Today's New Reason To Believe Archives
October 2005
Today’s New Reason To Believe-Monday, October 31, 2005
Source of X-ray Background Found
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A team of international astronomers has found the source of the measured X-ray
background radiation and strengthened the case for the biblically anticipated,
supernatural cosmic creation model. Supermassive black holes (SMBHs) with
masses millions to billions of times the mass of the sun reside at the centers
of quasars. In the early universe, these SMBHs grew very rapidly, emitting
ubiquitous X-rays in the process. However, the measured X-ray background,
which is the sum of the X-ray emission from all the SMBHs, was substantially
more than the number of optically detectable quasars. A team of astronomers
has found a large class of quasars obscured at optical wavelengths that,
coupled with the optically detected quasars, accounts for all the X-ray
background radiation. This discovery provides additional support for the
scientifically testable RTB creation model.
- Alejo Martínez-Sansigre et al., "The Obscuration by Dust of Most of the Growth of Supermassive Black Holes," Nature 436 (2005): 666-69.
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Related Resource
- Hugh Ross, "A Beginner’s-and Expert’s-Guide to the Big Bang"
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Product Spotlight
- The Creator and the Cosmos, 3rd ed., by Hugh Ross
Today’s New Reason To Believe-Sunday, October 30, 2005
Ape-to-Human Lineage Challenged
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The stated 99% genetic similarity between humans and chimpanzees is often
reported as evidence for evolution. However, even subtle genetic differences
can have profound biological effects. This study shows that the absence of a
single sugar on the surface of cells is responsible for the susceptibility of
humans to malaria and for the different responses that humans and apes have to
malaria parasites. Therefore, a high degree of genetic similarity doesn’t
necessarily mean that humans and chimpanzees are closely related organisms. It
seems reasonable to propose that a Creator used the same raw materials (genes)
to construct both humans and chimpanzees. The Creator then was free to alter
these materials to produce very different organisms.
- Maria J. Martin et al., "Evolution of Human-Chimpanzee Differences in Malaria Susceptibility: Relationship to Human Genetic Loss of N-glycolylneuraminic Acid," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA 102 (2005): 12819-24.
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Related Resource
- Fazale R. Rana, "Humans and Chimps Differ"
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Related Product
- Who Was Adam?, by Fazale Rana with Hugh Ross (book)
Today’s New Reason To Believe-Saturday, October 29, 2005
Complexity in Marine Microbial Community Argues for Design
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Information in a Nature review article argues for the work of a
supernatural Designer. A high degree of complex interactions in a system is
strong evidence for an intelligent Designer. A Stanford geophysicist details
scientists’ increasing understanding of the complex interactions within the
marine microbial community and the environment. For example, the amount of
atmospheric carbon dioxide removed by the oceans depends sensitively on the
abundance relationships of phytoplankton and nutrients. While the measured
relationships appear universal, they are actually the average of a diverse
range of phytoplankton growing in a wide variety of environments utilizing
different growth strategies. This result indicates that the abundance
relationships can vary over time in response to environmental changes. Such
adaptation provides a mechanism to regulate atmospheric temperatures in
response to astronomical phenomena via greenhouse gas removal. Highly complex
environmental and biological relationships are expected if the biblically
predicted cosmic creation model is correct.
- Kevin R. Arrigo, "Marine Microorganisms and Global Nutrient Cycles," Nature 437 (2005): 349-55.
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Related Resource
- Hugh Ross, Fine-Tuning for Life On Earth (June 2004)
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Product Spotlight
- The Creator and the Cosmos, 3rd ed., by Hugh Ross
Today’s New Reason To Believe-Friday, October 28, 2005
Biochemical Design: Molecular Fine-Tuning
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New research provides another example of how the cell’s chemistry is
fine-tuned for biomolecules to effectively carry out life’s necessary
operations. Scientists have discovered that the interaction between RNA and
the so-called transcription antiterminator N protein from bacteriophage
illustrates biochemical fine-tuning. This interaction depends critically on
the precise molecular interaction between the protein’s tryptophan-18 residue
and the adenosine A7 residue of the RNA. Such reciprocal action between
protein and RNA also depends on the precise chemical environment in the
vicinity of these two interacting components. This remarkable display of
molecular fine-tuning points to the work of a Creator’s hand.
