthropic Principle: A Precise Plan for Humanity"
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- The Creator and the Cosmos, 3rd ed., by Hugh Ross
Today’s New Reason To Believe-Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Biochemical Design: Helicase Motors
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Greater understanding of the function of yet another molecular motor has
strengthened the case for a divine Designer. Biochemists have learned more
about DNA helicases, enzyme motors that move along the DNA double helix and
unwind it during DNA replication. One such helicase motor, part of the T7
bacteriophage, must work in conjunction with another enzyme, T7 DNA polymerase,
in order to efficiently unwind the DNA double helix. The elegant design and
machine-like characteristics of these molecular motors suggest the work of a
divine "Motor Maker."
- Natalie M. Stano et al., "DNA Synthesis Provides the Driving Force to Accelerate DNA Unwinding by a Helicase," Nature 435 (2005): 370-73.
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- Fazale R. Rana, "Nanodevices Make Megascopic Statement"
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- Travels to the Nanoworld, by Michael Gross
Today’s New Reason To Believe-Monday, June 20, 2005
More Evidence for an Early Origin of Life
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Pennsylvania State University geoscientists have found more evidence confirming
that life’s origin on Earth was a supernatural event. Some researchers had
claimed that the recently discovered early date (prior to 3.7 billion years
ago) for uranium mobility in Earth’s crust necessarily established the
widespread existence at that time of oxygenic photosynthetic life. In disputing
the claim, the geoscientists pointed out that the implied high levels of oxygen
production possibly could be explained by anaerobic (nonoxygenic) bacteria
breaking down seawater into hydrogen and oxygen. However, the replacement of
oxygenic photosynthetic bacteria with anaerobic bacteria at that time still
means that the first life on Earth was complex and that it appeared on Earth in
a geological instant. Such a rapid origin of complex life without benefit of a
prebiotic soup defies any possible naturalistic explanation.
- Shawn Goldman and James F. Kasting, "Interpretations of Uranium Mobility at 3.7 Ga," Abstract # 886, Abstracts of the Biennial Meeting of the NASA Astrobiology Institute, April 10-14, 2005, Astrobiology 5 (2005): 191.
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Today’s New Reason To Believe-Sunday, June 19, 2005
Biochemical Design: Electrical Motors
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Twenty-first-century science continues to validate William Paley’s
nineteenth-century watchmaker argument for design. Biochemists have discovered
two more molecular-level machines that bear a striking resemblance to man-made
machines. F1-F0 and V1-V0 Na+
ATPase enzymes function as literal rotary motors, each with a rotor, stator,
drive shaft, cam shaft, and turbine. Remarkably, these motors rotate in
response to the flow of electrical current through the cell membrane, making
the Na+ ATPase enzymes electrical rotary motors. These studies add
new insight into the structure and mechanical operation of these motors’
operation. As biochemical systems display such elegant design and machine-like
behavior, science once again affirms Paley’s "a watch requires a watchmaker"
argument.
- Takeshi Murata et al., "Structure of the Rotor of the V-Type Na+-ATPase from Enterococcus hirae," Science 308 (2005): 654-59.
- Thomas Meier et al., "Structure of the Rotor Ring of F-Type Na+-ATPase from Ilyobacter tartaricus," Science 308 (2005): 659-62.
- Wolfgang Junge and Nathan Nelson, "Nature’s Rotary Electromotors," Science 308 (2005): 642-44.
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- Fazale R. Rana, "Nanodevices Make Megascopic Statement"
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- Travels to the Nanoworld, by Michael Gross
Today’s New Reason To Believe-Saturday, June 18, 2005
Earth’s Earliest Life
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University of Colorado geologists have found more evidence confirming that
life’s origin on Earth was a supernatural event. They performed extensive
geological studies of Earth’s oldest rocks located in southwestern Greenland.
Their results demonstrate that evidence for life’s remains in those rocks is
not limited to the disputed Akilia Island rocks but is indeed ubiquitous in all
the supracrustal outcrops throughout the Qilangarssuit region and the adjoining
islands. Since all these rocks measure older than 3.7 billion years and since
the late heavy bombardment (when Earth sustained numerous life-inhibiting
extraterrestrial impacts) did not end until 3.8 billion years ago, the origin
of life on Earth must have occurred in a geological instant. Such a rapid
origin of life without benefit of a prebiotic soup defies any possible
naturalistic explanation.
