Genesis 2:10-14 indicates that the “Garden of Eden” was located where four rivers flowed—the Pishon, Gihon, Tigris, and Euphrates. This region is called the “Fertile Crescent” by modern mapmakers and gets its name because of the rich soil that once supported abundant plant life, as the Bible states. In recent years, some anthropologists have claimed that humans originated in Africa, and detailed “trees” of human evolution are included in anthropology textbooks. By asserting that humans were created in Africa rather than Asia, this theory conflicts with the biblical account, leading many people to doubt the Bible’s accuracy. So, what is the truth about Adam’s origin?
As technology advances, two ancient skulls discovered in China have been reclassified, once again altering the anthropological understanding of human history. The Yunxian skulls initially labeled as Homo erectus are now identified as Homo longi because modern technology reveals they lack the traits of Homo erectus. In addition to Homo sapiens, there are two racial groups for human-like fossils—Neanderthals and Denisovans. The Denisovans are the older race, and the skulls found in China exhibit their features.
The biblical account of Adam’s origin is not at odds with this new information since the Bible does not specify a date for Adam and Eve. We do know that DNA evidence shows we are all related. “God has made of one blood all the nations that they should inhabit the whole Earth” (Acts 17:26).
Joshua chapter 10 records an incident in which the Sun stood still to provide light for “about a full day” so that Joshua could lead the Israelites to defeat the Amorites in battle. I don’t pretend to know the details of how that happened, but I have heard a suggestion that God provided a miraculous way to reflect the Sun’s light into the Valley of Aijalon until the victory was complete. From the perspective of someone in that location, it would appear that the Sun stood still. Now, a California-based company called Reflect Orbital wants to do something like that with a constellation of solar reflectors in space.
Reflect Orbital hopes to launch a 60-by-60-foot (18-by-18-meter) mirror into orbit in April of 2026 to test the idea. If the plan succeeds, they want to place 4,000 solar reflectors in space to orbit in a sun-synchronous orbit between the poles. They would follow the boundary between day and night, providing reflected light to areas in the twilight zone. Reflect Orbital says it could enable solar power generation during peak morning and evening hours, improve crop growth, allow people to work into the night, and provide emergency lighting for disaster zones. Reflect Orbital has applied to the FCC for a license, claiming they have the funding and have already received 250,000 requests for service.
Astronomers and those interested in wildlife are very concerned. For example, Robert Massey, Deputy Director of the Royal Astronomical Society in the UK, said, “The central goal of this project is to light up the sky and extend daylight, and obviously, from an astronomical perspective, that’s pretty catastrophic.” With 4,000 solar reflectors in space, each reflection could cover a 5-kilometer area where some agency has requested and paid for service. However, atmospheric scattering would reach an undefined surrounding area. For up to 100 kilometers, the mirrors would appear like very bright stars.
Light pollution is already a problem, increasing by 10 percent per year since the introduction of LED lights, causing fewer stars to be visible in the night sky. Light pollution is also linked to the decline of beneficial insect populations, as well as increased sleep disorders and depression in humans. In addition to affecting astronomical observations, the solar reflectors in space could disrupt migratory birds that depend on the stars for guidance.
Instead of dreaming about what humans can do, maybe we should carefully consider what we should or should not do. Anyone who has experienced the night sky in one of the rare dark sky areas remaining can appreciate the words of the psalmist David: “When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, or the son of man that you care for him? (Psalms 8:3,4 ESV)
Our Beyond Reasonable Doubt video series faces a challenge: it can’t keep up with new archaeological findings. The fall issue of Biblical Archaeology Review announced two new archaeological discoveries supporting the Bible.
The Jordan Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities reported an inscription carved into a desert rock face in southern Jordan. The inscription features two cartouches, which are Egyptian hieroglyphic oval shapes containing the names of royalty. In this case, they display the name of Egyptian pharaoh Ramesses III, who reigned from 1186 to 1155 BCE. One column shows his birth name, while the other shows his throne name and title. Other cartouches of Ramesses III have been found in the Sinai, Israel, and Saudi Arabia, indicating the Egyptian-Arabian trade route. This is the first one discovered in Jordan.
The second find is a report from Matthew D.C. Larsen about discovering what is called the Boudrouml prison in Corinth. The existence of the Boudrouml prison has been known since the early 20th century, when Herbert F. deCou first excavated it. However, newly found inscriptions carved into the pavement by prisoners offer insights into life in Roman prisons. The spelling and grammar errors in the inscriptions reveal the prisoners’ lack of formal education. These messages also show boredom, rage, and personal devotion. One inscription reads, “Lord, do not show mercy on the one who threw us in here.” The evidence of Roman prison life aligns with what the Bible describes regarding Peter and Paul’s imprisonment.
