science Archives

December 30, 2025December 23, 2025

Physical Design Posts in 2025

As we end 2025, we look back on some of our Physical Design posts in 2025. We have selected 10 that you may have missed.

The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) continues without success. https://doesgodexist.today/alien-civilizations-in-space-wow/

Is Mars designed to support life? https://doesgodexist.today/life-on-mars-in-fiction-and-fact/

What we learned from a March lunar eclipse. https://doesgodexist.today/learn-from-a-lunar-eclipse/

What is entropy, and why is it important for you? https://doesgodexist.today/why-we-care-about-entropy/

In August 2025, we had the shortest day on record. https://doesgodexist.today/shortest-day-on-record/

Why the Earth’s age doesn’t matter. https://doesgodexist.today/earths-age-is-irrelevant/

Why do we need the giant planet Jupiter? https://doesgodexist.today/earth-needs-jupiter/

Why not expand daylight by putting solar reflectors in space? https://doesgodexist.today/solar-reflectors-in-space/

What is NOTHING? https://doesgodexist.today/precisely-nothing-is-it-something/

How does the Big Bang show evidence of a Creator? https://doesgodexist.today/evidence-for-the-existence-of-a-creator-in-the-big-bang/

December 22, 2025December 19, 2025

The Shrimp and the Urchin

The oceans host many symbiotic relationships. In symbiosis, plants and animals live together in ways that benefit them and often others nearby. This is the story of the shrimp and the urchin.

Coleman shrimp (Perclimenes colemani) eat parasites they take from fish that come close to them in the western Pacific Ocean. These shrimp were not discovered until 1975, perhaps because they blend in very well with the sea urchins with which they have a symbiotic relationship. The picture shows the spotted body and striped legs of the Coleman shrimp surrounded by the striped tube feet of the fire sea urchin (Asthenosoma varium).

Coleman shrimp are known as cleaner shrimp because they remove parasites from fish. Most cleaner shrimp live in sea anemones, but Coleman shrimp prefer to live in fire sea urchins. The venom-tipped spines of the fire urchin do not harm the Coleman shrimp, and they protect them from potential predators. Meanwhile, fish infected with parasites approach the Coleman shrimp to have the parasites removed. The parasites are food for the shrimp, and the fish don’t eat the shrimp or the fire sea urchin because of its poisonous spines.

We see a balanced symbiotic relationship among various species of ocean creatures. The shrimp and the urchin, along with many fish that benefit, are just some examples of symbiosis—where different plant and animal species depend directly on each other. In many cases, a species could not survive without this mutual relationship. This is another sign of design in living creatures, and design points to a Designer.

December 18, 2025December 15, 2025

Origin-of-Life Theories and Archaea

Scientists aim to answer several very difficult questions about origins. Two of these questions relate to the origins of life and complex life. Some scientists believe they are getting closer to discovering how complex life developed from simple life, and the media often sensationalizes any origin-of-life theories.

Living things are classified into three domains. We are very familiar with multicellular life, which includes plants, animals, and people. That is the domain of eukarya, or complex life. There are two domains of single-celled life—bacteria and archaea. Most people are more familiar with bacteria than archaea. Scientists did not recognize how distinct archaea are from bacteria until the 1970s, when DNA analysis began.

The cells of bacteria and archaea are relatively simple and small compared to eukaryotic cells, which have a nucleus, mitochondria to supply energy, and other internal structures. In the 1960s, one group of microbiologists described the gap between eukaryotes and the single-celled bacteria and archaea as “the greatest single evolutionary discontinuity to be found in the present-day world.” Evolutionists seeking origin-of-life theories had to find a way to bridge this very wide gap.

In 2008, researchers discovered a new type of archaea living in hydrothermal vents on the Atlantic Mid-Ocean Ridge. They said these archaea “seemed to be somehow closer to eukaryotes than what we knew before.” In 2015, a paper published in the journal Nature described them as “the closest known living relatives of eukaryotes,” creating a scientific sensation. Their genomes were said to contain genes that are “hallmarks of eukaryotes.”

Scientists theorized that the Asgard archaea, as they came to be called, absorbed bacteria that became mitochondria, but there was still no evidence of a nucleus. Research and debate on this are expected to continue for years, but it has sparked new speculation about extraterrestrial life. Some have suggested that unicellular life on other planets could evolve into eukaryotic, advanced life. But that assumes there is unicellular life on other planets.

Scientists proposing origin-of-life theories still have no idea how non-living matter could turn into living, reproducing cells. Be cautious when you see media stories about scientists being close to discovering the origin of life or the origin of complex life. Even simple cells are far too complex to have arisen by chance without a Designer.

