Evidence for God in Life Design Archives

July 29, 2026July 27, 2026

Chimpanzee Civil War

One of the doctrines of Darwinism is that animals are driven by a basic obedience to “survival of the fittest.” The fit survive, and the less fit do not, and that determines the future and existence of the life form. In Darwinism, war is viewed as a human creation based on politics, history, or economics. In Darwinian terms, the only time an animal would kill another of its own species is when a male kills the babies of a female he wishes to mate with to produce his own progeny. More recent research indicates a chimpanzee civil war.

Recent studies of chimpanzees in Uganda have shown that the roughly 200 chimpanzees in Kibale National Park have split into two groups of about 100 individuals and have declared war on each other. The groups have been called the Central and Western clusters. Between 2018 and 2024, researchers witnessed Western adults kill seven males and 17 infants from the Central group. An additional 14 adolescent or adult Central males disappeared during that time, and their bodies were never recovered. Researchers have documented two more attacks on Central males since the study ended in 2024.

Primatologist Jane Goodall observed a chimpanzee civil war in Gombe National Park in Tanzania, with several chimpanzees killing others in the 1970s. However, it was assumed that the action was not natural, but because humans gave Gombe chimpanzees bananas. We now know that this is normal chimpanzee behavior and that war is not restricted to humans. What we have now seen among chimpanzees has also been seen among lions, dogs, cats, and hyenas, and has been misunderstood by Darwinists. Behavior among higher forms of life is not just controlled and driven by sex and food.

Because humans have a spiritual makeup in the image of God, we can live together without violence or conflict. Read Matthew 5-7, and you see a blueprint for how that is possible. Jesus brought peace to mankind, but greed, politics, and selfishness have corrupted what God intended for us.

Reference: Scientific American for July/August 2026, pages 10-11.

July 28, 2026July 27, 2026

Dragonflies and God’s Design

Imagine what this world would be like if there were no controls on the number of bugs we have to contend with. Insects are part of the food chain on our planet, but there is a difficult balance between insects as food for birds and fish, and making life miserable for humans. God has given us dragonflies to control other insects.

Dragonflies live in various environments, from wetlands to desert pools to mountains, on every continent except Antarctica. There are 3012 species known to science, and they demonstrate God’s genius of design. To catch and eat other insects, dragonflies must be fast enough to outfly them. One dragonfly species has been clocked at 60 mph (96 km/h). They must also make quick turns, and researchers have found that they can experience 9 Gs when turning to catch prey. If a dragonfly gets upside down, it can right itself in .2 seconds.

Dragonflies have a wingbeat of 30 times per second, and their eyes can take in their surroundings and process 200 images per second, allowing them to capture and eat various insects. Dragonflies have virtually no enemies at any stage of life. In the nymph stage, they have gills, so they develop underwater and feed on mosquito larvae, among other things. Unlike most other insects, dragonflies produce relatively few offspring, helping maintain the balance between predator and prey.

Scientists study dragonflies to improve flight technology, and they amaze us with their complexity and design that allows them to be insect predators. In Job 38:39-41, God challenges Job to explain how various forms of life find food. Everywhere we look, we see that a wonder-working hand has gone before. Romans 1:20 tells us that we can know there is a God through the things He has made, and the dragonfly is an example of that truth.

July 27, 2026July 26, 2026

Marine Fungi – God’s Solution for Ocean Pollution?

Marine Fungi – God’s Solution for Pollution

One of the great challenges facing humanity today is the amount of plastic pollution in our oceans. Polyurethane plastic is among the most prevalent and harmful pollutants in our oceans today. Researchers have found marine fungi that decompose plastic and turn it into food. Up to 60% of the fungi researchers have found in the ocean have some ability to eat plastic.

Research continues to see whether marine fungi can break down other forms of plastic, such as polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate. Since less than 1% of ocean fungi are documented, our knowledge is very limited. Dr. Anthony Amend at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa says, “Fungi possess a superpower for eating things that other organisms can’t digest.”

The basic point of this ministry is that science and faith are 100% supportive of one another. There is no conflict between science and faith, and every scientific discovery supports that. We continually see support for the statement in Romans 1:20, which says that “we can know there is a God through the things He has made.” From the galaxies of outer space to the simple cells of marine fungi, we see this truth demonstrated.