- Nicole L. Cates and Stephen J. Mojzsis, "Geology of Diverse Early Archean (.3700 Ma) Akilia Association Supracrustal Enclaves on Qilangarssuit and Surrounding Islands, Southern West Greenland," Abstract # 921, Abstracts of the Biennial Meeting of the NASA Astrobiology Institute, April 10-14, 2005, Astrobiology 5 (2005): 187.
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- Origins of Life: Biblical and Evolutionary Models Face Off, by Fazale Rana and Hugh Ross
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- The Genesis Question, 2nd ed., by Hugh Ross
Today’s New Reason To Believe-Friday, June 17, 2005
No Neanderthal-Human Genetic Link
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A new study of Neanderthal DNA confirms RTB’s creation model for human origins.
Researchers compared mitochondrial DNA sequences and demonstrated once again
that Neanderthals and ancient modern humans were genetically (and hence,
evolutionarily) distinct. RTB’s model regards Neanderthals and other extinct
hominids found in the fossil record as nonhuman primates that lacked spiritual
capacity. As scientific evidence continues to distinguish modern humans from
Neanderthals and other hominids (Homo erectus, Homo antecessor,
Homo heidelbergensis and Homo rhodesensis), RTB’s explanation for
the hominid fossil record passes another test.
- Cedric Beauval et al., "A Late Neandertal Femur from Les Rochers-de-Villeneuve, France," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA 102 (2005): 7085-90.
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- Fazale R. Rana, "Neanderthal-to-Human Link Severed"
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Today’s New Reason To Believe-Thursday, June 16, 2005
Biological Modification of Earth’s Reflectivity
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A University of Arizona astronomer has found more evidence establishing the
supernatural design of Earth for advanced life. He noted that Earth manifests
an albedo (reflectivity) that is very unlike the albedos of the Moon, Mars, and
Venus. The amount of light Earth reflects to space and especially the spectrum
of that reflected light are distinct. The astronomer concludes that the most
likely explanation for Earth’s unique albedo is the widespread vegetation on
Earth’s surface. Since both light parameters must be exquisitely fine-tuned so
that life can exist globally and abundantly on Earth’s surface, such
fine-tuning implies that life itself must be finely tuned in terms of its type,
its quantity, its timing, and its geographical distribution. Only a
supernatural, superintelligent Creator could place just-right life forms in
just-right quantities in just-right locations at just-right times so that
Earth’s albedo always has just-right properties to provide the best possible
environment for all life.
- Neville J. Woolf, "What Is an Earth-Like Planet?" Abstract # 926, Abstracts of the Biennial Meeting of the NASA Astrobiology Institute, April 10-14, 2005, Astrobiology 5 (2005): 186-87.
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- Hugh Ross, "Anthropic Principle: A Precise Plan for Humanity"
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Today’s New Reason To Believe-Wednesday, June 15, 2005
Biochemical Design: Myosin Motor
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Scientific advance continues to uncover the work of a divine "Motor Maker."
Biochemists have discovered yet another example of a molecular-level
machine-myosin, a linear motor replete with a lever arm. Researchers provide
new understanding about the mechanistic operation of the myosin motor,
including its elegant design and stark resemblance to man-made motors. As
scientists learn more about these biomolecular machines, their work points to
the activity of a Creator.
- Stefan Fischer et al., "Structural Mechanism of the Recovery Stroke in the Myosin Molecular Motor," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA 102 (2005): 6873-78.
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- Fazale R. Rana, "Nanodevices Make Megascopic Statement"
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Today’s New Reason To Believe-Tuesday, June 14, 2005
New Design Features in Planetary Formation
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A team of astronomers at the University of Colorado has found more evidence for
the design of the solar system. They noted that 90% or more of all stars form
in dense star clusters. Thus, during the planetary formation stage they are
likely to be exposed to intense ultraviolet light from nearby giant stars. Such
uv light typically truncates the outer part of the planetary disk, making it
unlikely for planets to form there. This result helps explain why astronomers
have yet to discover gas giant planets orbiting their stars more distantly than
do the solar system’s gas giants. Photo-erosion from such light would also
increase the concentration of heavy elements in the planetary disk, which would
help explain Earth’s exceptionally high abundance of heavy elements. These
conclusions imply that the solar system features (four distantly orbiting gas
giants combined with an extremely heavy-element-rich Earth) are so rare as to
suggest supernatural design.