- TianbingXia et al., "RNA-Protein Recognition: Single-Residue Ultrafast Dynamical Control of Structural Specificity and Function," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA102 (2005): 13013-18.
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Related Resource
- " Fine-tuning of Aquaporin Membrane," ("The Physics of Sin") Creation Update (6-04-2002)
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- Travels to the Nanoworld, by Michael Gross
Today’s New Reason To Believe-Thursday, October 27, 2005
Methanotrophic Symbionts Show Design
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A team of Dutch scientists has found additional evidence of supernatural
design in how biological organisms interact with the earth’s environment to
maintain a suitable habitat for life. The sun gets brighter as it ages and,
therefore, deposits more energy on Earth. One way to prevent the runaway
greenhouse heating of the atmosphere expected from this extra energy is to
reduce the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The researchers
discovered that certain bacteria in wetlands oxidize the abundant methane gas
produced there and this oxidized methane serves as a carbon source for mosses.
The symbiotic relationship of the mosses and bacteria removes methane from the
atmosphere and buries significant amounts of carbon (thus removing carbon
dioxide), both of which would otherwise contribute to greenhouse heating. This
high degree of interaction between biological organisms and the physical
environment to maintain a suitable habitat for life is expected if a
supernatural Designer is responsible for Earth and its life.
- Ashna A. Raghoebarsing et al., "Methanotrophic Symbionts Provide Carbon for Photosynthesis in Peat Bogs," Nature 436 (2005): 1153-56.
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Related Resource
- Hugh Ross, Fine-Tuning for Life On Earth (June 2004)
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Product Spotlight
- The Creator and the Cosmos, 3rd ed., by Hugh Ross
Today’s New Reason To Believe-Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Human and Chimpanzee Genetic Differences
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A brain comparison study between humans and chimpanzees allows for a test of
evolutionary and creation models. Many people consider the 99% genetic
similarity between humans and chimpanzees as evidence for evolution. This
report demonstrates that in spite of the high level of genetic similarity,
significant differences also exist. Researchers have learned that gene
sequences and expression are significantly different in the human brain
compared to the chimp brain. This disparity undoubtedly accounts for the
profound biological and behavioral differences between humans and great apes.
Such evidence validates the human origins model that asserts that a Creator
used the same raw materials (genes) to construct both humans and chimpanzees,
but altered and employed these materials in such a way to generate radically
different organisms.
- Philipp Khaitovich et al., "Parallel Patterns of Evolution in the Genomes and Transcriptomes of Humans and Chimpanzees," Science 309 (2005): 1850-54.
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Related Resource
- Fazale R. Rana, "Humans and Chimps Differ"
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Related Product
- Who Was Adam?, by Fazale Rana with Hugh Ross (book)
Today’s New Reason To Believe-Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Bacterial Diversity Studies Show Design
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Research by three Los Alamos scientists shows the tremendous diversity of life
on Earth and the work of a supernatural Designer to allow for that diversity.
Because of a few dominant (in quantity) bacteria in soil, it has been
difficult to determine how many different types of bacteria exist. The Los
Alamos team has developed a mathematical technique that is sensitive to the
number of different species. They found that nearly 10 million different
species are present in noncontaminated soils. Interestingly, the number of
species drops by a factor of 100 when even small levels of heavy metals are
introduced, even though the total biomass is unchanged. Earth’s early soil
contained high concentrations of metals, but those metals have been removed
from soils and concentrated into ores by early bacteria. These results reveal
the careful work of a supernatural Intelligence introducing the proper
bacteria early in life’s history so that increased diversity can exist today.
- Jason Gans, Murray Wolinsky, and John Dunbar, "Computational Improvements Reveal Great Bacterial Diversity and High Metal Toxicity in Soil," Science 309 (2005): 1387-90.
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Related Resource
- Hugh Ross, Fine-Tuning for Life On Earth (June 2004)
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Product Spotlight
- Journey Toward Creation, 2nd ed., by Hugh Ross (DVD)
Today’s New Reason To Believe-Monday, October 24, 2005
Chimpanzee Genome: Evidence for Evolution?
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Evolutionary biologists herald the completion of the chimpanzee genome
sequence as evidence for human evolution. According to the analysis humans and
chimps display a genetic difference of only 1.23%. It appears as if
evolutionary biologists are playing a scientific shell game, however.