Climate change and environmental issues are problems that can be solved by scientists and Christians working together. We need to encourage Christian young people with an aptitude for science to get involved in learning more about God’s creation. That is one of the goals of this ministry.

Reference: Discover Magazine for Summer 2026, page 20.

July 21, 2026July 20, 2026

Genetic Evolution Is Not the Answer

God told Noah and his sons: “…BE FRUITFUL AND INCREASE IN NUMBER; MULTIPLY ON THE EARTH AND INCREASE UPON IT” (Genesis 9:7). Scientists who study genetics tell us that this command is impossible by genetic evolution alone. When evolutionary anthropologists calculate how long it would take for humans to spread throughout the planet by genetic evolution, they find it would require at least 88 million years. No one believes that humans have existed on Earth for that long, so genetic evolution is not the answer.

Humans occupy as much of the planet’s dry land as all other mammals combined. Evolutionists attempt to solve this problem by saying it is due to “cultural evolution,” meaning that as cultures evolve, humans find ways to adapt to new environments.

Since genetic evolution is not the answer, a biblically sound approach is to accept that a combination of social cooperation, language, creativity, and intellect allowed humans to cover the planet many times faster than would be possible by genetic evolution. We can credit that to God creating humans in His image with those abilities.

The spread of humans over the entire planet is due to the way God created us, and is not an accident. The bigger issue now is how we can control our numbers and efficiently use the resources for survival that God has made available on Earth.

Reference: Scientific American for July/August 2026, page 17.

July 16, 2026July 14, 2026

The La Brea Tar Pits Tell Us About Life

One of the world’s most important fossil sites is the La Brea Tar Pits, located just off Wilshire Boulevard in the heart of Los Angeles, California. La Brea is Spanish for “the tar” and refers to oil that pushes up through narrow cracks in the rocks from as deep as 1000 feet underground. As the lighter-weight oil, gas, and other volatiles evaporate, what is left is asphalt, usually covered with water, creating a death trap. When an animal came to drink, it would sink into the asphalt and be unable to escape. The La Brea Tar Pits tell us about life in North America 13,000-plus years ago.

In many cases, as an animal struggled to free itself from the tar, it would be attacked by a predator. The predator would also get stuck, and both the predator and the victim would sink into the tar and die. Then, a bird that ate dead animals, like today’s vultures, would land on the carcass and also get caught.

Most of the fossil remains of the animals found in the La Brea Tar Pits are not animals that exist today. They include saber-toothed cats, dire wolves, giant ground sloths, giant short-faced bears, dwarf pronghorns, American lions, various insects, and even extinct plants. The La Brea Tar Pits tell us about life in the past, not the animals and plants that are abundant on Earth or indigenous to California today.

No dinosaur remains have ever been found at La Brea because they were already extinct. No sea creatures or plants from the age of the dinosaurs have been found. The La Brea Tar Pits provide no evidence to support a 10,000-year limit to Earth’s age nor any evidence that they resulted from the flood of Noah.

Denominational creationism based on religious dogma is not supported by the Bible or physical evidence. The dispensationalist teaching is destructive to the faith of young people who have visited places like La Brea. The Genesis account is undated and is not designed to give a detailed history of life on our planet. The very first verse of Genesis tells us that God created the Earth – not when or how. The La Brea Tar Pits tell us about life in North America during a limited time in Earth’s history. We must speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where the Bible is silent. The Bible is God’s word, and adding to it only dilutes its value and does not help us understand the past.

Reference: Smithsonian magazine April/May 2026, pages 79-87.

July 15, 2026July 14, 2026

How Many Insect Species?

You probably think insects are everywhere, and you would be correct. You will not find a single home in the United States, or anywhere else, that does not have ants, beetles, or spiders. The truth is that we could not live without insects because they fill many beneficial roles in the ecosystem. For the past four decades, scientists have estimated that there are about six million insect species. However, a new study published in June 2026 in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) has revised that estimate upward – a lot! How many insect species are there?

Nobody knows for sure, but the new research estimates that there are 14 to 20 million species. That is SPECIES, not the total number of insects. There are “thousands of billions” of individual ants crawling around the planet. Coming up with a total number of individual insects would be impossible, but the number far exceeds the number of people. Don’t let that bother you because they are essential to life on this planet.