- John Bally, Nick Moeckel, and Henry Throop, "Planet Formation in OB Associations," Abstract # 743, Abstracts of the Biennial Meeting of the NASA Astrobiology Institute, April 10-14, 2005, Astrobiology 5 (2005): 186-87.
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- Hugh Ross, "Anthropic Principle: A Precise Plan for Humanity"
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Today’s New Reason To Believe-Monday, June 13, 2005
More Human-Chimpanzee Genetic Differences
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New research indicates that humans and chimpanzees possess numerous genes with
meaningful differences in their DNA sequences. This study helps to counter the
popular notion that because humans and chimpanzees share a 99% "genetic
similarity," they must have evolved from a common ancestor. By analyzing DNA
sequences, researchers have learned how genes play a role in sensory
perception, immune defenses, tumor suppression, and spermatogenesis. From a
biblical perspective, this data indicates that the Creator could have made
humans and chimpanzees with the same types of genes, but altered the DNA
sequence in humans to produce the significant biological differences between
humans and chimpanzees.
- Rasmus Nielsen et al., "A Scan for Positively Selected Genes in the Genomes for Humans and Chimpanzees," PLoS Biology 3 (2005): e170.
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- "Human/chimp DNA Comparisons," Creation Update (12-16-2003)
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Today’s New Reason To Believe-Sunday, June 12, 2005
Design in Terrestrial Planet Formation
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University of Maryland astronomers have found more evidence for the design of
the solar system. Their work delineated the most realistic planetesimal (small,
developing solar system body) collision model to date. They discovered that the
kinds and numbers of terrestrial planets that form around a star strongly
depend on the initial conditions of the planetesimal disk (area of planetary
formation). Thus the initial conditions of the planetesimal disk must be
fine-tuned for life to be possible. This discovery provides further evidence
that the terrestrial planet features that would permit life to thrive are so
rare as to imply supernatural design.
- Zoë M. Leinhardt and Derek C. Richardson, "Planetesimal Evolution and Terrestrial Planet Formation," Abstract # 975, Abstracts of the Biennial Meeting of the NASA Astrobiology Institute, April 10-14, 2005, Astrobiology 5 (2005): 182.
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- Hugh Ross, "Anthropic Principle: A Precise Plan for Humanity"
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Today’s New Reason To Believe-Saturday, June 11, 2005
Intelligently Designed Origin of Life Scenario
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New research designed to explain the origin of life through evolutionary means,
ironically, demonstrates that life’s origin cannot occur apart from the input
of an intelligent agent. One explanation for the origin of life posits that RNA
molecules, which possessed both information storage capacity and catalytic
properties, preceded the DNA and protein world of contemporary biochemistry.
This so-called RNA World hypothesis rescues the evolutionary paradigm from the
chicken and egg paradox that naturally arises because of the interdependence of
DNA and proteins. For the RNA World model to have merit, origin-of-life
researchers need to demonstrate that RNA’s components can be produced under
conditions applicable to early Earth. New research demonstrates that ribose, a
molecular component of RNA, preferentially dissolves through the membranes of
vesicles (models for proto-cells) composed of phospholipids and fatty acids.
However, neither the phospholipids nor the fatty acid vesicles form
spontaneously. Rather, their production requires extensive researcher
intervention. Moreover, these vesicles are only stable for a few days, at most.
In this experimental setup, the hand of the researcher might as well be the
hand of God.
- M.G. Sacerdote and J. W. Szostak "Semipermeable Lipid Bilayers Exhibit Diastereoselectivity Favoring Ribose," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA102 (2005): 6004-08.