As archaeologists continue their excavations and new technologies analyze the findings, they find more archaeological discoveries supporting the Bible. Those who try to cast doubt on the biblical record will find themselves at odds with the evidence.
Researchers at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute announced the discovery of a new deep-sea snailfish species called the bumpy snailfish (Careproctus colliculi). This fish lives over 10,000 feet below the ocean’s surface and exhibits traits never seen before in the snailfish family.
Other deep-ocean snailfish are sleek and dark-colored, which helps them catch prey and blend into the dark waters. The bumpy snailfish is pink, with a large head and a body covered in bumps. These bumps are gelatinous, watery tissue that may help keep the fish buoyant under the high pressures of the deep sea.
Evolutionary explanations for how the bumpy snailfish came to be are unclear because its traits do not seem to increase its chances of survival but may instead make it more vulnerable to predators. Like all living things, it occupies a specific niche in the ecosystem. Dr. Mackenzie Gerringer, who analyzed the species in detail, said the discovery of this and two other species “is a reminder of how much we have yet to learn about life on Earth.”
As scientists develop new tools for deep-sea exploration, they continue to find life forms in every environment on our planet. Everywhere we look, we see a design in life that hints at an intelligent Creator who made Earth a living, dynamic place for humans. The truth of Romans 1:20, which states that we can know there is a God through the things He has made, appears more obvious today than ever in human history.
At age 40, Christopher Columbus embarked on a bold journey that would become a turning point in human history. It marked the start of demographic, commercial, economic, social, and political changes. This event began what is now called the “Columbian Exchange.” That exchange involved plants—corn, potatoes, beans, squash, cocoa, and other foods were brought from America to Europe and Africa. Wheat from Europe was introduced into America. Animals such as cattle, horses, and pigs, which were unknown in the Americas, were brought over from Europe. Sadly, European explorers also brought slavery and diseases that killed many in the New World.
Columbus claimed that one of the reasons for his journey was to bring Christianity to the people he thought were natives of the East Indies. Although Columbus made four trips to the region, he never acknowledged it as anything other than the East Indies. Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci was the first to realize it was a New World, which is why we call it America.
Going much further back in time, after the Flood, God told Noah and his family to “multiply and fill the Earth” (Genesis 9:1 and 9:7). Instead of obeying that command, they devised their own plan to build a tall tower to make a name for themselves (Genesis 11:4). God responded to their rebellion in Genesis 11:7-9 by forcing them to disperse.
According to Hugh Ross, land bridges once connected Asia, Africa, Europe, and Australia, making migration possible. The land bridge in the Bering Strait between Siberia and Alaska was covered with too much ice for humans to cross until about 16,500 years ago. Once it became passable, people from Asia entered the Americas until the sea level rose due to melting ice about 11,000 years ago, causing the land bridge to disappear.
Losing the Bering Strait land bridge meant the Americas were cut off from the Old World and the Gospel message until Columbus’s time. Europeans began arriving in the New World, including the Pilgrims and missionaries. Although not everything they brought was positive, the Good News was the greatest gift to the New World, and today we benefit from the fact that Christopher Columbus embarked on a bold journey.
Skeptics often point out the failures of religious leaders, and everyone is aware of scandals in the church over the years. One thing we can be sure of is that there will be more examples in the future. Why? Because humans sin. Proverbs 20:9 says, “Who can say, ‘I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin?’” Only one man was perfect and without sin: Jesus Christ. But, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV). While skeptics highlight the failures of Christians, the Bible doesn’t hide them. For example, take the people in the Corinthian church to whom Paul wrote.
In his first letter to the church in Corinth, Paul began, “I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.” But then in verse ten, he begins addressing the failures of Christians in that congregation. First, he discusses divisions and quarrels among the members. Then he reminds them that they were not wise, influential, or noble by birth, but God chose them anyway. By chapter 3, he tells them they are “still worldly” and “mere infants in Christ,” and that their jealousy and quarreling prove they are worldly.
In chapter 4, Paul continues by explaining that they have no reason to boast (implying they were boasting) because their relationship with God isn’t based on their goodness, but on God’s grace. He points out in verse 18, “Some of you have become arrogant…”
Just when it seems Paul had addressed all the failures of Christians, things get worse. In chapter 5, he highlights a case of sexual immorality within the church, and instead of condemning it, they are proud of it! Paul says they should have been mourning and removing the guilty party from the congregation. His warning is that if they continue to accept this immoral behavior, others will follow. He says we cannot avoid associating with sexually immoral people in the world, but such behavior should not be tolerated among those claiming to be Christians.
As if that’s not enough, Paul tells the Corinthian Christians in chapter 6 that they need to settle their disputes within the church and stop suing each other in public courts. He also urges them to avoid immoral conduct involving prostitutes. In chapter 7, he emphasizes that sexual relationships should only be between married couples and underscores the sacredness of marriage.