The diversity of insects is also amazing. Some are so small we may not even see them. Some fly, and others crawl. We never see some of them because they live as parasites inside other insects. Many clean up organic waste in our environment. Others pollinate our crops. I am sure there are some that you would rather do without, such as flies and mosquitoes, but even they have a purpose. At the same time, you probably appreciate the beauty of butterflies.

One thing is certain. Insects are the most diverse and pervasive group of animals. Only God knows how many insect species there are, but those who study them are discovering new species every year.

Reference: popsci.com

July 13, 2026July 11, 2026

Creating Synthetic Life

On July 1st, 2026, the New York Times science story of the day was titled “This Cell Feeds, Grows and Reproduces. And it’s Manmade.” The story described a new effort to create a living cell from nonliving materials. Dr. Kate Adamala, a synthetic biologist, and a team of researchers at the University of Minnesota developed a synthetic cell with some of the capabilities of living cells. She calls it a SpudCell because, under the microscope, it looks like a potato, though much smaller, of course. Is this the breakthrough to creating synthetic life?

This project involved selecting about 100 protein types and simple molecules required by living cells and combining them into a molecular soup under laboratory conditions. The researchers also added genes borrowed from a virus and from E. coli bacteria. They selected 36 genes to perform basic functions, including copying DNA. After mixing these ingredients in the soup, they added building blocks to form membranes, since cells need them to hold their contents together. The bubbles that simulated membranes sometimes enclosed the right mix of genes, proteins, and other molecules needed to initiate some of the chemical reactions that occur in cells.

Then the researchers added “food.” As the cells were fed, they began to grow. Finally, the scientists added a special protein that caused the cells’ surface to bend, splitting them into two and producing a pair of molecules that kept growing. To simulate evolution, the researchers created mutated cells and mixed them with the original SpudCells. The mutated cells competed for food until the mutants eventually outnumbered the originals, thereby driving evolution.

Perhaps the biggest problem with the SpudCells is that they cannot make ribosomes, which are necessary to produce new proteins. The researchers had to add ribosomes, but in five to 10 generations, the ribosomes became defective and the cells “died.”

The result of this procedure for creating synthetic life is a very simple, cell-like structure capable of some of the functions of living cells. However, this “cell” came into being only because of the hard work of several researchers who supplied the necessary materials, none of which they had created. It seems to show that, with enough pre-created materials and precise scientific procedures, a simple cell-like structure can be created by intelligent agents. It does not show that life can create itself. The Bible told us long ago that an intelligent Agent has created time, space, and matter/energy and assembled some of the matter into living beings.

Despite what The New York Times or any other media outlet might indicate, this project does not make faith in God obsolete or disprove His existence. It demonstrates that the creation of life is not an accident. Dr. Adamala and Dr. Drew Endy, a synthetic biologist at Stanford University, have created a nonprofit organization called Biotic. The purpose is to share this process for creating synthetic life with other scientists to further improve it. Biotic will likely be in the news for years as it tries to perfect a living cell. Their first meeting of scientists is scheduled for Philadelphia in September 2026. Hundreds of leading scientists are expected to join, and Dr. Edy estimates they will spend hundreds of millions of dollars over the next decade to create synthetic life.

References: nytimes.com, biotic.org, and biorxiv.org

July 8, 2026July 8, 2026

Nighttime Navigation by Ants

It has long been known that various creatures can navigate in the dark. Nighttime navigation helps them find food and mates while avoiding predators. Sand hoppers, moths, and some ant species seem to use the Moon to find their way at night.

Recent studies of nocturnal ants have shown that they use the Moon as a guide for nighttime navigation, but they can also keep track of time to know where the Moon should be. Researchers at France’s University of Toulouse captured bull ants as they were heading to their usual feeding areas and placed them in a darkened box. After several hours of complete isolation from any navigational cues, the researchers released the ants at a new location. The Moon had moved a significant distance, and the ants veered off course, indicating that the Moon was their primary guide in locating their food supply.

Many variables could disrupt this nighttime navigation system. The Moon goes through various phases over the course of a month, and for most of the month it’s not at its maximum brightness. The length of darkness varies as the Sun moves from solstice to equinox and back. None of these variables prevent the ants from finding food and thriving.

The bull ants the researchers studied could use “time-linked” lunar navigation. An entomologist not involved in the study said, “This is just a little bonkers. They need to compensate for the trajectory of the Moon. I mean, I don’t know how to do that.” Researchers also found that ants combine their use of the Moon for navigation with terrestrial and solar cues at dawn and dusk, as visibility varies throughout the lunar month.