Preliminary analysis of the chimpanzee genome indicates that humans and chimps
display no more than a 93% genetic similarity when all the genetic differences
(substitutions, indels, Alu sequences, segmental duplications, chromosomal
rearrangements, etc.) are taken into consideration. These significant
differences may well account for the stark biological differences between
these two organisms. Genetic similarity doesn’t necessarily mean that humans
and chimpanzees are evolutionarily connected. Instead, as RTB’s creation model
posits, it appears that a Creator used the same raw materials (genes) to
construct both humans and chimpanzees, but altered and employed these
materials in such a way to generate radically different organisms.
- The Chimpanzee Sequencing and Analysis Consortium, "Initial Sequence of the Chimpanzee Genome and Comparison with the Human Genome," Nature 437 (2005): 69-87.
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Related Resource
- Fazale R. Rana, "Humans and Chimps Differ"
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Related Product
- Who Was Adam?, by Fazale Rana with Hugh Ross (book)
Today’s New Reason To Believe-Sunday, October 23, 2005
Precision Dates for Early Solar System Affirm Ancient Cosmos
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Precision dates for the oldest meteorites affirm the robustness of the
biblically predicted cosmic creation model and provide additional evidence
against a young universe. If radioisotope dating is inherently flawed as
claimed by young-universe creationists, newly obtained ages will show
inconsistencies with previously measured ages. On the other hand, if recent
measurements confirm previous ages with increasing precision, support for the
old-universe big bang model grows. A team of international scientists has
dated meteorites to within one million years of the minimum age of the solar
system. The calculated age was 4.5662 +/- 0.0001 billion years. This age is
good to one part in 10 thousand (which is 10 times more precise than previous
dates) and is perfectly consistent with previous dates. Thus, support for a
supernatural Cause for this universe continues to grow.
- Joel Baker et al., "Early Planetesimal Melting from an Age of 4.5662 Gyr for Differentiated Meteorites," Nature 436 (2005): 1127-31.
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Related Resource
- Roger C. Wiens, "The Dynamics of Dating"
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Product Spotlight
- The Creator and the Cosmos, 3rd ed., by Hugh Ross
Today’s New Reason To Believe-Saturday, October 22, 2005
Biochemical Design: Molecular Motors
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Researchers have discovered another molecular-level machine that provides
evidence for the watchmaker argument. The type III secretion system of
pathogenic bacteria is a protein complex found in the bacterial cell envelope.
It functions as a needle-shaped molecular machine that transports bacterial
proteins into the cytoplasm of the host’s cells. Recent research provides new
understanding about the mechanistic operation and efficiency of the type III
secretion system. The display of elegant design and machine-like
characteristics of this molecular motor reveals the work of a divine "Motor
Maker."
- Markus C. Schlumberger et al., "Real-Time Imaging of Type III Secretion: Salmonella SipA Injection into Host Cells," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA 102 (2005): 12548-53.
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Related Resource
- 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, October 21, 2005
Helium Content of Rocks Does Not Support a Young Earth
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Research by two Columbia University geophysicists helps resolve a controversy
over the helium content of mantle rocks and undermines claims that the earth
is young. Most young-earth creationists argue that because scientists find a
particular isotope of helium (3He) in mantle rocks, the earth
cannot be older than a few thousand years otherwise all the 3He
would have escaped. However, recent results show that rocks with the highest
concentration of 3He are rocks that show the most evidence of
melting (melting should accelerate the helium loss). These results imply that
helium diffusion rates in the earth are much slower than originally thought
and, therefore, it is no longer surprising that mantle rocks still contain
helium. As science advances, evidence for a young earth evaporates while
support for the biblically anticipated cosmic creation model becomes stronger.
- Cornelia Class and Steven L. Goldstein, "Evolution of Helium Isotopes in the Earth’s Mantle," Nature 436 (2005): 1107-12.
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Related Resource
- Roger C. Wiens, "The Dynamics of Dating"
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Product Spotlight
- The Creator and the Cosmos, 3rd ed., by Hugh Ross
Today’s New Reason To Believe-Thursday, October 20, 2005
Biblical Account of Humanity’s Origin Confirmed
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A taste receptor study of early humans strengthens the case for the biblical
description of human origins. Researchers have determined that natural
selection began operating on a taste receptor that detects bitter plant
compounds roughly at a time that coincides with humanity’s origin. This type
of selection does not take place for the corresponding taste receptor in other
primates. Researchers posit that the ability to detect bitter plant compounds
at low levels imparted a benefit to the first humans as they began to expand
into new environments, since many plant toxins are bitter. This new work
follows on the heels of previous genetic studies of DNA that demonstrate a
recent origin for humanity 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. All evidence to date squares with the biblical
account of humanity’s origin.
