God Archives - DOES GOD EXIST? TODAY

January 22, 2025January 20, 2025

Bumblebees Can Fly High

Two researchers have discovered that bumblebees can fly high at elevations of 29,527 feet. That is higher than Mount Everest! Michael Dillon and Robert Dudley worked with bumblebees native to Sichuan, China, that live at elevations over 10,000 feet. The question is how these bumblebees do that with the thin air and reduced oxygen levels at such altitudes.

The researchers used a pressure chamber to simulate high-altitude conditions. Using high-speed cameras, the researchers saw that the bumblebees didn’t change their wings’ flapping but rather used deeper arcs to scoop more air with each beat. This technique also enables more efficient escapes from predators and the ability to carry heavy nectar loads.

Bumblebees can fly high, but how they can sustain their metabolism with so little oxygen remains unanswered. We have much to learn from bumblebees, but their design challenges all observers. The writer of Proverbs said, “Go to the ant; consider her ways and be wise.” (Proverbs 6:6). All of God’s creatures have something to teach us, including ants and bumblebees.

— John N. Clayton © 2025
Reference: nih.gov

January 21, 2025January 19, 2025

Prehistoric Frozen Animals

Many years ago, I was doing a lectureship in Alaska when a young man said he had a fossil he wanted to give me. He said it was on the back porch of his home, but he neglected to tell me it was in the family freezer. His story was that he and some friends were on a canoe trip and found a tusk sticking out of the permafrost. Upon digging it out, they found it was a mammoth. Unfortunately, they cut off the head and put it in the family freezer. He wanted me to take it and get it out of the freezer, but that was impossible for me to do, so I think it ended up at the University of Alaska. I can imagine the mother’s reaction if she found that in her freezer. With climate change, finding prehistoric frozen animals in the permafrost is becoming more common.

USA Today published an article about a baby mammoth found in the Siberian permafrost. The picture shows a specimen very much like the one I described above. In November, scientists discovered the remains of a saber-toothed cat cub. Earlier in 2024, a wolf carcass was found.

Researchers have a problem protecting these prehistoric frozen animals because the meat is still edible. Left alone, birds and modern carnivores will eat it. Some natives who came to my lectureship programs talked about eating frozen carcasses. Various dating methods on these specimens show them as old as 50,000 years, yet the meat is still edible.

Researchers we talked to in Alaska did not have a good explanation as to how the specimens were frozen so quickly. Evolution assumes uniformitarianism – the belief that no process has operated in the past that is not going on today. The prehistoric frozen animals pose quite a challenge to that assumption. Research is ongoing, giving us more information about past climate and astronomical events that are NOT happening today.

— John N. Clayton © 2025
Reference: USA Today for 12/29/24

January 20, 2025January 20, 2025

The Example of Jimmy Carter

Regardless of your political or religious views, you must admire former president Jimmy Carter, who died at age 100. Several days of Carter’s funeral services concluded in Plains, Georgia, on Thursday, January 9, 2025. Debates about Carter’s presidency will continue for a very long time, but nobody will question the quality of the man. He promised that as president, he would never lie to the American people, and he kept that promise. We can all learn from the example of Jimmy Carter.

Carter ran for president in 1976 and was in office for only one term. What is amazing about him is what he did after leaving office. His work with Habitat for Humanity involved him in building 4,400 houses. He was a peace broker, using his diplomacy to cool global conflicts. The Carter Foundation attacked the Guinea worm, a horrib l e scourge in Africa and Asia. As a result, the Guinea worm problem has been eliminated in virtually all places. Carter received a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his actions.

Through all of this, Carter continued to live in Plains, Georgia, and teach a Sunday school Bible class at the church he attended. For a former president to demonstrate integrity, be a humanitarian worker, and spend energy and time doing things to help others is a stark contrast to the typical politician. If we can all learn from the example of Jimmy Carter, perhaps a change will eventually come to our country.

January 17, 2025January 12, 2025

Reasons for Divorce

The Saturday Evening Post reprinted a survey of the reasons for divorce compiled in 1950 based on 425 divorce case files. The author, David G. Wittles, ignored what he called the “symptoms” and listed these nine as the actual causes of divorce:

1) Emotional immaturity
2) Our modern industrial civilization, which has wiped out many of the material reasons for family life.
3) The idea that romantic love is the main reason and sufficient basis for marriage.
4) Parental disapproval and mother-in-law trouble.
5) Differences in background.
6) Finances and lack of housing.
7) Jobs for women.
8) Ambition.
9) Infidelity.

We can speculate whether those are the same reasons for divorce today, but the bottom line is that when we throw out God’s plan, divorce is likely. A current survey would be very interesting.

