FREAK OF NATURE OR DIVINE DESIGN?
Genesis 1:14
"And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:"
We recently reported on this program that another set of new planets had been discovered circling another star. We pointed out that in each case, most of the planets were too large to support life. In many of the instances, the planets also had egg shaped orbits that would provide them with harsh, highly erratic climates - if they had any atmosphere at all.
In his announcement of the discovery of the 17th planet found to be orbiting another star, Geoffrey W. Marcy of San Francisco State University and the University of California, Berkeley, points out another problem with these solar systems. In pointing out the problem, he wonders if our solar system, where the planets have relatively circular orbits, is an exception to the rule. In every other planetary system so far seen, the planets either have very oval orbits or they lie closer to their star than Mercury is to our sun.
Marcy points out than an additional problem with having a planet with a highly elongated orbit in a solar system is that it would eliminate any planets with circular orbits. It would be only a matter of time before the planet with the elongated orbit would send the planet with a circular orbit into its star or out into deep space. But where Marcy is wrong is that while our solar system may be unique, it is no freak of nature. Rather, our solar system has clearly been specially designed by a loving and all-powerful God to support life.
I thank You, Father, that You have created the solar system as a good place to live and learn of Your love for me through Jesus Christ. In His Name. Amen.
R.C., "Solar system planets: Freaks of nature?", Science News, 1/30/99, v. 155, p. 79. Photo: Geoffrey Marcy. (PD)
Genesis 1:14
"And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:"
We recently reported on this program that another set of new planets had been discovered circling another star. We pointed out that in each case, most of the planets were too large to support life. In many of the instances, the planets also had egg shaped orbits that would provide them with harsh, highly erratic climates - if they had any atmosphere at all.
In his announcement of the discovery of the 17th planet found to be orbiting another star, Geoffrey W. Marcy of San Francisco State University and the University of California, Berkeley, points out another problem with these solar systems. In pointing out the problem, he wonders if our solar system, where the planets have relatively circular orbits, is an exception to the rule. In every other planetary system so far seen, the planets either have very oval orbits or they lie closer to their star than Mercury is to our sun.
Marcy points out than an additional problem with having a planet with a highly elongated orbit in a solar system is that it would eliminate any planets with circular orbits. It would be only a matter of time before the planet with the elongated orbit would send the planet with a circular orbit into its star or out into deep space. But where Marcy is wrong is that while our solar system may be unique, it is no freak of nature. Rather, our solar system has clearly been specially designed by a loving and all-powerful God to support life.
I thank You, Father, that You have created the solar system as a good place to live and learn of Your love for me through Jesus Christ. In His Name. Amen.
R.C., "Solar system planets: Freaks of nature?", Science News, 1/30/99, v. 155, p. 79. Photo: Geoffrey Marcy. (PD)
EARTHQUAKE CAUSED BY NOAH'S FLOOD?
Genesis 7:11
"In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened."
Miles deep within the Earth, heat and pressure force water out of certain minerals, changing or metamorphosing the rock. All the textbooks say that it takes millions of years for such metamorphic rock to form. New research shows pretty convincingly that all the textbooks are wrong.
Normally, earthquakes originate in the top 12 kilometers of the Earth's crust. Deeper quakes, especially where there are no known faults, have been mysteries. The 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake at 18 kilometers was one such mystery. But a newer discovery by three Yale University geologists may explain these deeper quakes and support the Bible's historical chronology.
The standard model for metamorphic rock formation says that heat and pressure deep underground slowly force water from the crystals that form the rock. This process takes place so deeply in the Earth that the rock itself flows plastically. The Yale geologists who studied the process discovered that under these conditions tiny droplets of water are expelled from the crystals much more rapidly than previously thought. In fact, the water is expelled so rapidly that it builds enough pressure to actually fracture the rock.
The geologists who presented this research say that what was thought to have taken millions of years can happen in mere centuries or even decades. And this would easily allow for the origin of some of today's metamorphic rock to be traced back to the Flood of Noah on the time scale provided by the Bible.
Father, I thank You for Your trustworthy Word in this sin filled world. Amen.
S. Simpson, "High-pressure water triggers tremors". Science News, 11/21/98, v. 154, p. 327. Photo: Destruction caused by the Loma Prieta earthquake. (PD)
Genesis 7:11
"In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened."
Miles deep within the Earth, heat and pressure force water out of certain minerals, changing or metamorphosing the rock. All the textbooks say that it takes millions of years for such metamorphic rock to form. New research shows pretty convincingly that all the textbooks are wrong.
Normally, earthquakes originate in the top 12 kilometers of the Earth's crust. Deeper quakes, especially where there are no known faults, have been mysteries. The 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake at 18 kilometers was one such mystery. But a newer discovery by three Yale University geologists may explain these deeper quakes and support the Bible's historical chronology.