- Nicole Soranzo et al., "Positive Selection on a High-Sensitivity Allele of the Human Bitter-Taste Receptor TAS2R16," Current Biology 15 (2005): 1257-65.
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- Who Was Adam?, by Fazale Rana with Hugh Ross (book)
Today’s New Reason To Believe-Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Olivine of Supernova Origin Affirms Solar System Design
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Three American astronomers have found new evidence for design in the formation
of the solar system. In order to have rocky planets (like Earth), the solar
nebula from which the planets condense must contain sufficient heavy elements.
These heavy elements are produced almost exclusively in the supernovae
explosions that occur when sufficiently large stars exhaust their fuel. To
account for the abundance of elements and their isotopes in the solar system,
two different types of supernovae needed to occur near the solar nebula at the
time the solar system formed. If the location and timing of the supernovae are
not fine-tuned, the solar nebula will either be blown apart or will not
acquire adequate quantities of the heavier elements. The isotopic abundances
found in olivine grains in cometary dust studied by these astronomers
demonstrated this fine-tuning of location and timing, thus affirming the work
of a supernatural Designer in the solar system.
- Scott Messenger, Lindsay P. Keller, and Dante S. Lauretta, "Supernova Olivine from Cometary Dust," Science 309 (2005): 737-41.
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Related Resource
- Hugh Ross, Fine-Tuning for Life On Earth (June 2004)
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Product Spotlight
- The Creator and the Cosmos, 3rd ed., by Hugh Ross
Today’s New Reason To Believe-Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Biochemical Design: Molecular Motors
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William Paley’s nineteenth century watchmaker argument continues to receive a
stream of confirmations from twenty-first century science. Just as a watch
requires a watchmaker, it logically follows that life, with its amazing
design, requires a Creator. The F1-F0 ATPase enzyme
produces chemical energy that the cell uses for its operation. This protein
complex, nearly ubiquitous throughout the living realm, is a literal rotary
motor, replete with a stator, rotor, camshaft, and turbine. This new study
demonstrates that the F1-F0 ATPase molecules in
mitochondria (organelles that generate energy for the cell) form pairs. The
pair formation creates cristae (folds) in the mitochondrial membrane that
increase the available surface area for energy production. By manifesting
elegant design and machine-like characteristics, these tiny motors point to
the work of a divine "Motor Maker."
- Fernando Minauro-Sanmiguel, Stephan Wilkens, and José J. García, "Structure of Dimeric Mitochondrial ATP Synthase: Novel F0 Bridging Features and the Structural Basis of Mitochondrial Cristae Biogenesis," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA102 (2005): 12356-58.
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Related Resource
- 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, October 17, 2005
Chondrites Show Evidence of Large Impact in the Early Solar System
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An international team of researchers has enhanced scientists’ understanding of
planetary formation, found additional evidence for design in the solar system,
and confirmed the antiquity of meteorites. Using lead isotope dating, the team
found that chondrules in the meteorites were 4.563 billion years old and,
therefore, date to the earliest times of the solar system. Analysis of the
chondrules also shows that they formed by heating from a giant impact between
planetary embryos after the dust in the early solar system had dissipated.
This result demonstrates the presence of planetary-sized objects early in the
solar system that coalesced into planets. These objects had been colliding at
the right time when a highly fine-tuned collision between two of them formed
the Earth-Moon system.
- Alexander N. Krot, Yuri Amelin, Patrick Cassen, and Anders Meibom, "Young Chondrules in CB Chondrites from a Giant Impact in the Early Solar System," Astronomical Journal 130 (2005): 569-75.
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Related Resource
- Hugh Ross, "Predictive Power: Affirming Cosmic Creation"
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Product Spotlight
- Journey Toward Creation, 2nd ed., by Hugh Ross (DVD)
Today’s New Reason To Believe-Sunday, October 16, 2005
Life’s Minimum Complexity
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New research of bacterial gene loss provides a test for origin-of-life models.
