Today's New Reason To Believe Archives

November 2006

Today’s New Reason To Believe-Thursday, November 30, 2006
New Problem for Embryonic Stem Cells

  • New work on embryonic stem cells (ESCs) raises concerns about the viability of this biotechnology to treat diseases like Parkinson’s. Researchers generated dopamine-producing nerve cells from human ESCs and transplanted them into the brains of mice with Parkinson’s-like brain lesions. These transplanted cells benefited the mice, but also led to the onset of tumor formation. Even though ESCs are touted as having the potential to treat debilitating diseases and injuries, fundamental problems, like tumorgenicity, may keep this biotechnology from matriculating to clinical applications. Obstacles like the one described in this study compel a shift in focus towards ethically acceptable alternate technologies, like adult stem cells, for use in cell-replacement therapies.
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Today’s New Reason To Believe-Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Fine-tuning of Earth’s Magnetic Field

  • Studies of Earth’s interior continue to demonstrate the fine-tuning required to maintain the long-standing magnetic field upon which advanced life depends. Earth’s magnetic field protects the planet from harmful solar particles and cosmic rays. Two earthquakes in 1993 and 2003 revealed a localized growth of the Earth’s inner core by roughly one kilometer. Growth of the inner core drives the dynamo responsible for Earth’s magnetic field. The size and rapidity of the core growth demonstrates that the process of core growth is sporadic and irregular rather than smooth and gradual. Amazingly, the fine-tuning of the system yields a remarkably stable and long-standing magnetic field. This fine-tuning comports well with the work of a supernatural Designer ensuring that Earth remains habitable until humans arrive on the scene.
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Today’s New Reason To Believe-Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Humanity Arrives at the Just Right Time

  • As scientists discuss ways to mitigate greenhouse warming, their possible solutions highlight the fine-tuning of humanity’s arrival on Earth. One suggestion involves polluting the atmosphere with sulfate aerosols similar to volcanic eruptions. The aerosols reflect sunlight back into space, thereby cooling Earth to counteract the heating caused by increased greenhouse gases. However, even with constant greenhouse gases, Earth will continue to warm because the sun’s luminosity is continually increasing. In fact, the greenhouse gases are near their minimum value required to sustain abundant life on Earth. In future times, scientists postulate that either Earth will not support the diversity of life-forms seen today, or the visibility of the atmosphere will be dramatically reduced (sulfate aerosols cause smog and clouds). This tradeoff suggests that humanity arrived on Earth at precisely the time when Earth’s biomass, biodiversity, and aesthetic beauty are maximized, which comports well with the idea of a superintelligent Creator fashioning a planet just for that purpose.
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Today’s New Reason To Believe-Monday, November 27, 2006
Type Ia Supernovae are Standard Candles

  • New x-ray observations have confirmed the validity of one tool scientists use to measure fine-tuning in the universe. Scientists believe that all type Ia supernovae occur in a particular type of double-star system in which a white-dwarf star consumes matter blown off of the other star and detonates upon reaching a critical mass. Because this critical mass is the same for all stars, all these supernovae exhibit the same brightness, which permits astronomers to determine the distance to any given supernova. These distances are vital for determining the expansion history of the universe. The x-ray satellite SWIFT recently detected x-rays from one of these supernovae, confirming the presence of material from the companion star surrounding the detonating white dwarf. Observations from these double-star systems first indicated the presence of the tremendously fine-tuned dark energy-the self-stretching property of the universe. Consequently, these results further buttress RTB’s cosmic creation model, which predicts such fine-tuning in the universe.
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Today’s New Reason To Believe-Sunday, November 26, 2006
Biochemical Design: Molecular Fine-Tuning