Reference: sciencenews.org

December 17, 2025December 15, 2025

Beautiful Colors in Butterfly Wings

We previously discussed the dynamics of butterfly flight and how human engineers marvel at their design. (See Here and Here.) One of our readers sent us a scientific discussion about the beautiful colors in butterfly wings. These colors have nothing to do with camouflage. We often see butterflies because their colors stand out so vividly against the leaves and flowers where they rest.

The iridescent colors in butterfly wings are produced by scales that are part of the wings. Each square centimeter of wing has tens of thousands of these scales attached with tiny stems that overlap each other. These scales were living cells until a day or two before the butterfly emerged from its pupa. Each tiny scale consists of a vertical and horizontal frame, within which various pigment sacs hang.

Butterfly wings that shimmer with iridescent blues and greens have scales with tiny lattices and ribbed walls designed to create interference patterns in the high-energy part of the visible spectrum (300-700 nanometers). Our eyes are designed to see those wavelengths, but some of the butterfly’s potential predators cannot. That part of the spectrum is invisible to them.

The physics of the light spectrum and the design of our eyes seem specifically built to enable us to see the beautiful colors in butterfly wings that we often take for granted. The more we learn about physics and design, the more we see evidence that the Creator has made beautiful things just for us to enjoy.

December 16, 2025December 15, 2025

Tiny and Incredible Shrews

You may not have seen them, but thousands of shrews scurry across the ground, helping keep your garden free of destructive insects, snails, and slugs. Tiny and incredible, shrews are North America’s smallest mammals. They are smaller than a human thumb and have hearts that beat 1,200 times per minute.

There are 39 shrew species in North America, and many more worldwide. There is even one that can walk on water thanks to stiff hairs on its feet. That species feeds underwater using bubble sniffing—a technique of blowing small air bubbles through their noses to detect odor particles in the water.

Shrews are not rodents but insectivores, similar to hedgehogs. Their coat helps them camouflage amid leaf litter and debris. They have scent glands on their sides that emit a foul odor to deter predators such as cats, raccoons, and foxes. Like bats, they can use echolocation to find food.

A shrew’s metabolism is so high that it must eat roughly once an hour, and it only sleeps for a few minutes at a time. Though they don’t hibernate, they make tunnels beneath snow or ice layers. One remarkable trait of the tiny and incredible shrews is that they can actually shrink their head size, including their brains, by 20% during cold weather. Since food becomes scarcer in winter, shrinking their heads and brains helps them require less food. Their head size returns with warm weather.

Shrews are among God’s most useful creations because they help control snails, slugs, insects, and ticks, protecting plants and people. Only in recent years has technology enabled us to study the tiny and incredible shrews.

Reference : Linda Weiford in The Spokesman–Review, December 1-8, 2025.

December 10, 2025December 9, 2025

Pseudoscience, True Science, and Faith

This website is dedicated to promoting science and faith as allies. Many people in religious communities believe that science opposes faith because of their denominational teachings that conflict with scientific evidence. The faith of many young people and members of the academic community has been weakened or broken by the ongoing clash between science and faith. Often, pseudoscience is the root cause of this conflict. Here are five reasons for the tension:

1) Some of the conflict’s promoters are religious leaders with no scientific background or understanding.

2) Many of the individuals claiming to be scientists hold PhDs in fields unrelated to the issues they discuss.

3) Some scientists harbor resentment against religion and refuse to support supporting evidence.

4) Many individuals on both sides are outdated and unaware of new discoveries and insights.

5) The viewpoints of both scientists and religious leaders are not reliable sources of information.

Webster’s Dictionary defines “pseudoscience” as “a collection of beliefs or practices mistakenly regarded as being based on scientific method.” Those promoting the conflict between science and faith are promoting pseudoscience. We urge parents, teachers, religious leaders, and young people to verify everything they read, hear, or see to ensure its accuracy.

This ministry strives diligently to avoid presenting anything that could be mistaken for pseudoscience. When we make an error, we issue a retraction. Our sources are academic journals that rely on the scientific method. In 1 Timothy 6:20, the Apostle Paul advised the young preacher Timothy to “turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called science.” That advice remains especially relevant today.

December 5, 2025November 30, 2025

Forgive and Forget

One of the most challenging teachings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount is the instruction in Matthew 6:12: “Forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors.” In verses 14-15, Jesus states, “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” How can we forgive and forget when someone has hurt us?

An article in National Geographic titled “Why Learning to Forget Is an Underrated Skill” included this statement: “We start to forget as soon as we begin to remember – and this is a good thing.” Forgetting prevents our minds from being overwhelmed with useless information or emotionally painful memories. It turns out we have surprisingly good control over what we choose not to remember.

God has designed our brains to forgive and forget. Jesus knew that forgetting is essential for good mental health. It’s hard for us to understand how God can forget our sins, but God is the Creator and is perfect. Our imperfections make it difficult for us to do what Jesus calls us to do.

The design of our brains demonstrates God’s incredible creative wisdom. We need to remember useful information. For example, we avoid grabbing something hot because past experience shows it will hurt. We can forget the pain of a broken heart when falling in love again. We can work on forgetting what someone did by choosing not to dwell on the pain. Research shows that letting go of bad experiences is crucial to our well-being.

Forgive and forget go hand in hand. Jesus understood what gives us greater stability in life. How much less stress would we have if we simply followed His teachings?

Reference: “Why Learning to Forget Is An Underrated Skill” in the December 2025 issue of National Geographic, pages 102-103, and nationalgeographic.com

December 4, 2025November 30, 2025

Horns and Antlers – What Are They Good For?

Ronald Johnson asked us a question we’ve heard from animal rights advocates before. Are horns on animals only useful for fighting, showing God to be war-like, angry, and sadistic? The God of the Bible is a loving, caring, merciful, and patient God. When there is violence, killing, and war, the cause is always human power struggles and selfish motives, not the will of God. So, what other purposes do animal horns serve? Here are four non-violent uses for horns and antlers:

1) Horns act as shovels that help animals access food sources they otherwise could not reach. Vegetation is often either too high or too far underground for many animals to reach. Horns allow animals to break off hard-to-reach vegetation or move logs or rocks to reach food sources.

2) Antlers store nutrients that other animals recycle. Many animals, birds, and insects eat discarded antlers to get the extra nutrients they contain.

3) Horns and antlers are used as communication tools with other animals of their kind. Those of us who spend a lot of time in the woods have seen “deer rubs.” This is when a deer uses its antlers to scrape a mark on a tree, signaling its presence, size, and how long ago it was there to other deer.

4) Horns serve as shields against predators like hawks, eagles, falcons, wolves, bears, lions, hyenas, tigers, cheetahs, dogs, and other carnivores. The animal with horns can protect itself and others nearby. I have seen musk oxen defend their young by forming a ring around them with all the horned animals facing outward. A pack of wolves circled the group but never tried to attack.

Animals certainly have other uses for horns and antlers, but the main point is that in most animals, they are rarely used for fighting. God has provided all living things with what they need to live on our planet, and we can see His wisdom and design in the things He has made (Romans 1:20).

December 3, 2025November 30, 2025

Kelp Forests Enrich the Earth

In our era of environmental threats, it’s reassuring to know there are solutions to some of the problems we face. God has created a form of life that purifies water and the atmosphere from pollutants, including human-made toxins and carbon emissions. At the same time, it supplies nutrients for marine life. We find this solution in the ocean’s kelp forests.

Kelp forests are 20 times more effective at absorbing carbon dioxide than similarly sized land-based forests. Kelp is plentiful along the west coast of the United States and grows on the coasts of Maine, Long Island, the United Kingdom, Norway, Tasmania, southern Africa, Argentina, and Japan. Kelp supports over 1000 species of marine plants and animals and provides roughly half of the oxygen we breathe. Kelp can also be used to make alternatives to plastics and chemical fertilizers used in agriculture. It can grow almost anywhere, including on abandoned oil rigs along various coastlines.

The Genesis account does not mention ocean life forms because the Fertile Crescent was far from an ocean coastline. Just as God knew humans would need coal, iron, copper, and other minerals, He provided kelp forests to shape the Earth for human survival. Science helps us understand how dinosaurs, diatoms, and many other animal forms not described in Genesis were God’s tools to prepare Earth for humans. We are in awe of God’s wisdom and creative power.

Reference: Smithsonian Magazine for December 2025, pages 76-86, and smithsonianmag.com.

December 1, 2025November 30, 2025

Helicopters and Dragonflies

Igor Sikorsky is recognized as the father of the modern helicopter, but what may not be as widely known is how he gathered the information that led to its development. This is the story of helicopters and dragonflies.

Sikorsky dedicated years to observing birds and insects to understand how to achieve stable, controlled flight. Dragonflies stood out because their wings operate independently, each capable of rotating, tilting, and shifting angles to produce quick changes in lift.

As helicopter technology has advanced, engineers continue to draw inspiration from the dragonfly. Its sideways dashes, backward flight, sudden stops, and precise hovering are still studied by engineers. Even the dragonfly’s timing patterns, rotational wing strokes, and quick lift adjustments have been emulated to improve the stability of helicopter rotor systems.

Dragonflies offer a blueprint for aerial agility, and their design is an engineering marvel. The big question is how the dragonfly’s design came about. It seems impossible to explain this complexity as the result of random chance. It appears to be a design from a Master Engineer.

Helicopters and dragonflies serve as another example of biomimicry and provide evidence that all life is a product of intelligence, demonstrating the truth of Romans 1:20 that we can know there is a God through the things He has made. as made.