The RTB origin-of-life model predicts that life in its minimal form is
complex. Evolutionary models, on the other hand, require life in its minimal
form to be simple. Researchers studying the mechanism of gene loss in the
bacterium Salmonella typhimurium have demonstrated that up to 80% of
its genes can be lost in a nutrient-rich environment. With plenty of nutrients
available, otherwise critical genes become unnecessary. Even with a gene loss
of this magnitude, 600-700 genes are still necessary. This discovery indicates
that at a fundamental level, life is irreducibly complex, just as the RTB
model predicts.
- Howard Ochman, "Genomes on the Shrink," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA102 (2005): 11959-60.
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- Origins of Life, by Fazale Rana and Hugh Ross
Today’s New Reason To Believe-Saturday, October 15, 2005
Water Maser in Quasar is the Most Distant One Discovered
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The recent discovery of a water maser in a distant galaxy will strengthen the
biblically predicted cosmic creation model. Accurate distance measurements
comprise a critical component for any model of the formation and development
of the universe. Using a technique developed over the last five years,
astronomers can now use water masers in distant galaxies to make direct
distance measurements that do not depend on any other calibration. Two
American astronomers found a water maser in a quasar with a redshift 10 times
greater than any previously discovered masers. A direct distance measurement
to this quasar and others at similar redshifts would independently verify
scientists’ understanding of the cosmic expansion and acceleration from the
biblically predicted big bang creation event.
- Richard Barvainis and Robert Antonucci, "Extremely Luminous Water Vapor Emission from a Type 2 Quasar at Redshift z=0.66," Astrophysical Journal 628 (2005): L89-L91.
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Related Resource
- Hugh Ross, "A Beginner’s-and Expert’s-Guide to the Big Bang"
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Product Spotlight
- The Creator and the Cosmos, 3rd ed., by Hugh Ross
Today’s New Reason To Believe-Friday, October 14, 2005
More Confirmation of Biblical Human Origins Account
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The biblical description of human origins continues to find support as
geneticists study the human genome. Based on linkage disequilibrium mapping of
the human genome (which measures the physical association of genetic regions
to one another), it appears that humans experienced a genetic bottleneck about
36,000 years ago. This type of genetic effect would be expected if humanity
originated recently from a small population, just as the RTB human origins
model posits. This new work follows on the heels of previous genetic studies
of DNA that also demonstrate a recent origin for humanity 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. Mounting
genetic evidence supports the biblical account of humanity’s origin.
- W. Tapper et al., "A Map of the Human Genome in Linkage Disequilibrium Units," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA102 (2005): 11835-39.
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- Who Was Adam?, by Fazale Rana with Hugh Ross (book)
Today’s New Reason To Believe-Thursday, October 13, 2005
Evidence Favoring RTB’s Speciation Model
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A team of European and American conservation biologists has developed the most
powerful and comprehensive field evidence to date for a major tenet of RTB’s
speciation model. RTB’s model posits that large-body-sized species manifest a
high probability for rapid extinction and a very low probability for
speciation and, thus, are not candidates for natural evolution. The
biologists’ study of 4,000 land mammal species spanning a body mass range from
2 grams to 4,000 kilograms showed that the slope of extinction risk against
six established predictors of extinction becomes steeper with increasing body
mass. In particular, a sharp increase in extinction risk occurs at a body mass
of three kilograms. Above this size body mass "extinction risk begins to be
compounded by the cumulative effects of multiple threatening factors," the
authors note. The team’s study establishes that land mammals with large body
sizes possess extinction rates that are orders of magnitude larger than the
most optimistic speciation rates. Consequently, mammals with large body sizes
cannot be the product of natural process evolution.
- Marcel Cardillo et al., "Multiple Causes of High Extinction Risk in Large Mammal Species," Science 309 (2005): 1239-41.
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- Hugh Ross, "The Faint Sun Paradox"
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- The Genesis Question, 2nd ed., by Hugh Ross
Today’s New Reason To Believe-Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Challenge to Biological Evolution: Convergence
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With chance as its mechanism, evolution should not produce the same outcome
repeatedly. Yet increasing examples of biological convergence demonstrate such
repetitions. This new study describes the repeated, independent origin of
chemical defense in poison frogs and the ants upon which these frogs feed in
both Madagascar and the Neotropics. From an evolutionary standpoint, the
development of this defense mechanism should not occur simultaneously in
divergent species from different locations. This newly discovered example of
convergence challenges the veracity of the theory of evolution but finds ready
explanation in a creation model positing that a Creator repeatedly used the
same good designs as He brought new life into existence.