Biblical marriage came about because (1) It is not good for men (or women) to be alone and (2) Men need a helper to fill in for what they cannot do by themselves – also true for women. (See Genesis 2:18). In 1 Corinthians 7:1-5, Paul explains the physical side of marriage, and all studies have shown that the best sex is with one faithful partner. Those who look for modern solutions to their sexual needs are 100% sure not to find them. The effect that marriage has on raising children is another essential part of this discussion. Blended families can work, but a stable nuclear family is the long-term best way to raise a child.

Ephesians 6:1-4 and Colossians 3:21 spell out what God intended for fathers to be. This has nothing to do with conception but how children are loved and cared for by the male image in their childhood. God’s plan has worked for centuries, and the basic needs of men, women, and children have not changed.

— John N. Clayton © 2025
Reference: “The Real Reason for Divorce” in the January/February 2025 issue of the Saturday Evening Post, page 76

January 16, 2025January 12, 2025

Life on Mars in Fiction and Fact

Our fascination with Mars goes back to American sci-fi, with War of the Worlds, written by H. G. Wells and published in 1898. It was recreated as a radio drama by Orson Welles on Halloween in 1938, causing panic in America. In 1950, Ray Bradbury released a novel called The Martian Chronicles, which ended with the Earth destroyed by nuclear war. In 2005, Steven Spielberg directed a movie based on the Wells novel starring Tom Cruise. In 2015, The Martian was a science fiction movie starring Matt Damon. We have now scientifically investigated the red planet, resolving the question of life on Mars.

Measurements made by NASA’s Curiosity Rover from four Gale crater sites show that there is no life on Mars and that there has never been life on Mars’ surface. The ratios of carbon and oxygen isotopes indicate that no biosphere existed on the planet. Rock samples show extreme rates of evaporation and carbon flowing into the atmosphere like bubbles from a pressurized can of soda.

Previous measurements on Mars have been made in ice, which forms and melts there with some degree of regularity. For the first time, science has isotopic readings from rock samples. One can argue that there has been life on Mars in the distant past preserved many feet below ground, but drill cores have not backed up that theory.

The more we learn from scientific data gathered in space, the more we realize how extraordinary life is on Earth. Mars is NOT our twin planet, and no planet in our solar system is. Travel to another star and another solar system would not be within human capacity at any time during the lives of those living today. Humans may destroy Earth by nuclear war, but Bradbury’s story of The Martian Chronicles is not a predictor of how that might happen.

The Bible says God created time, space, matter-energy, and life. It doesn’t tell us when or how many steps were involved in creating the planet on which we live. The Bible does tell us how to live and avoid the things that can destroy this planet. Albert Einstein is purported to have said that if nuclear war is used in World War III, World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones. Moving to Mars is not an option. We can avoid wars by following the words of Jesus Christ in Matthew 5-7.

— John N. Clayton © 2025
Reference: American Scientist magazine for January/February 2025 (page 10)

January 15, 2025January 12, 2025

Animal Medicine Design

Animals have a fascinating ability to use natural materials to combat or treat injuries or illnesses. People often think animal behavior in treating an injury, infection, or disease is an accident. A familiar example is a dog eating grass because of an upset stomach. The grass treats diarrhea or vomiting and can lower the pH level to soothe pain and symptoms of illness. You may see ads from dog food companies saying they have no vegetable matter in their product, but a dog needs some fiber. To meet these needs, foxes, and wolves will eat blueberries, wild carrots, or wild spinach. These are examples of animal medicine.

Researchers watched an injured Sumatran orangutan extract juice from a plant known for antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties in humans. He applied it to a wound under his eye, and the wound did not become infected. In five days, the wound closed, and in a month, it completely healed. Chimpanzees fold and swallow rough leaves to purge parasites. Great apes, elephants, bears, and porcupines are among the animals with an innate ability to find and use certain plants for medicine. Emory University biologist Jaap De Roode said, “You have to have inherited the gene that gives you the general ability to detect the right taste or smell in a plant for your needs.”

It sounds fantastic, but we also see animal medicine in the insect world. European honey bees use tree resin to prevent mites and other infections. Monarch butterflies with an infection will lay 68% of their eggs on milkweed with high cardenolide compounds, which have anti-parasitic powers. When their caterpillars hatch and start eating the milkweed leaves, they ingest the compounds that ward off parasites.

The study of animal medicine shows that insects and animals are programmed to deal with the health problems they encounter. When God addressed Job with questions in chapters 38 to 40, Job realized how much he didn’t know. As we read those chapters, we recognize how much we don’t know and are still learning from the lives of God’s creatures. Proverbs 6:6 advises us to “go to the ant… consider her ways and be wise.”

— John N. Clayton © 2025
Reference: National Wildlife magazine for Winter 2025, pages 16-17

January 14, 2025January 12, 2025

Oysters Are Ecological Heroes

The anti-science attitude of many in our culture is causing us to reject something God has given us to combat pollution, global warming, and food shortages. That thing is the amazing common oyster. Most of us know that oysters are a culinary treat. Their salty flavor and slippery texture make them a major player in seafood restaurants, but oysters are ecological heroes as well.

Oceans absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Oysters pull the carbon out of the seawater and use it to make their shells. Sea Grant researchers determined that if Americans replaced 10% of their beef consumption with oysters, the greenhouse gas emissions would be equivalent to keeping 11 million cars off the road.

In addition to the environmental benefits, oysters provide healthy diets as well. They are packed with protein, zinc, B-12, omega-3 fatty acids, and a number of trace elements. They are easy to grow and do not require feed, fresh water, or fertilizer. Oysters eat by pumping water through their bodies, filtering out algae and trace elements while improving water quality and preventing algal blooms. A single oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water per day.

People in Scotland are making oyster beds because pollution and disease wiped out the local reefs. Once oyster beds are established, they help reefs replenish and provide habitat for anemones, barnacles, and mussels that feed commercially valuable fish. It is estimated that 85% of the world’s oyster beds have disappeared in the last 100 years.

Once again, humans have destroyed the gift God has given us. People must realize that oysters are ecological heroes and take steps to restore this great resource.

— John N. Clayton © 2025
Reference: World Wildlife magazine winter 2024

January 13, 2025January 12, 2025

Wet Dog Shake Design

The design of the world around us shows intelligence. The creation is not just a massive series of accidents but a carefully engineered system that works very well. If you have a dog, you are familiar with the wet dog shake. When a dog gets wet, it does an elaborate series of shakes that spin off 70% of the water in its coat. That water can be an issue for us if the dog is close by, but it’s an excellent example of intelligence and engineering.

The skin of mammals has 20 different types of sensory receptors to detect temperature, itching, and touch. Touch alone has 12 different kinds of receptors that react to pain, vibration, steady pressure, or soft caress. One of the most sensitive receptors wraps around the base of hair follicles. The slightest movement of the hair triggers a shaking response from the animal. The dog’s brain feeds the shaking response sequentially from one end of the animal to the other.

Bears have the same response, and the benefit to the animal in a cold climate is obvious. But it’s not just dogs and bears. Thirty different hairy mammal species use the wet dog shake. This response is so complex that scientists are still studying it. The next time your dog does the wet dog shake, watch what happens and how efficient it is. Every kind of life on our planet shows purpose, intelligence, and design, and this is one more example.

It is easy to see why God used a variety of animal life to challenge Job to explain how they got the equipment and behavioral instructions to do what they do. (See Job 39.) We are still trying to answer these ancient questions. Even with special equipment and the aid of computers, we are unable to give a chance explanation that excludes an intelligent agent, meaning God.

January 10, 2025January 7, 2025

The Mystery of Color

Color is an interesting characteristic of many living things. Human eyes can see a range of colors in the visible spectrum. The cones in the human eye can see red at the low-energy end of the spectrum and violet at the high-energy end. Between those two extremes, orange, yellow, green, and blue have increasing energy, and we see colors when the light reflected from an object is between those extremes. Scientists are fascinated by the mystery of color in living things.

Pigments, nanostructures, or melanin can combine to cause various colors in birds. Parrot feathers have unique pigments called psittacofulvins. Enzymes act on the psittacofulvins to produce the vibrant parrot colors. Cardinals get their red color from pigments called carotenoids from the food they eat. Psittacofulvins seem to be more durable than carotenoids since they don’t come from diet. Many birds demonstrate color in parts of their anatomy other than feathers, such as their bills.

A great deal of research has attempted to understand why color exists in living things, how it is produced, and what role it has in survival. Colors in birds can make them stand out in their surroundings and help them attract mates. Color can also serve as camouflage to protect from predators. However, in some birds, there seems to be no survival or reproductive purpose in their color–only beauty. Only humans can appreciate beauty because we are created in the image of God. That could be the reason for the enduring mystery of color.

January 9, 2025January 7, 2025

The Amazing Chameleons

Everywhere we look on our wonderful planet, we see unique creatures. One of the most interesting examples is the chameleon. One species is the veiled chameleon, which gets its name from a protrusion that rises like a crest to protect the animal’s eyes as they live in bushes and shrubs. All chameleons have sticky tongues they can shoot out of their mouths to capture the insects they eat. The amazing chameleons have some unique equipment.

Chameleons have a prehensile tail and grasping feet for clinging to the trees and bushes where they live. In dry seasons, they eat plants to get enough moisture for survival. Unlike most animals, they can almost instantly change color to match their environment, making their camouflage complete. What is truly unique about chameleons is that their brain can use its two lobes together or separately. When the chameleon moves or shoots out its tongue, it focuses both eyes on its path or the prey for depth perception. When looking for prey or watching for a predator, the two eyes function independently and can each rotate 180 degrees.

Pet stores have made a business out of selling chameleons because they are so unique and are not large. It is difficult to suggest an evolutionary path for the unique features of the amazing chameleons. They are a marvelous example of God’s wisdom and design and reinforce the biblical claim, “We can know there is a God through the things He has made” (Romans 1:20).