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Today’s New Reason To Believe-Friday, June 10, 2005
Design of Infall Velocity of Galaxy onto Groups
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A team of South American and American astronomers has uncovered a new design
feature for the Milky Way Galaxy. Their study of the two most extensive surveys
of nearby galaxies showed that all nearby galaxies exhibit an infall velocity
(the velocity with which an object falls toward the center of a region of
gravitational influence) toward the center of the nearest group of galaxies
and/or the nearest cluster of galaxies. This velocity correlates with both the
mass and luminosity of the group or cluster of galaxies. Compared to other
nearby galaxies, the Milky Way Galaxy (MWG) has an exceptionally low infall
velocity. Without such a low infall velocity, the MWG would have suffered
gravitational distortions, which would have made the long-term survival of life
on Earth impossible. Consequently, the existence of advanced life on Earth
demands yet another fine-tuned characteristic of the MWG, namely its infall
velocity. The accumulation of such galactic fine-tuned characteristics provides
increasing evidence for a supernatural Creator.
- M. L. Ceccarelli et al., "Galaxy Peculiar Velocities and Infall onto Groups," Astrophysical Journal 622 (2005): 853-61.
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Related Resource
- Hugh Ross, "Anthropic Principle: A Precise Plan for Humanity"
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- The Creator and the Cosmos, 3rd ed., by Hugh Ross
Today’s New Reason To Believe-Thursday, June 9, 2005
Biochemical Design: Ratchets and Gears
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Discovery of the cooperation of two tiny molecular motors in cellular processes
provides big implications for design. Kinesin, which operates as a Brownian
ratchet and dynein, which possesses molecular "gears" work in conjunction to
move cellular cargo, like organelles, along a network of microtubule "tracks"
distributed throughout the cell. Dynein and kinesin transport their cargo in
opposite directions along the microtubule filaments. Until recently,
biochemists thought that these two motors engaged in a tug of war, fighting
with one another to control the movement of the cellular cargo. New research
indicates that these two molecular motors cooperate to ensure that organelles
are properly delivered to the desired cellular location. The elegant design and
machine-like behavior of dynein and kinesin indicates that these biomolecular
machines are the work of a divine "Motor Maker."
- Comert Kural et al., "Kinesin and Dynein Move a Peroxisome in Vivo: A Tug-of-War or Coordinated Movement?" Science (2005): Sciencexpress pre-print.
- "Molecular Motors Cooperate in Moving Cellular Cargo, Study Shows", Sciencedaily.com (April 28, 2005).
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- Fazale R. Rana, "Nanodevices Make Megascopic Statement"
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Today’s New Reason To Believe-Wednesday, June 8, 2005
Did Life Have Multiple Origins?
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Australia’s most famous astrobiologists, in trying to circumvent a supernatural
explanation for life’s origin, in fact provide more evidence for it. Paul
Davies and Charles Lineweaver note the strong evidence that life arose in a
geological instant without the benefit of primordial soup 3.8 billion years
ago, and conclude that life must naturally arise easily. Thus, they suggest
that multiple independent origins of life must have occurred during Earth’s
history and could conceivably occur in the present. Believing that life starts
naturally from nonlife many times over, they predict that mounting data on
life’s history will show multiple "trees" rather than the single "tree of life"
with multiple branches sprouting from a single trunk that is the foundation of
current Darwinian evolutionary models. However, Davies and Lineweaver’s
hypothesis critically depends on easy, efficient, ubiquitous chemical pathways
for inorganic chemicals to transform naturally into complex biological
molecules that self-organize into cells. Chemical research increasingly proves
that such chemical pathways are extraordinarily difficult, extremely
inefficient, and nonexistent in the natural realm. Such factors point instead
to supernaturalism.
- P. C. W. Davies and Charles H. Lineweaver, "Finding a Second Sample of Life on Earth," Astrobiology 5 (2005): 154-63.
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Today’s New Reason To Believe-Tuesday, June 7, 2005
Biochemical Design: Molecular Fine-Tuning
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New research in biochemistry illustrates the molecular fine-tuning, and
consequently the design, of biochemical systems. Scientists have discovered a
correlation between the onset of diseases called mitochondrial
encephalomyopathies and structural defects in mitochondrial transfer RNA
molecules. They have demonstrated that the failure of the mitochondria’s
biochemical machinery to modify just one of the transfer RNA bases in the
so-called wobble position (which plays a central role in protein synthesis) has
catastrophic consequences. This discovery highlights the precision of transfer
RNA and messenger RNA at the ribosome during protein synthesis. Such
fine-tuning signifies that life originated from the Creator’s hand.