- Valerie C. Clark et al., "Convergent Evolution of Chemical Defense in Poison Frogs and Arthropod Prey between Madagascar and the Neotropics," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA102 (2005): 11617-22.
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Related Resource
- Fazale R. Rana, "Convergence: Evidence for a Single Creator"
Today’s New Reason To Believe-Tuesday, October 11, 2005
New Test of the Nature of Gravity
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A Michigan Technological University physicist has identified a new test to
provide a greater understanding of how gravity works. One crucial confirmation
of Einstein’s theory of general relativity was a measurement, during a solar
eclipse, of light being deflected by the sun. While general relativity has
passed every subsequent test, gravity’s fundamental workings remain
mysterious. The researcher has proposed a test to illuminate gravity’s nature
by asking whether gravity can "lens" itself. A properly aligned satellite at
distances similar to where Pioneer and Voyager spacecraft reside could
possibly detect amplification, by the sun, of the satellite’s gravitational
effects. A better understanding of the nature of gravity will consequently
strengthen the case for the biblically predicted big bang model.
- Robert J. Nemiroff, "Can a Gravitational Lens Magnify Gravity? A Possible Solar System Test," Astrophysical Journal 628 (2005): 1081-85.
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Related Resource
- Hugh Ross and John Rea, "Big Bang--The Bible Taught It First!"
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Product Spotlight
- Journey Toward Creation, 2nd ed., by Hugh Ross (DVD)
Today’s New Reason To Believe-Monday, October 10, 2005
Biochemical Design: Molecular Fine-Tuning
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New research on the nature of the interactions between amino acids and
transfer RNAs (tRNA), a class of molecules that play a role in protein
synthesis, illustrates the fine-tuning of biochemical systems. Transfer
RNA molecules bind specific amino acids and shuttle them to the ribosome
during protein synthesis. (The cell’s machinery makes proteins by linking
together amino acids in a specific sequence to form a molecular chain of amino
acids.) The enzymes that bind amino acids to tRNAs (aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases)
effectively distinguish the appropriate amino acid from the other 19 amino
acids used for protein synthesis. This molecular discrimination, critical for
the proper assembly of amino acid sequences during protein production, depends
on the precise spatial orientation of two amino acid residues in the so-called
editing domain of the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase. Just as fine-tuning is one
hallmark of well-designed man-made devices, the fine-tuning found in
biochemical systems signifies that life originated from the Creator’s hand.
- Masaaki Sokabe et al., "Molecular Basis of Alanine Discrimination in Editing Site," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA 102 (2005): 11669-74.
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Related Resource
- " Fine-tuning of Aquaporin Membrane," ("The Physics of Sin") Creation Update (6-04-2002)
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- Travels to the Nanoworld, by Michael Gross
Today’s New Reason To Believe-Sunday, October 9, 2005
Supernova Remnant Age is Evidence Against a Young Universe
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An international team of astronomers has found additional evidence refuting
most young-earth creationist models. The team was able to apply multiple
dating methods to supernova N206 in the Large Magellanic Clouds and determined
that its age was 23,000 years, with hard limits of 17,000 to 40,000 years.
Even ignoring the fact that light from the Large Magellenic Clouds takes over
150,000 years to reach Earth, these age limits provide strong refutation of
any model that claims the universe is less than 10,000 years old.
- R. M. Williams et al., "Supernova Remnants in the Magellanic Clouds. V. The Complex Interior Structure of the N206 Supernova Remnant," Astrophysical Journal 628 (2005): 704-20.
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Related Resource
- Fazale R. Rana, Hugh Ross, and Richard Deem, "Long Life Spans: Adam Lived 930 Years and Then He Died: New Discoveries in the Biochemistry of Aging Support the Biblical Record"
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Product Spotlight
- The Creator and the Cosmos, 3rd ed., by Hugh Ross
Today’s New Reason To Believe-Saturday, October 8, 2005
Life’s Minimum Complexity Supports Creation Model
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New research indicates that minimal life forms capable of living independently
in nature are amazingly complex, as the RTB origin-of-life model predicts.