  • New research on the movement of potassium and sodium ions through the channel of P-type ATPase pumps highlights the molecular fine-tuning of biochemical systems and adds more evidence for intelligent design. The P-type Na+, K+-ATPase pump transports sodium ions from inside the cell to its exterior while simultaneously moving potassium ions from the cell’s surroundings into its interior. This pump is highly selective, discriminating between positively and negatively charged ions. This selectivity stems from the specific identity and orientation of the amino acids that line the channel’s wall. Replacing even one of the channel wall’s amino acids changes the pump’s selectivity so that it excludes positively charged ions and transports ions bearing a negative charge. Fine-tuning is a hallmark of well-designed man-made devices. As such, the exquisite fine-tuning characteristic of the P-type ATPase pumps suggests that life originated from the Creator’s hand.
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Today’s New Reason To Believe-Saturday, November 25, 2006
Earth’s Magnetic Field Designed

  • Detailed observations of the ocean floor reveal design in Earth’s magnetic field. Scientists have known for years that the polarity of Earth’s magnetic field reverses roughly every 500,000 years. Studies of the ocean floor reveal that the reversal rate was much quicker roughly 160 million years ago; geophysicists estimate that the reversals occurred every 100,000 years. Further, the magnetic field was weaker in the past. These results corroborate other findings indicating that stronger fields undergo less-frequent reversals. Currently, Earth’s magnetic field is very strong compared to earlier epochs, and consequently it has not experienced a reversal for over 750,000 years. A magnetic field reversal would have dramatic negative consequences for advanced life, particularly humankind. RTB’s cosmic creation model anticipates and predicts such scientific findings as a consequence of a supernatural Designer working to maintain an environment with minimal disturbances to advanced life and complex technology.
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Today’s New Reason To Believe-Friday, November 24, 2006
Biochemical Design: Quality Control

Today’s New Reason To Believe-Thursday, November 23, 2006
Design of Galaxy Collisions

  • A new analysis of an ancient galaxy collision demonstrates the fine-tuning necessary to ensure that the Milky Way Galaxy remains conducive to hosting an abundantly habitable planet like Earth. Roughly 210 million years ago, a galaxy with about one-tenth the mass of the Andromeda Galaxy collided nearly head-on with Andromeda. The result of this collision was a substantial disruption of the disk and spiral structure in Andromeda, which consequently diminished the habitability of any planetary system in the galaxy. Interestingly, such collisions provide essential gas to sustain the star formation that maintains the long-standing spiral structures, but collisions with galaxies that are too large cause disruptions like the one observed in Andromeda. In contrast with Andromeda, the Milky Way Galaxy (where Earth resides) shows evidence of enough small collisions to sustain star formation but no large collisions to disrupt the spiral structure. Such fine-tuning comports well with RTB’s creation model, in which a divine Designer works to prepare a suitable habitat for life, particularly humankind.
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Today’s New Reason To Believe-Wednesday, November 22, 2006
More Evidence that Humans are Distinct from "Lucy" and Other Hominids

  • The recent discovery of a three-year-old Australopithecus afarensis specimen in Dikika, Ethiopia, dated to 3.3 million-years in age, highlights the stark anatomical differences between modern humans and hominids. RTB’s creation model views "Lucy" and other extinct hominids as non-human primates that lacked spiritual capacity. On this basis, the RTB model predicts that humans and the hominids should be biologically distinct from one another. Based on the physical features of the Dikika infant, it appears that the australopithecines were much more ape-like than was previously thought. This discovery adds to the mounting scientific evidence that distinguishes distinguish modern humans from hominids in the fossil record, in accord with RTB’s creation model.
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Today’s New Reason To Believe-Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Star-Formation History of Galaxy Classes

  • Researchers have learned more about the star-formation histories of different galaxy classes, and their work reveals the fine-tuning of the galaxy where Earth resides. Different types of galaxies exhibit different star-formation histories. Dwarf galaxies exhibit continuous star formation over their histories, as long as they don’t reside in a massive cluster or orbit a massive galaxy. In contrast, star formation in giant galaxies occurs rapidly very early but quickly dies off unless mergers with other galaxies occur. To form habitable planets, stars likely need to be in giant galaxies in order to have sufficient heavy elements. However, the galaxy mergers must occur frequently enough to sustain star formation without disrupting the spiral structure in the galaxy. The solar system resides in such a galaxy, with large spiral arms, ongoing star formation, and few enough mergers that the solar system is not disrupted. These characteristics match those predicted by RTB’s creation model, in which a supernatural Designer fashions a suitable universe, galaxy, sun, and planet where life flourishes.
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Today’s New Reason To Believe-Monday, November 20, 2006
More Evidence that Endogenous Retroviruses Have Function

