Stars, Cells, and God

Design of RNA Structure and Critical Theory In Physics

Join Fazale “Fuz” Rana and Jeff Zweerink as they discuss new discoveries taking place at the frontiers of science that have theological and philosophical implications, including the reality of God’s existence.
Design of RNA Structure
Are biochemical systems the products of unguided, historically contingent evolutionary processes shaped by natural selection? Or is there another explanation for their structure and function? Researchers demonstrate that the laws of physics and chemistry predetermine RNA secondary structure, and these structures are precisely those needed to support RNA’s central role in biochemistry. This anthropic coincidence adds to the case for a biochemical manifestation of the anthropic principle and evidence for a Creator’s role in the origin of life.
Critical Theory in Physics
One of the central tenets of science is the ability to test any explanation against data from the real world. The fact that science is done by people means bias and unfairness get introduced into the process, yet scientists have a vested interest in eliminating this unfair aspect. Some want to use a misguided approach of looking at physics and physics education through the lens of critical theory—an approach that will almost certainly undermine the scientific enterprise. I discuss a peer-reviewed, published paper showing how critical theory analyzes physics instruction.
Links and Resources:
Phenotype Bias Determines How Natural RNA Structures Occupy the Morphospace of All Possible Shapes
Fazale Rana, Fit for a Purpose
Observing Whiteness in Introductory Physics: A Case Study
Observing Whiteness in Introductory Physics: A Case Study

Neanderthal Brains, Redux and Local Realism Is Dead

Join Fazale “Fuz” Rana and Jeff Zweerink as they discuss new discoveries taking place at the frontiers of science that have theological and philosophical implications, including the reality of God’s existence.
Neanderthal Brains, Redux
Are human beings exceptional? Recent work by a large collaborative team from the Max Planck Institute in Leipzig, Germany, explores this question by examining the behavior of the TKLT-1 protein in archaic and modern humans. This discovery points to differences in brain development in modern humans and Neanderthals, suggesting cognitive differences between the two.
Local Realism Is Dead
In our macroscopic world where quantum mechanical effects seem remote, we operate as though the universe obeys two obvious properties. However, a suite of experiments over the past five decades demonstrates that both properties can’t be true in the world of quantum mechanics. We’ll describe the experiments that establish this remarkable conclusion as well as the implications for the science/faith discussion.
Fuz and Jeff discuss these important topics in this episode of Stars, Cells, and God.
Links and Resources:
Human TKTL1 Implies Greater Neurogenesis in Frontal Neocortex of Modern Humans than Neanderthals
Reduced Purine Biosynthesis in Humans after Their Divergence from Neanderthals
Fazale Rana, “Brain Organoids Cultivate the Case for Human Exceptionalism”
Fazale Rana, “Key Difference in Developing Human and Neanderthal Brains”
Nobel Prize: Quantum Entanglement Unveiled

Urban Vs Rural Navigation and A Moon-Forming Collision

Join Hugh Ross and Jeff Zweerink as they discuss new discoveries taking place at the frontiers of science that have theological and philosophical implications, including the reality of God’s existence.
Urban vs. Rural Navigation
A huge survey shows that people living outside of cities are better navigators than their urban cousins. What does this tell us about how humans were designed?
A Moon-Forming Collision
The prominent giant impact hypothesis for the formation of the Moon is backed by plenty of evidence, but one troubling discrepancy remains. Can a new impact model resolve this discrepancy, adding to the already large body of evidence supporting the idea that Earth is fine-tuned for life?
Hugh and Jeff discuss these important topics in this episode of Stars, Cells, and God.
Links and Resources:
Entropy of City Street Networks Linked to Future Spatial Navigation Ability
Immediate Origin of the Moon as a Post-Impact Satellite

Asteroids Making Land and UFOs and Christianity

Join Jeff Zweerink and Brian Huffling as they discuss new discoveries taking place at the frontiers of science that have theological and philosophical implications, as well as new discoveries that point to the reality of God’s existence.
UFOs, the Paranormal, and Christianity UFOs have been a hot topic in the last few years with the recent military videos and congressional hearings. Such phenomena raise questions about whether there’s other life in the universe and what that means for Christianity. What could these UFOs be? Is there any connection between UFOs, alleged aliens, and the paranormal?
Asteroids Making Land
Plate tectonics play a critical role in maintaining Earth’s capacity to support life. The crust of Earth’s surface is composed of large plates that continually move past and under one another. This process ultimately led to large continental landmasses that “float” on top of the denser oceanic crust. Recent research indicates that the asteroids may have played a role in starting the formation of continents, adding to the fine-tuning required for a habitable planet like Earth.
Jeff and Brian discuss these interesting topics in this episode of Stars, Cells, and God.
Links and Resources:
Giant Impacts and the Origin and Evolution of Continents

Climate, Security, & Stewardship

Join Hugh Ross and Leslie Wickman in a conversation about climate changes, national security, and the importance of environmental stewardship and how they point to the reality of God’s existence.
Climate, Security, and Stewardship
Leslie Wickman’s motivation for environmental stewardship is closely tied to her passion for space exploration, and the realization of just how rare our Earth appears to be. Climate change indicators are trending in the wrong direction to simply be dismissed as a natural variation in Earth’s weather patterns. The resulting environmental changes are being noticed and studied by the national security community. What should our response be as stewards of creation?
Hugh and Leslie discuss this important topic in this episode of Stars, Cells, and God.
Links and Resources:
Evangelicals Go Green—Will Conservative Candidates Follow Suit?
For God So Loves the Cosmos

Boas Breathe & Squeeze and Binary Stars with Planets

Join Hugh Ross and Jeff Zweerink as they discuss new discoveries taking place at the frontiers of science that have theological and philosophical implications, as well as new discoveries that point to the reality of God’s existence.
Boas Breathe & Squeeze Prey
How do boa constrictors avoid suffocating themselves while suffocating their prey? The secret lies in their rib cage.
Binary Stars with Planets
For a long time, the conventional wisdom was that planets couldn’t form around binary stars because of the gravitational disruptions of the binary orbit. However, astronomers have found many planets in binary star systems. We look at one particular system to demonstrate that, while we can find planets in binary systems, numerous factors make these planets uninhabitable.
Hugh and Jeff discuss these important topics in this episode of Stars, Cells, and God.
Links and Resources:
Modular Lung Ventilation in Boa Constrictor
3D Orbital Architecture of a Dwarf Binary System and Its Planetary Companion

Does JWST Reveal that Big Bang Never Happened?

Join Hugh Ross and Mike Strauss as they discuss a new discovery taking place at the frontiers of science that has theological and philosophical implications, as well as points to the reality of God’s existence.
There’s been noise on the Internet stating that the first observations of the James Webb Space Telescope show that the big bang didn’t happen. We’ll discuss these new observations and what they’ve revealed, the evidence for and against the big bang, and possible future discoveries that JWST may make.
Hugh and Mike discuss this important topic in this episode of Stars, Cells, and God.
Links and Resources:
James Webb Space Telescope: Initial Revelations