- Yohei Kirino et al., "Specific Correlation between the Wobble Modification Deficiency in Mutant tRNAs and the Clinical Features of a Human Mitochondrial Disease," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA102 (2005): 7127-32.
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- "Fine-Tuning of Aquaporin Membrane", Creation Update (6-04-2002)
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Today’s New Reason To Believe-Monday, June 6, 2005
Gamma Ray Burst Mass Extinction Event
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A team of American astronomers led by RTB constituent Brian Thomas has found
more evidence supporting supernatural creation. They performed the first
detailed calculation of the effects of a gamma-ray burst (GRB) about 6,500
light years away upon the atmosphere and surface of Earth. Their analysis shows
that such a burst will triple the intensity of hard ultraviolet radiation at
Earth’s surface, leading to widespread extinctions. The statistics of GRBs
indicate that such an event will occur at least once every billion years in the
current era and even more frequently during Earth’s early history.
Specifically, the team shows that the late Ordovician mass extinction (~440
million years ago) may have been caused by a GRB. The daunting challenge for
naturalistic evolution models is to explain the rapid mass speciation
(life-replenishing) events that always follow mass extinction events. This
"challenge" is well explained by a biblical creation model where God’s
re-creations of life efficiently prepare the planet for humans and human
civilization.
- Brian C. Thomas et al., "Terrestrial Ozone Depletion Due to a Milky Way Gamma-Ray Burst," Astrophysical Journal Letters 622 (2005): L153-L156.
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Related Resource
- Fazale Rana, "Repeatable Evolution or Repeated Creation?"
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Product Spotlight
- The Genesis Question, 2nd ed., by Hugh Ross
Today’s New Reason To Believe-Sunday, June 5, 2005
Human-Chimpanzee Genetic Differences
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Although it is often reported as evidence for evolution, the 99% "genetic
similarity" between humans and chimpanzees merits further consideration. While
a high degree of genetic similarity exists, genetic expression accounts for
marked differences between the species. New research indicates that humans and
chimpanzees have recombination hot spots (sites where new combinations of genes
originate) at different locations in their genomes. This means that the dynamic
characteristics of the human and chimpanzee genomes differ. From a biblical
perspective, this data could be understood to indicate that the Creator made
the human genome with different properties than the chimpanzee genome. This
genetic difference may well play a role in establishing the significant
biological differences between humans and chimpanzees.
- Wendy Winckler et al., "Comparison of Fine-Scale Recombination Rates in Humans and Chimpanzees," Science 308 (2005): 107-11.
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Related Resource
- "Human/chimp DNA Comparisons," Creation Update (12-16-2003)
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Related Product
- Who Was Adam? (video series)
Today’s New Reason To Believe-Saturday, June 4, 2005
Abundance of Early Photosynthetic Life
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Pennsylvania State University astrobiologists have developed more evidence that
supports the claim that Earth’s first life forms were supernaturally created.
Specifically, they discovered that the hematite (oxidized iron ore) in the
world’s oldest hematite deposit (the Towers Formation in Western Australia at
3.46 billion years old) was formed as a result of early deep-sea oxidation.
Such oxidation implies a fully oxygenated atmosphere at 3.46 billion years ago.
This means that photosynthetic life must have been present and abundant at
life’s origin 3.8 billion years ago, with that abundance sustained up until
3.46 billion years ago. Even the simplest photosynthetic life is
extraordinarily complex. The origin of such extreme complexity from nonlife
poses an insurmountable challenge to naturalistic evolution but is perfectly
compatible with RTB’s biblical creation model.
- David Cicero Bevacqua, Yumiko Watanabe, and Hirsoshi Ohmoto, "World’s Oldest Hematite (3.46 Ga) from Marble Bar, Western Australia," Abstract # 1057, Abstracts of the Biennial Meeting of the NASA Astrobiology Institute, April 10-14, 2005, Astrobiology 5 (2005): 187.