Wow! Paul still had eight more chapters to write, and in chapter 11, he rebuked the Corinthian Christians for how they were handling the Lord’s Supper, or communion. In chapter 12, he addressed their mishandling of spiritual gifts.
Paul was responsible for founding the church in Corinth, and he had to address the failures of Christians that weighed heavily on him. However, his letter is not entirely critical. Chapter 13 is one of the most beautiful parts of the Bible, where Paul describes the way of love. We can’t ignore chapter 15, where Paul reminds the Corinthians of Christ’s resurrection. In verses 3-7, he quotes an oral tradition about the resurrection that dates to shortly after the event. Then he admits his own sin, “For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am…” In verses 20 and 21, he writes, “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead…so in Christ all will be made alive.”
Among his final instructions, Paul writes, “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love” (16:13). Paul pointed out the failings of Christians, but he didn’t give up on those in Corinth, as shown in his second letter to the Corinthian church.
Scandals and moral failures have troubled the church since the beginning, but instead of hiding them, the Church must address them and make the necessary corrections. Would the Corinthian church have been embarrassed to know that their “dirty laundry” would be aired for the whole world to see for the next two thousand years? Does today’s Church have anything to be ashamed of? The failures of Christians are a stumbling block for seekers in a world that needs to see genuine Christianity.
Beginning in 1987, a new glass and metal structure began to rise in the desert near Oracle, Arizona. In 1991, it opened as the world’s largest closed ecological system. It was called “Biosphere 2” because planet Earth is “Biosphere 1.” The idea behind the project was to test whether a closed system could support human life on another planet. This marked the start of a two-year mission in which eight people were isolated inside this artificial biosphere to simulate life on a space colony.
The experiment in Biosphere 2 ran from 1991 to 1993 with only limited success. It was attempted again for six months in 1994. Both attempts encountered technical issues and the strain of human group dynamics. Additionally, during the second try, the company managing the experiment was dissolved, leaving the project in limbo. Initially, Columbia University took control of the facility and used it for scientific research until 2003. When it seemed Biosphere 2 might be demolished for urban development, the University of Arizona (UA) took over in 2007 and gained full ownership in 2011.
Today, about 100,000 tourists visit Biosphere 2 each year while UA continues to conduct experiments there. One of the experimental areas is the Landscape Evolution Observatory (LEO). It consists of three artificial landscapes, each measuring 30 by 11 meters with a 4-meter depth of crushed basalt rock from a volcanic crater in northern Arizona. The scientists aim to observe how these landscapes change “from purely mineral and abiotic substrate to living, breathing landscapes that will ultimately support microbial and vascular plant communities” (UA’s words).
I wonder how the researchers could be sure that the one million pounds of basalt from a volcanic crater could be “abiotic,” meaning free of any life forms. However, if microbes or seeds are present, I believe the landscapes will “evolve.” The key is that for any life to develop, it must already be there. Evolution is change over time, but the development of life requires initial life to exist.
The UA scientists explain that the evolution of cyanobacteria—the first microscopic organisms to use photosynthesis—pumped oxygen into the atmosphere, facilitating the development of aerobic life. This paved the way for multicellular life, an ozone layer to shield life from harmful ultraviolet radiation, and weathering to break down rocks into soil.
Considering the history of Biosphere 2, I doubt it will be around—or that the scientists will be—long enough to observe significant evolution. It takes time for rocks to break down into soil. They describe the “process of primary succession,” where simple microbes expand into organisms of increasing “complexity and biodiversity.” The researchers state that photosynthesizing cyanobacteria will capture nitrogen from the air, preparing the way for mosses to grow. The next step involves “colonization by larger plants with roots,” and the primary succession continues.
Long before Biosphere 2, Genesis 1:11-12 details the process of primary succession: “And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass” (Hebrew deshe, meaning tender grass such as lichen or algae), “the herb yielding seed” (Hebrew eseb, meaning naked seed or gymnosperm), “and the tree yielding fruit” (Hebrew ets, meaning tree, wood, or timber). The process of primary succession then continues. (For more on this, see John N. Clayton’s booklet “God’s Revelation in His Rocks and His Word.”)
As the UA scientists describe in their explanation of LEO, “The Earth system consisting of air, water, soil, plants, and microbes is a complex, interacting system.” And so it is, as God revealed to Moses thousands of years ago. Complex, interacting systems require an intelligent Designer.
Human engineers often draw inspiration from the natural world. When they adapt these designs for human use, it’s called biomimicry. Shark-skin biomimicry utilizes the design principles that enable sharks to move smoothly and quickly through water, applying them for industrial and practical purposes.