The complexity of nighttime navigation makes it difficult to believe it’s a product of blind chance. Proverbs 6:6 advises us to “Go to the ant, consider its ways and be wise.” We have much to learn by looking at the wisdom we see throughout the insect world. It shows God’s wisdom and design and fulfills the statement of Romans 1:20, “…since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – His eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so men are without excuse.” We can know there is a God, and the creatures using nighttime navigation demonstrate that.

Reference: Scientific American, June 2026, page 19, and Current Biology.

July 7, 2026June 30, 2026

Plant Seeds Hear the Sound of Rain

We often think of the trees in our yard as solid collections of molecules that grow and die robotically, and that is all. As scientists investigate plants more deeply and apply new technologies, they are learning that plants seem to “think,” “see,” “hear,” and even make sounds. A new study shows that plant seeds hear the sound of rain.

Plants have cellular structures called statoliths that enable them to sense changes in their environment. These structures are starch-filled envelopes that shift and settle to the bottom of plant cells. They help the plant determine which direction to grow and help germinating seeds know when to grow and which direction to send their roots.

The sound of rain jostles the statoliths in plant seeds, causing them to germinate 30 to 40% faster than seeds in the same environment without the sound of rain. The researchers exposed 8,000 rice seeds to rain sounds and compared them to seeds in the same environment without the sound. The result was that plant seeds hear the sound of rain.

The more scientists study the world around us, the more they find processes that cannot be the result of blind chance. The Bible doesn’t go into detail about the methods God used to set the world around us to work. The reason is obvious when you consider that the Bible was written for ancient humans who could not understand the processes God used, and they didn’t need to.

Everywhere we look in the world, we see a wonder-working hand has gone before. This is not only true of the natural world but also of the instructions God has given in His word about how we should live.

Reference: Scientific American, July/August 2026, pages 14-15.

July 1, 2026June 27, 2026

The Fine-Tuning of the Genetic Code

Yesterday, we examined the fact that the 20 amino acids commonly used in biological proteins are not a random set but are precisely fine-tuned for optimal protein synthesis. But that is only the beginning of the fine-tuning of the genetic code. A series of articles by biologist Dr. Jonathan McLatchie reports on further fine-tuning.

Cell reproduction requires the replication of the DNA contained within those cells. RNA is the molecule that facilitates DNA replication. RNA has 64 different codons–three-letter “words” that are the fundamental units of the genetic code. Of those, 61 specify amino acids that build proteins, and the other three are stop codons that mark the termination point in creating those proteins. As we mentioned before, there are 20 amino acids used for life. Since there are 64 codons, “a marvel of molecular logic” selects the proper amino acids. That coding system shows evidence of a conscious, deliberate, intelligent agent guiding the creation of the genetic code.

The genetic code in living cells seems to be beautifully fine-tuned to protect cells from mutations during replication. As reported by Dr. McLatchie, the statistical rarity of the conventional genetic code is 1 in 2 billion. That does not seem to be a random chance occurrence. But there are additional levels of fine-tuning, including the fact that the genetic code has been written to reduce the impact of frameshift mutations. It’s beyond the scope of this article to discuss what frameshift mutations are, but the point is that the 64-to-20 mapping system is designed to minimize the number of amino acids translated from a frameshifted transcript before a stop codon halts the process.

But that does not fully cover the fine-tuning of the genetic code. It has multiple layers of highly optimized, independent constraints. The genetic code has been established and used by all forms of life on this planet, with each of the 20 amino acids tied to specific codons. Making significant modifications to the code would create major problems in every cell because the relationships between codons and amino acids are essential for every polypeptide (protein) the cell makes.

Dr. McLatchie’s report contains this statement: “Why is the genetic code the way it is, and how did it come to be? That was asked over 50 years ago, at the dawn of molecular biology, (and) might remain pertinent even in another 50 years.” The point I make is that until scientists consider the possibility of an intelligent Agent who designed the genetic code, that question will never be answered. Why not at least consider the possibility that all these signs of the fine-tuning of the genetic code are not merely accidental but the product of design? The reason modern science refuses to do so is that design requires an intelligent Designer.

Reference: scienceandculture.com HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE