August 2011

There is some weighing of probabilities of other possible explanations (which there always has to be), but there is an important presumptive side to the design inference. Namely, our repeated and uniform experience that, for example, complex, integrated, functional systems come *only* from a process of planning, coordination and design. We see such systems designed regularly; we never see them come about by chance and necessity. The *only* reason anyone is even arguing about whether the physical systems we see in life are designed (Darwinists regularly admit they look designed and they have to keep reminding themselves that they aren’t designed) is because either (i) folks have a philosophical objection to them being designed, or (ii) they imagine that some Read More ›

An intriguing fossil suggests ancient aquatic reptiles (plesiosaurs) were live bearers:

Scientists say they have found the first evidence that giant sea reptiles – which lived at the same time as dinosaurs – gave birth to live young rather than laying eggs.

They say a 78 million-year-old fossil of a pregnant plesiosaur suggests they gave birth to single, large young.

Writing in Science, they say this also suggests a degree of parental care. Read More ›

In “Oldest Known Wood” (The Scientist , August 11, 2011) Jef Akst reports that “Two newly described fossils suggest that wood is some 10 million years older than previous believed” (No kidding!): … two relatively small fossils provide new clues, and suggest that wood evolved at least 10 million years earlier than previously documented, according to a study published today (August 11) in Science. One fossils is 407 million years old and the other 397 million years old, give or take a few million. See also: Live birth in lizards developed earlier than thought

Philosopher Michael L. Peterson explains junk DNA for us at BioLogos in “Evolution and the Deep Resonances between Science and Theology, Part 5” (July 20, 2011):

Evolution is the only rational way to account for the molecular uniformity of all organisms, given that numerous alternative structures and fundamental processes are, in principle, equally likely. Moreover, the accumulation of damaged or “junk” DNA (mutations that do not affect function and thus are not subject to negative selection), passed on over time to species further down that branch of the Tree, makes the probability that evolution did not occur infinitesimally small.

Okay, so that means that if much that is thought junk turns out not to be, “the probability that evolution did occur infinitesimally small.” Right? Read More ›

David R. Abel of the Origin of Life Science Foundation, Inc., says no. And also that the law he formulated on the subject has never been falsified, despite a number of journal publications. He posits it as The Law of Physicodynamic Insufficiency, as follows:

The Law of Physicodynamic Insufficiency states that physicochemical interactions are inadequate to explain the mathematical and formal nature of physical law relationships.

He offers his law for falsification.

Read More ›