Evolutionary models, on the other hand, require life in its minimal form to be
simple. Researchers have sequenced the genome of Pelagibacter ubique.
This microbe is found throughout the earth’s oceans and accounts for 25% of
all microbial cells. The organism’s genome consists of 1,354 genes, meaning
that to date P. ubique stands as the smallest genome for a free-living
life form. Microbes with smaller genomes are parasitic and, therefore, not
good representatives for the first life forms on Earth. By showing that life
at its most fundamental level is irreducibly complex, such studies help to
distinguish which origins model is correct.
- Stephen J. Giovannoni et al., "Genome Streamlining in a Cosmopolitan Oceanic Bacterium," Science 309 (2005): 1242-45.
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Today’s New Reason To Believe-Friday, October 7, 2005
No Gravitational Lensing Found in the Cosmic Microwave Background
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Research by two Alabama physicists may provide additional evidence for
fine-tuning in the earliest development of the universe. In analyzing the
cosmic microwave background, they did not find the expected gravitational
lensing predicted by most inflationary scenarios. They also note that recent
results do show the expected lensing signature when looking at distant
quasars. They conclude that the curvature of space may have been influenced on
large scales after the inflationary epoch. Whatever this "influence" might
have been, it must operate in such a way that does not affect the structure or
development in the early universe. As scientists understand the absence of
detectable gravitational lensing in the cosmic microwave background, the
evidence for fine-tuning by a cosmic Influencer in the early universe will
grow.
- Richard Lieu and Jonathan P. D. Mittaz, "On the Absence of Gravitational Lensing of the Cosmic Microwave Background," Astrophysical Journal 628 (2005): 583-93.
-
Related Resource
- Hugh Ross, "A Beginner’s-and Expert’s-Guide to the Big Bang"
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Product Spotlight
- The Creator and the Cosmos, 3rd ed., by Hugh Ross
Today’s New Reason To Believe-Thursday, October 6, 2005
Biblical Account of Humanity’s Origin Confirmed
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Researchers have discovered more evidence for RTB’s human origins model. The
study examined the genetic variation of Asian people groups and confirmed the
primeval migrational pattern of humanity from near the Middle East into Asia.
This data squares with previous genetic studies of DNA taken from
representatives of different population groups that 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. The genetic data also indicates that humanity expanded
from near the Middle East to populate the globe. Given all the research to
date, the biblical description of human origins continues to find support as
anthropologists study human genetic variation.
- Hong Shi et al., "Y-Chromosome Evidence of Southern Origin of the East Asian-Specific Haplogroup O3-M122," American Journal of Human Genetics 77 (2005): 408-19.
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- Who Was Adam?, by Fazale Rana with Hugh Ross (book)
Today’s New Reason To Believe-Wednesday, October 5, 2005
Biologically "Fixed" Atmospheric Nitrogen Important for Oceans
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A team of American scientists found that biological fixing of atmospheric
nitrogen is a major component of oceanic nitrogen. Their discovery provides
additional evidence that a supernatural Intellect is responsible for Earth’s
capacity to support life and for life’s fitness to the environment. Apart from
light, sufficient usable nitrogen is the biggest constraint on the biological
productivity of primary producers (such as algae) in the ocean. Since nitrogen
is continually lost to the deep ocean, it must constantly be replenished. It
was long thought that the major replenishment came from recycling the lost
nitrogen. The team showed that biological fixing of atmospheric nitrogen
contributes as much or more useful nitrogen to certain areas of the ocean as
recycling processes. The cooperation of geological and biological processes to
sustain maximal oceanic life provides additional testimony of the planning and
design of a super-intelligent, supernatural Creator.
- Douglas G. Capone et al., "Nitrogen fixation by Trichodesmium spp.: An important source of new nitrogen to the tropical and subtropical North Atlantic Ocean," Global Biogeochemical Cycles19 (2005): doi:10.1029/2004GB002331.