  • New research continues to reveal the functional importance of the junk DNA sequences known as endogenous retroviruses (ERVs). This most recent work demonstrates that ERVs play a key role in the reproduction of mammals by controlling the development of the placenta. Evolutionary biologists maintain that because junk DNA is an imperfection, it provides incontrovertible evidence for evolution. Yet once again biochemists have concluded that junk DNA actually has function. The growing recognition of the functional importance of junk DNA undermines one of evolution’s best arguments and suggests that careful planning by an intelligent Designer, rather than undirected, random biochemical events, shaped the genomes of organisms.
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Today’s New Reason To Believe-Sunday, November 19, 2006
ExtrasolarPlanet Systems Affirm Solar System Design

  • Studies of extrasolar planet systems provide additional evidence for fine-tuning in Earth’s planet system. By studying interactions of known and hypothetical bodies in extrasolar planet systems, two U.S. astronomers were able to derive limits on the existence of habitable planets in these systems. The interactions of bodies in the systems cause planetary orbits to become more eccentric (less circular). For hot Jupiter-like planets, the absence of observed eccentricity implies the lack of other planets in the system. Additionally, given the large number of planets in the Earth-Sun system, the low eccentricities of all major planets argues that the system is fine-tuned to ensure Earth remains at a relatively constant distance from the Sun. RTB’s cosmic creation model predicts such fine-tuning as the work of a supernatural Creator preparing a suitable habitat for advanced (particularly human) life.
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Today’s New Reason To Believe-Saturday, November 18, 2006
More Evidence that Humans are Distinct from Neanderthals and Other Hominids

  • New anatomical analysis indicates that modern humans differ much more from the hominids that preceded them in the fossil record than Neanderthals did. To say it another way, Neanderthals were much more like other hominids than modern humans are. RTB’s creation model views Neanderthals and other extinct hominids as non-human primates that lacked spiritual capacity. On this basis, the RTB model predicts that humans and the hominids should be biologically distinct from one another. Anthropologists studied 75 anatomical features and found that about half were unique to modern humans. Thus, the scientific evidence continues to distinguish modern humans from hominids in the fossil record in line with RTB’s creation model.
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Today’s New Reason To Believe-Friday, November 17, 2006
Cosmic Acceleration Confirmed

  • Two University of Chicago physicists have confirmed both the fact of the universe’s acceleration and the immense fine-tuning it implies. To date, scientists’ knowledge of the universe’s acceleration, via the space-energy density, has been predicated on the validity of the theory of general relativity. In a recent study, the University of Chicago theorists confirmed the acceleration, assuming (1) that the universe is uniform and isotropic and (2) that it exhibits very general constraints on any relevant theory of gravity. They also showed that the acceleration has not been constant. The results confirm the existence of the tremendously fine-tuned space-energy density (or its equivalent), which gives rise to the acceleration. This work comports well with the work of a supernatural Creator fashioning a habitable universe, as described by RTB’s cosmic creation model.
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Today’s New Reason To Believe-Thursday, November 16, 2006
Medical Study Affirms Biblical Wisdom on Anger Management

Today’s New Reason To Believe-Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Fine-Tuning in Early-Universe Transition

  • Scientists have gained understanding of the early universe through difficult theoretical calculations that also reveal more fine-tuning. As the extreme temperatures of the early universe cooled, quarks (basic building blocks of matter) transitioned from free-moving particles to bound bundles of two or three. Until recently, theoretical work could not determine whether this transition occurred smoothly or in a fashion resembling a boiling liquid (which could generate a very clumpy cosmos). In a new study, a team of European physicists used powerful computers to find the answer: the transition occurred smoothly. Additionally, while the actual quark masses of this universe led to the smooth transition, it appears that different quark masses may have led to a more chaotic transition that could adversely affect the habitability of the universe. RTB’s cosmic creation model predicts that further fine-tuning of the fundamental constants will be revealed as this possibility is investigated.
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Today’s New Reason To Believe-Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Human and Chimpanzee Genetic Differences

  • A new report reveals significant genetic differences between humans and chimpanzees. Researchers have discovered that the human genome has many more copies than the chimpanzee genome (212 vs. 37) of a gene that codes for a protein (DUF1220) of unknown function. This protein occurs at high levels in the human brain and may explain the advanced cognitive capacity of humans. Biologists are beginning to think that the number of copies of a particular gene found in an organism’s genome has biological significance. This study and others like it could be taken to indicate that the Creator used the same raw materials (genes) to construct both humans and chimpanzees, but employed and altered these materials in such a way to generate radically different organisms.
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Today’s New Reason To Believe-Monday, November 13, 2006
GRB Observations Affirm Fixed Physical Laws

  • Measurements from distant cosmic explosions buttress a central tenet of RTB’s cosmic creation model. As stated in Jeremiah 33:25, the laws of physics governing the universe should be constant if the Bible contains an accurate description of the cosmos. Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are among the most distant and violent events observable from Earth. Measurements of the polarization of these distant beacons confirm that certain violations of Einstein’s equations of general relativity (one of the physical laws) do not exist at one part in 1037. This number represents a tightening of the constraints on violations of general relativity by a factor of 100,000. Once again, as scientists’ understanding of the universe increases, the evidence confirming the biblical description of the cosmos continues to grow.
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Today’s New Reason To Believe-Sunday, November 12, 2006
Biochemists Discover a Molecular Peristaltic Pump in the Cell

  • Biochemists have discovered a new type of biomolecular motor that furthers the evidence for biochemical intelligent design. Some bacteria contain protein ensembles in their inner and outer membranes that pump antibiotics out of the cell. These transporters make the bacteria resistant to antibiotics. Biochemists have recently determined the detailed structure of the AcrB protein complex found in the bacterium Escherichia coli (E. coli). This structural characterization indicates that AcrB functions as a literal peristaltic pump (like an esophagus or intestine), expelling antibiotics from the cell’s interior. The AcrB pump gains energy for its operation from protons and could be rightly considered an electrically powered biomolecular peristaltic pump. The elegant design and stark resemblance to man-made motors indicate that biomolecular machines, like the AcrB peristaltic pump, must be the work of a divine "Motor Maker."
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Today’s New Reason To Believe-Saturday, November 11, 2006
Design of an Oxygen-Rich Atmosphere

  • Studies of the oxygen content of the ancient Earth provide additional evidence for a supernatural Designer crafting a suitable habitat for life. A team of British scientists showed that an ozone layer is necessary before the oxygen content of the atmosphere will dramatically increase. However, to produce the ozone layer in the proper regions of the atmosphere, a sufficient amount of ultraviolet radiation is required, along with ample photosynthetic life that can produce enough oxygen. However, if the ultraviolet radiation level is too high, it adversely affects the very life that is producing the oxygen. So, even with photosynthetic organisms, without ample oxygen concentrations and fine-tuned amounts of ultraviolet radiation, a protective ozone layer does not form and the atmospheric oxygen content remains low. Such fine-tuned conditions are predicted by RTB’s cosmic creation model, in which a super-Intellect is responsible for preparing the universe, and Earth in particular, for life.
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Today’s New Reason To Believe-Friday, November 10, 2006
Does Accepting Evolution Matter?