In addition to its body shape, a shark’s ability to swim swiftly and quietly through the water is largely due to the design of their skin. Shark skin has a textured pattern, known as riblets, that helps reduce water drag. Researchers at U.C. Berkeley and MIT explored ways to adapt this shark skin design to reduce the water’s drag on towed sonar arrays (TSAs) used by ships and submarines. They discovered that rectangular riblets could cut drag by 5% or more and reduce noise by 14%. Noise reduction is very important for sonar, which depends on detecting sound echoes. Less noise also benefits marine wildlife.
Another application of shark-skin design is in water distribution systems. Biomimetic riblets inside water pipes can lessen turbulence as water flows through. Reducing turbulence and drag decreases the energy needed to pump water to its destination. This means lower costs for supplying water to homes. Researchers found that, under ideal conditions, drag can be cut by up to 10%.
According to another study, shark-skin biomimicry can also improve the efficiency of microchannel heat sinks. Microelectronic components in computers and other devices can be damaged by heat. The researchers reported that “the shark-skin based bionic structure had higher heat transfer capacity and lower friction loss.”
Looking at nature’s designs reveals wisdom at work. Shark-skin biomimicry offers benefits in aviation, marine transportation, water systems, and the cooling of microelectronics. What other new applications of biomimicry are still to be discovered? God’s wisdom shows in what He has made. Humans have no excuse for failing to recognize His eternal power and divine nature (Romans 1:20).
Many sparrows visit my feeders regularly. Looking at my copy of the National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, I see that 19 pages are dedicated to various sparrow species. While many are limited to specific areas of North America, some are widespread across the continent. One such species is the song sparrow (Melospiza melodia). Some scientists have been researching the reason for the song sparrow’s success.
Song sparrows are divided into 25 subspecies spread from the East Coast to the West Coast, from Alaska’s remote islands to the Mexican volcanic plateau. These birds may seem quite ordinary, but they are extraordinarily successful at surviving and thriving in boreal forests, coastal wetlands, and even deserts. The secret of the song sparrow’s success is that each subspecies has unique traits that help it survive in its specific habitat.
In the Alaskan Aleutian Islands, the maxima subspecies has larger bodies to better conserve body heat. The fallax subspecies, found in the Sonoran and Mohave deserts, has lighter plumage to blend into the desert’s brown landscape. The caurina subspecies of the Pacific Northwest has darker feathers to resist moisture-related microbes. In Atlantic Coast salt marshes, the atlantica subspecies has larger bills to assist in evaporative cooling.
Scientists from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the University of British Columbia sequenced the DNA of nearly every subspecies to understand the song sparrow’s success. They found that genes and the environment work together to enable variations among subspecies, allowing them to thrive in diverse ecosystems.
This new research confirms what we have previously stated. God has given each species the ability to adapt and change over time to fit changing environments. That adaptability is key to the song sparrow’s success. Sparrows can evolve and adapt, yet they remain sparrows. This ability to change highlights God’s divine power in His creations (Romans 1:20). Jesus affirmed God’s love for even the sparrows, and much more for every human being. (See Matthew 10:29-31.)
Some of the most colorful and fascinating birds are the more than 40 species in the Paradisaeidae family, known as birds-of-paradise. They are more than just colorful; they are extravagant in their ornamentation and in their mating rituals. We have previously looked at the King of Saxony bird-of-paradise and Wilson’s bird-of-paradise. Studying these birds always reveals something new. In February 2025, a team of researchers published a new study about glowing birds-of-paradise.
Birds-of-paradise inhabit the rainforests of New Guinea and Australia, where they showcase their dazzling colors and remarkable features. Rene Martin, a University of Nebraska ichthyologist (a scientist who studies fish), specializes in deep-sea glow-in-the-dark fish. Some of her colleagues mentioned birds that seem to gleam, which led her to expose some specimens of birds-of-paradise at the American Museum of Natural History to UV light.
What Martin discovered was glowing birds-of-paradise. Thirty-seven species showed biofluorescence under ultraviolet light. Seeing them with human eyes was impressive, but for the specialized eyes of birds, it must be even more dramatic. Unsurprisingly, the males glow the most. For example, the entire belly of the male king bird-of-paradise seems to glow under UV light. Females exhibit some scattered and subdued glowing areas, which might help them camouflage in the sun-dappled rainforest. Meanwhile, the biofluorescence of the males could enhance their brilliant colors in the dark rainforest.
The discovery of these glowing birds-of-paradise reminds us that it’s easy to overlook what is right in front of us. Edwin Scholes, founder and director of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Birds-of-Paradise Project, said, “Just when people think, ‘Oh, we must know everything there is to know about birds-of-paradise,’ we find something completely mind-blowing. There’s still a lot to be discovered.”
What new insights will science uncover about God’s creation in the coming days and years? The more we learn, the more we realize the truth of Romans 1:20, which tells us we can know there is a God by the things He has made.