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Product Spotlight
- The Genesis Question, 2nd ed., by Hugh Ross
Today’s New Reason To Believe-Friday, June 3, 2005
Toumai Man Still Offers Evolutionists No Hope
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Two new studies confirm the identity of the hominid, Toumai Man. This
confirmation creates problems for the human evolutionary model. In July 2002
Nature magazine reported that the skull and jawbone of a newly recognized
hominid, Sahelanthropus tchadensis (nicknamed Toumai Man), was recovered
in Chad. The discovery created a litany of problems for human evolution,
including: 1) Toumai Man was discovered in the wrong geographical area (central
Africa, not south or east Africa) and the wrong time (6 to 7 million years ago,
not 5 to 6 million years ago as predicted by the evolutionary model); 2) Toumai
Man walked erect, meaning that bipedalism appeared suddenly with the first
appearance of hominids; 3) Toumai man lived in a woodland environment,
indicating that bipedalism emerged without any evolutionary driving force; and
4) the discovery of Toumai Man shows that a diversity of hominids appeared
explosively at the base of the hominid fossil record. To avoid these problems
some anthropologists suggested that Toumai Man was not a hominid, but a
gorilla-like ape. Two new studies refute this view. New fossil specimens and a
virtual reconstruction of Toumai Man’s skull indicate that it was a true
hominid. With Toumai Man’s identity secured, the problems this hominid creates
for human evolution are unavoidable.
- Christoph P. E. Zollikofer et al., "Virtual Cranial Reconstructions of Sahelanthropus tchadensis," Nature 434 (2005): 755-59.
- Michel Brunet et al., "New Material of the Earliest Hominid from the Upper Miocene of Chad", Nature 434 (2005): 752-55.
-
Related Resource
- Fazale R. Rana, "Toumai Man Offers Evolutionists No Hope"
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Today’s New Reason To Believe-Thursday, June 2, 2005
Supernova Remnant Test for Creation Models
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New measurements by astronomers provide yet another refutation of a recent
prediction made by young-earth creationists while confirming a contravening
prediction made by old-earth creationists. The young-earth prediction states
that astronomical evidence for highly dispersed supernova remnants will prove
false and that astronomers will fail to uncover any more evidence for widely
dispersed supernova remnants. Such supernova remnants have been difficult to
detect because of background noise, but thanks to new measuring techniques
several have been detected in the past two years in the Milky Way Galaxy and in
the Magellanic Clouds. Now, new measurements made by the Chandra X-Ray
Observatory establish that supernova remnant B0049-73.6 in the Small Magellanic
Cloud has a dispersal diameter that equates to an age = 14,000 years. While not
nearly as long a dispersal time as for several remnants found in the Milky Way
Galaxy and for many other remnants in both Magellanic Clouds, this new
measurement helps determine which creation model is correct.
- Sean P. Hendrick, Stephen P. Reynolds, and Kazimierz J. Borkowski, "An Fe-Ni Bubble in the Small Magellanic Cloud Supernova Remnant B0049-73.6," Astrophysical Journal Letters 622 (2005): L117-L120.
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Related Resource
- Hugh Ross and Eric Agol, "Missing Solar Neutrinos Found"
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- A Matter of Days, by Hugh Ross
Today’s New Reason To Believe-Wednesday, June 1, 2005
Challenge to Biological Evolution: Convergence
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More evidence for convergence in unrelated species provides ongoing problems
for the evolutionary paradigm. With chance governing the process, evolution
should not produce the same outcome repeatedly. Yet that is precisely what
occurs in biological convergence, where nearly identical anatomical and
physiological traits show up in unrelated organisms. In this example,
researchers describe the repeated, independent origin of dental and vertebral
anatomy in the newly discovered Jurassic mammal, Fruitafossor
windscheffeli, and also in modern aardvarks, armadillos, and anteaters.
Each new instance of convergence (there are many) challenges the veracity of
the theory of evolution, but affirms the idea of a Creator repeatedly using the
same good designs as He brought life into existence.
- Zhe-Xi Luo and John R. Wible, "A Late Jurassic Digging Mammal and Early Mammalian Diversification," Science 308 (2005): 103-07.
-
Related Resource
- Fazale R. Rana, "Convergence: Evidence for a Single Creator"
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