  • A recent admission by a well-known evolutionary biologist takes the steam out of a common charge made against intelligent design by some scientists. Evolutionary biologists frequently express concern that if intelligent design (or creationism) were taught in public schools alongside the theory of evolution, it would lead to a decay of science literacy and place the US at an economic disadvantage compared to the rest of the world. But as Jerry Coyne acknowledges in a recently published book review, "If truth be told, evolution hasn’t yielded many practical or commercial benefits… Evolution cannot help us predict what new vaccines to manufacture… Most improvement in crop plants and animals occurred long before we knew anything about evolution."
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Today’s New Reason To Believe-Thursday, November 9, 2006
New Tool to Model Planet Interiors

  • Satellite observations provide unprecedented tools to map the interior of planets-a find that may soon demonstrate that Earth is fine-tuned for life. Until recently, the only way to understand the interior construction of a planet relied on measurements made from the planet’s surface. However, using data from three different satellites, a Dutch team of scientists produced a model of Earth’s interior that matched models derived from ground-based data. This work opens the possibility of mapping out the interior structure of other planets and moons in the solar system using orbiting satellites, which are substantially less expensive than instruments that must be landed on the planets’ surfaces. RTB’s creation model predicts that results derived from other planets’ and moons’ interiors will provide additional evidence of fine-tuning in Earth’s structure. Without this design, Earth’s plate tectonics and magnetic field would deteriorate so rapidly that long-standing life, and ultimately advance life, would not be possible.
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Today’s New Reason To Believe-Wednesday, November 8, 2006
Oxygen Present in Early Earth’s Atmosphere?

  • A new study provides a test for origin-of-life models by indicating that oxygen may have been present in the early Earth’s atmosphere as far back as 3.8 billion years ago (bya), and maybe even earlier. Traditionally, planetary scientists thought that Earth’s atmosphere was devoid of oxygen until around 2.4 billion years ago. A new analysis of sulfur isotopes in ancient rocks now challenges tradition. Though not conclusive, the study suggests that atmospheric oxygen may well have existed much earlier than previously believed. This discovery has implications for evolutionary and creation origin-of-life models. If oxygen was present on Earth prior to the appearance of life at 3.8 bya, it would frustrate the production of prebiotic materials (an integral aspect of evolutionary origin-of-life models). On the other hand, its existence would corroborate evidence for the presence of complex oxygenic photosynthetic bacteria as far back as 3.8 bya, which is a key prediction of RTB’s creation model for life’s origin.
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Today’s New Reason To Believe-Tuesday, November 7, 2006
Evidence for Creation Receives Nobel Recognition

  • The biblical description of the universe received scientific validation with the announcement of the 2006 Nobel Prize in Physics. RTB’s cosmic creation model entails a singular beginning (Genesis 1:1), continual cosmic expansion (cf. Isaiah 42:5), and constant laws of physics (Jeremiah 33:25). The combination of the last two leads to a universe that cools over time. These characteristics define a big-bang universe. Additionally, although originally smooth, the universe must become clumpy by the growth of galaxies and galaxy clusters. The ripples in the early universe that permit the future clumping were detected by the Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) in the early 1990s, further confirming that humans live in a big-bang universe. As a testament to the importance of this discovery, the lead scientists were recently awarded the Nobel Prize for their work. This recognition affirms the validity of RTB’s cosmic creation model, which includes big bang cosmology.
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Today’s New Reason To Believe-Monday, November 6, 2006
Advances in Ancient DNA Analysis

  • Advances in sequencing technology have researchers poised to sequence large portions of the genomes of past organisms. Until recently, technical constraints limited researchers to sequencing small fragments of mitochondrial DNA isolated from the remains of ancient organisms. Understanding the types of errors that can occur during the sequencing process helps researchers carry out these large-scale sequencing efforts. A new study identifies the errors that most frequently occur when ancient DNA is sequenced, paving the way for scientists to extend the utility of ancient DNA analysis. As ancient DNA technology continues to mature it will provide many powerful opportunities to test evolutionary and creation models.
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Today’s New Reason To Believe-Sunday, November 5, 2006
Debate Over String Theory Enhances RTB Model Approach