The standard model for metamorphic rock formation says that heat and pressure deep underground slowly force water from the crystals that form the rock. This process takes place so deeply in the Earth that the rock itself flows plastically. The Yale geologists who studied the process discovered that under these conditions tiny droplets of water are expelled from the crystals much more rapidly than previously thought. In fact, the water is expelled so rapidly that it builds enough pressure to actually fracture the rock.
The geologists who presented this research say that what was thought to have taken millions of years can happen in mere centuries or even decades. And this would easily allow for the origin of some of today's metamorphic rock to be traced back to the Flood of Noah on the time scale provided by the Bible.
Father, I thank You for Your trustworthy Word in this sin filled world. Amen.
S. Simpson, "High-pressure water triggers tremors". Science News, 11/21/98, v. 154, p. 327. Photo: Destruction caused by the Loma Prieta earthquake. (PD)
HAS AARON'S Y CHROMOSOME BEEN FOUND?
Exodus 40:13
"And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the priest's office."
According to the biblical chronology, God ordered Aaron to be consecrated as the first priest of Israel about 3,400 years ago. From Aaron, priesthood was passed down from father to son until the official priesthood ended with the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. After that, fathers would tell their children that they were descended from the priestly class. Though only these oral histories exist today, modern Judaism still honors Aaron's descendants. Today they are called cohanim, which is the plural of cohen, meaning "priest" in Hebrew.
A modern geneticist wondered if there was any way to prove the oral history. He reasoned that if all cohanim today are descended from Aaron, and if the oral history is true, modern cohanim should share some distinctive sections of DNA on their Y chromosome. The Y-chromosome is always passed down from father to son virtually unchanged. His first study involved two genetic markers of 188 Jewish men from Israel, Canada and the United Kingdom. Of this number, 68 said they were cohanim. The results of this first study showed that the cohanim share Y chromosome material that is quite distinct from other Jews. A second study involving 12 markers on the Y chromosome of 306 Jewish men gave similar results: the cohanim did have a distinctive Y chromosome. This chromosome evidence strongly indicated that the biblical and modern oral history of the Jewish priesthood are completely trustworthy.
Dear Father, I thank You that I have been made Your priest in Christ. Amen.
John Travis, "The Priests' Chromosome?" Science News, 10/3/98, v. 154, p. 218. Photo: Group of cohanim. (PD)
Exodus 40:13
"And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the priest's office."
According to the biblical chronology, God ordered Aaron to be consecrated as the first priest of Israel about 3,400 years ago. From Aaron, priesthood was passed down from father to son until the official priesthood ended with the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. After that, fathers would tell their children that they were descended from the priestly class. Though only these oral histories exist today, modern Judaism still honors Aaron's descendants. Today they are called cohanim, which is the plural of cohen, meaning "priest" in Hebrew.
A modern geneticist wondered if there was any way to prove the oral history. He reasoned that if all cohanim today are descended from Aaron, and if the oral history is true, modern cohanim should share some distinctive sections of DNA on their Y chromosome. The Y-chromosome is always passed down from father to son virtually unchanged. His first study involved two genetic markers of 188 Jewish men from Israel, Canada and the United Kingdom. Of this number, 68 said they were cohanim. The results of this first study showed that the cohanim share Y chromosome material that is quite distinct from other Jews. A second study involving 12 markers on the Y chromosome of 306 Jewish men gave similar results: the cohanim did have a distinctive Y chromosome. This chromosome evidence strongly indicated that the biblical and modern oral history of the Jewish priesthood are completely trustworthy.
Dear Father, I thank You that I have been made Your priest in Christ. Amen.
John Travis, "The Priests' Chromosome?" Science News, 10/3/98, v. 154, p. 218. Photo: Group of cohanim. (PD)
REAL ANT FARMS
Proverbs 6:6-8
"Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest."
There are more than 200 ant species in the Attine family of ants. All of them farm for a living. And they are as sophisticated about their farming as any modern human farmer. They are found anywhere from the tropics to New Jersey. The specialization shown by these ants makes an evolutionary explanation for them impossible.
One example is the famous leaf cutting ants found in the tropics. Leaf cutters use the leaf pieces they collect to make mulch. Once the mulch is ready, they grow a fungus in it, which they eat. That fungus grew from a bit of fungus that was stored in a special pouch in the mouth of the queen who began that colony; in turn, she brought it from the colony where she grew up. That she has this special pouch for seed material for her children is a witness to God's intelligent design. The ants' digestive system is specialized, too, so that its waste is a ready to use fertilizer for the crop.
The ants also weed their crop. Certain ants inspect the fungus ball searching for invading molds. When one is found, the ant will remove it. To make sure that she does not return any contaminating bit of the mold to her crop, the ant then cleans herself before returning to the crop. This, again, is a powerful witness to divine design. The ants also generate herbicides and antibiotics which they use as needed on the crop, another witness to design. Finally, they also prune their crop in a way that has been shown to improve its productivity. All these special design features and behaviors seem to have been put into one creature as a witness against evolution.
I praise and glorify You, Father, for the evidence of Your great glory. Amen.
Susan Milius, "Old MacDonald Was an Ant", Science News, 11/21/98, v. 154, p. 334. Photo: Mycocepurus smithii, fungus-growing ant. Courtesy of April Nobile. (CC-BY-SA 3.0)
Proverbs 6:6-8
"Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest."
There are more than 200 ant species in the Attine family of ants. All of them farm for a living. And they are as sophisticated about their farming as any modern human farmer. They are found anywhere from the tropics to New Jersey. The specialization shown by these ants makes an evolutionary explanation for them impossible.
One example is the famous leaf cutting ants found in the tropics. Leaf cutters use the leaf pieces they collect to make mulch. Once the mulch is ready, they grow a fungus in it, which they eat. That fungus grew from a bit of fungus that was stored in a special pouch in the mouth of the queen who began that colony; in turn, she brought it from the colony where she grew up. That she has this special pouch for seed material for her children is a witness to God's intelligent design. The ants' digestive system is specialized, too, so that its waste is a ready to use fertilizer for the crop.
The ants also weed their crop. Certain ants inspect the fungus ball searching for invading molds. When one is found, the ant will remove it. To make sure that she does not return any contaminating bit of the mold to her crop, the ant then cleans herself before returning to the crop. This, again, is a powerful witness to divine design. The ants also generate herbicides and antibiotics which they use as needed on the crop, another witness to design. Finally, they also prune their crop in a way that has been shown to improve its productivity. All these special design features and behaviors seem to have been put into one creature as a witness against evolution.
I praise and glorify You, Father, for the evidence of Your great glory. Amen.
Susan Milius, "Old MacDonald Was an Ant", Science News, 11/21/98, v. 154, p. 334. Photo: Mycocepurus smithii, fungus-growing ant. Courtesy of April Nobile. (CC-BY-SA 3.0)
RESEARCHERS FIND A HIDDEN COST TO THE INTERNET
Proverbs 18:24
"A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother."
Have you been on the internet lately? If so, it may be costing you more than you think. That's the suggestion of a study done by researchers from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.
The study involved 169 people in 73 households who did not have a connection to the internet. They completed questionnaires and were interviewed in their homes at the beginning of the two year study, during the study and at the end. They were given computers and software, e-mail accounts and access to the internet at no cost to them. In return, they allowed researchers to monitor family members' internet use.
At the end of the study, researchers found that those who used the internet and e-mail frequently showed small but important decreases in the time spent with family members. They also had a smaller circle of friends. Frequent internet and e-mail users also showed increased loneliness and signs of mild depression. The greater the computer use, the greater was the loneliness and depression. These results were not affected by race, age, sex or income. However, this effect was greatest for teens. The researchers suggested that when teens feel isolated and lonely they are more likely to escape to the internet.
Perhaps the best suggestion in light of these findings is to limit internet time, just as television time is limited for many young people. The extra time could be used as the book of Proverbs advises: "A man who has friends must himself be friendly." In other words, it is healthy to cultivate friendships.
I thank You, Lord Jesus, for my friends. And I thank You that You have been my best friend in saving me. Amen.
B.B., "Social disconnections on-line", Science News, 9/12/98, v. 154, p. 168. Art: "Loneliness" by Hans Thoma (1839-1924).
Proverbs 18:24
"A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother."
Have you been on the internet lately? If so, it may be costing you more than you think. That's the suggestion of a study done by researchers from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.
The study involved 169 people in 73 households who did not have a connection to the internet. They completed questionnaires and were interviewed in their homes at the beginning of the two year study, during the study and at the end. They were given computers and software, e-mail accounts and access to the internet at no cost to them. In return, they allowed researchers to monitor family members' internet use.
At the end of the study, researchers found that those who used the internet and e-mail frequently showed small but important decreases in the time spent with family members. They also had a smaller circle of friends. Frequent internet and e-mail users also showed increased loneliness and signs of mild depression. The greater the computer use, the greater was the loneliness and depression. These results were not affected by race, age, sex or income. However, this effect was greatest for teens. The researchers suggested that when teens feel isolated and lonely they are more likely to escape to the internet.
Perhaps the best suggestion in light of these findings is to limit internet time, just as television time is limited for many young people. The extra time could be used as the book of Proverbs advises: "A man who has friends must himself be friendly." In other words, it is healthy to cultivate friendships.
I thank You, Lord Jesus, for my friends. And I thank You that You have been my best friend in saving me. Amen.
B.B., "Social disconnections on-line", Science News, 9/12/98, v. 154, p. 168. Art: "Loneliness" by Hans Thoma (1839-1924).
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