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Related Resource
- Hugh Ross, Fine-Tuning for Life On Earth (June 2004)
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- Journey Toward Creation, 2nd ed., by Hugh Ross (DVD)
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Today’s New Reason To Believe-Tuesday, October 4, 2005
Biochemical Design: Molecular Fine-Tuning
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New research on the chemical mechanism of protein synthesis at the ribosome
illustrates the fine-tuning required for biomolecules to effectively carry out
life’s necessary operations. The ribosome is a subcellular structure formed
from proteins and RNA molecules. It links together amino acids in a specific
sequence to form protein chains. Researchers have modeled the chemical
interactions that take place at the ribosome that lead to chemical bond
formation between amino acids. They conclude that the precise spatial
orientation of the ribosomal RNA chain produces a "preorganized hydrogen bond
network" that is poised for catalysis. Without this molecular fine-tuning,
catalysis would not proceed with the efficiency necessary for life. Precision
is one hallmark of well-designed man-made devices. Similarly, the fine-tuning
that is characteristic of biochemical systems signifies that life originated
from the Creator’s hand.
- Stefan Trobro and Johan Åqvist, "Mechanism of Peptide Bond Synthesis on the Ribosome," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA102 (2005): 12395-400.
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Today’s New Reason To Believe-Monday, October 3, 2005
Inhomogeneities Don’t Explain Cosmic Acceleration Data
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Research by two physicists from the University of Florida strengthens the case
for continuous cosmic expansion and for the design revealed by the recently
discovered acceleration of this expansion. Type Ia supernovae data over the
past 10 years compellingly show that the cosmic expansion began accelerating
about 5 billion years ago. The simplest explanation for the acceleration
relies on a space energy density, or dark energy, that mimics the cosmological
constant in Einstein’s equations of general relativity. However, the required
value of the dark energy is incredibly fine-tuned when compared to the value
predicted by particle physics. Some scientists hoped that inhomogeneities in
how matter/energy was distributed in the universe would explain the
acceleration without need for dark energy. Results by the University of
Florida researchers remove this hope by demonstrating that inhomogeneities
contribute negligibly to the cosmic expansion and never mimic the effects of
dark energy. The case for the biblically predicted cosmic creation model with
a super-intelligent Designer continues to grow.
- E. R. Siegel and J. N. Fry, "The Effects of Inhomogeneities on Cosmic Expansion," Astrophysical Journal 628 (2005): L1-L4.
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Today’s New Reason To Believe-Sunday, October 2, 2005
"Junk DNA Has Function" Redux
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Another identified function for so-called junk DNA continues to chip away at
this icon of evolution. Evolutionary biologists maintain that because junk DNA
is an imperfection, it provides incontrovertible evidence for evolution.
Numerous recent studies, however, have identified function for many types of
junk (or noncoding) DNA. In this new study researchers found that junk DNA in
the ribosomal RNA intergenic regions of Saccharomyces (yeast) species
has utility. Such functional importance of junk DNA indicates that careful
planning by an Intelligent Designer, rather than undirected, random
biochemical events, shaped the genomes of organisms.
- Austen R. D. Ganley et al., "Identifying Gene-Independent Noncoding Functional Elements in the Yeast Ribosomal DNA by Phylogenetic Footprinting," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA102 (2005): 11787-92.
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- Fuz Rana, "Yet Another Use for Junk DNA"
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Today’s New Reason To Believe-Saturday, October 1, 2005
Primordial Star Formation Easier Than Previously Thought
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Simulations by a team of American scientists show that early stars can form
quickly, providing additional support for the biblically predicted cosmic
creation model. It is relatively easy to understand the formation of the very
first stars because the ingredients and conditions are well-known. These first
stars burn very quickly and die in massive explosions that spew a multitude of
elements heavier than helium into the interstellar medium. It is more
challenging to understand the formation of second-generation stars, however,
because modeling star formation in the aftermath of these explosions is
difficult. And without subsequent generations of stars, the universe would not
be endowed with life-essential heavy metals. However, recent higher resolution
simulations show that although the massive explosions generate high
temperatures and entropy, they also catalyze rapid molecular hydrogen
formation, which enables the halos of the next generation of stars to cool
more efficiently. Consequently, the earliest second-generation stars are able
to form quickly, i.e., within 20-30 million years. These results strengthen
the case for a supernatural Creator forming the universe nearly 14 billion
years ago.
- Brian W. O’Shea et al., "Forming a Primordial Star in a Relic H II Region," Astrophysical Journal 628 (2005): L5-L8.
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Related Resource
- Hugh Ross and John Rea, "Big Bang--The Bible Taught It First!"
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Product Spotlights
- Journey Toward Creation, 2nd ed., by Hugh Ross (DVD)
- The Creator and the Cosmos, 3rd ed., by Hugh Ross