  • Debate in the scientific community regarding the experimental verification of string theories highlights the importance of RTB’s creation-model approach. While string theory carries potential to resolve substantial, fundamental scientific issues, a growing number of scientists cite its lack of experimental verification as a need to exercise caution. In the absence of experimental verification, some string theorists advocate using theoretical elegance and beauty to determine the truth of string theories. However, as George Ellis rightly notes by comparison, the "scientific opposition to ‘intelligent design’ centres on an insistence that for a theory to be scientific it must be testable, observationally or experimentally." In contrast, RTB’s cosmic creation model makes numerous testable predictions, and therefore lies squarely within the realm of legitimate science.
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Today’s New Reason To Believe-Saturday, November 4, 2006
A Possible Muscular Dystrophy Treatment without Stem Cells

  • A breakthrough in the treatment of a type of muscular dystrophy offers hope for ethically acceptable alternatives to embryonic stem cell research (ESCR). Scientists have demonstrated that preventing the activity of so-called "toxic" mutant RNAs may one day lead to a treatment for myotonic dystrophy in humans. People with myotonic dystrophy produce a mutant form of the enzyme myotonic dystrophy protein kinase (DMPK). RNA molecules are intermediates that mediate the production of proteins, including DMPK. Mutant RNA molecules that correspond to DMPK accumulate in the cell’s nucleus and are toxic. Blocking the production of these toxic RNAs, scientists saw a reversal of myotonic dystrophy in laboratory mice. Advances like this obviate the need to pursue ESCR as a treatment for myotonic dystrophy.
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Today’s New Reason To Believe-Friday, November 3, 2006
Fine-Tuned Quantum Correlations

  • Theoretical calculations identify more fine-tuning in the universe, consistent with the notion of a supernatural Creator making a universe capable of supporting life. General relativity imposes an absolute limit-the speed of light-on how fast information can be communicated. Quantum mechanics exhibits correlations between particles that violate this limit, although these correlations still do not permit faster-than-light communication. Interestingly, it is theoretically possible to increase the strength of the quantum-mechanical correlations while abiding by general relativity’s "communication speed limit." However, recent work shows that any increase in the strength of the correlations decreases the degree of complexity allowed in communication. In other words, the strength of the quantum correlations is fine-tuned to maximize communication complexity and speed. These results comport well with RTB’s cosmic creation model, in which a supercaring Designer fashioned a habitat where humans experience strong, complex relationships with one another.
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Today’s New Reason To Believe-Thursday, November 2, 2006
A Possible Diabetes Treatment without Stem Cells

  • Scientific advance continues to point to ethically acceptable alternatives to embryonic stem cell research (ESCR). New research, for example, demonstrates that virus-mediated delivery of the gene encoding an enzyme called PC 1/3 improved the glucose-stimulated insulin secretion of pancreatic islet cells. PC 1/3 generates the active form of another hormone called GLP-1. This technical description means that biomedical scientists have focused attention on the therapeutic potential of this hormone because of its ability to promote insulin production (necessary for diabetics). Advances like this obviate the need to pursue ESCR as a treatment for Type I diabetes.
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Today’s New Reason To Believe-Wednesday, November 1, 2006
Early Solar System Supernovae Explosions

  • New evidence showing the composition of asteroids has confirmed the design inherent in the formation of the early solar system. Astronomers realize that at least two different supernovae events must have occurred in the vicinity of the nebula (gas cloud) that formed the solar system. The composition of different asteroids found on Earth reveals that elements from one type of supernova were equally distributed throughout the nebula, whereas elements from another type varied throughout the early solar system. If these supernovae had occurred too close to the solar nebula, they would have blown it apart, whereas if they were farther away, they would not have sufficiently enriched the early solar nebula. Such fine-tuning comports with the idea of a supernatural Designer working to craft a solar system suitable for advanced life-particularly human beings.
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