Cognitive Bias Studies and Fine-Tuned DNA Structure

Join Jeff Zweerink and Fazale “Fuz” Rana as they discuss new discoveries taking place at the frontiers of science that have theological and philosophical implications, as well as new discoveries that point to the reality of God’s existence.
Cognitive Bias Studies
Research demonstrates that people remember the challenges they face more than the benefits they enjoy. This “headwinds/tailwinds asymmetry” helps explain why both political parties see the electoral college as favoring the other party, why most people see their favorite team as having the most difficult schedule, and why children routinely characterize parents as favoring other siblings. Unfortunately, this asymmetry contributes to a darker side of human behavior in that people who perceive greater challenges and obstacles are more inclined to endorse morally questionable behavior. The Bible helps prevent this asymmetry and provides a prescription to encourage moral behavior. 
Fine-Tuned DNA Structure
Every detail about the structure of DNA is precisely as it must be for life to be possible, reflecting a type of molecular fine-tuning. This fine-tuning comes into focus when biochemists ask “why” questions, such as: Why is DNA made up of the four nucleobases, (adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine) and not some other set of nucleobases? A chemist from Trinity University Dublin provided insight into this question by demonstrating that the set of nucleobases in DNA uniquely minimizes the harmful impact of a phenomenon called tautomerism, revealing a rationale for the composition of this important biomolecule. This insight raises additional questions: How should we account for the ingenuity and fine-tuning of DNA’s structure? Is it the outworking of a historically contingent evolutionary process, or do these features point to a Creator’s handiwork?
Jeff and Fuz discuss these important topics in this episode of Stars, Cells, and God.
Links and Resources:
The Headwinds/Tailwinds Asymmetry: An Availability Bias in Assessments of Barriers and Blessings
Tautomerism as a Constraint on the Composition of Alternative Nucleotide Alphabets
Fit for a Purpose
The Cell’s Design
DNA: Designed for Flexibility
DNA Soaks Up Sun’s Rays

Neanderthal Brains and First Exoplanet

Join Fazale “Fuz” Rana and Jeff Zweerink as they discuss new discoveries taking place at the frontiers of science that have theological and philosophical implications, as well as new discoveries that point to the reality of God’s existence.
Neanderthal Brains
Are human beings unique and exceptional? A large collaborative team from Germany recently explored this question by examining the behavior of three proteins that play a role in cell division and are expressed at high levels in the developing cells of the brain’s neocortex. As it turns out, the modern human versions of these proteins have small but significant differences in their amino acid sequences compared to the mouse, Neanderthal, and Denisovan versions. The research team determined that, because of these differences, the cell division process in human brain cells occurs much more reliably than in the corresponding cells in mice, Neanderthals, and Denisovans. This discovery points to differences in brain development in modern humans and Neanderthals, suggesting cognitive differences between the two.
First Exoplanet
The James Webb Space Telescope recently imaged its first exoplanet, and researchers found that the telescope was ten times more sensitive than expected. What have we learned about this exoplanet, and how will those learnings inform the search for extraterrestrial life?
Fuz and Jeff discuss these important topics in this episode of Stars, Cells, and God.
Links and Resources: 
Longer Metaphase and Fewer Chromosome Segregation Errors in Modern Human than Neanderthal Brain Development
Brain Organoids Cultivate the Case for Human Exceptionalism
The JWST Early Release Science Program for Direct Observations of Exoplanetary Systems I: High Contrast Imaging of the Exoplanet HIP 65426 b from 2-16 μm

How Mars Lost Its Water and Adaptation & Providence

Join Fazale “Fuz” Rana and Jeff Zweerink as they discuss new discoveries taking place at the frontiers of science that have theological and philosophical implications, as well as new discoveries that point to the reality of God’s existence.
How Mars Lost Its Water
Of all the solar system bodies, Mars is the place most likely to have hosted life in the past. However, compared to Earth, Mars now has a small atmosphere and minimal water. The reasons Mars lost its water and atmosphere highlight the seemingly unique capacity of Earth to support life.
Adaptation & Providence
Recently, a large team of collaborators headed up by researchers from the University of California, Santa Cruz highlighted another mechanism that they think contributes to organisms’ ability to adapt: introgression—the introduction of genetic material into the gene pool of another species through interbreeding or hybridization. Insights such as this latest one are often viewed as prima facie evidence for life’s evolutionary history. Can discoveries such as this be viewed as legitimate from a creation model standpoint?
Fuz and Jeff discuss these important topics in this episode of Stars, Cells, and God.
Links and Resources:
How Did Mars Lose Its Atmosphere and Water?
A Polar Bear Paleogenome Reveals Extensive Ancient Gene Flow from Polar Bears into Brown Bears
Scientists Sequence Genome of 100,000-Year-Old Polar Bear