Stars, Cells, and God

Chromosome 2 Design | Bird Flight: Designed or Random

Join biochemist Fazale “Fuz” Rana and astrophysicist Jeff Zweerink as they discuss new discoveries with theological and philosophical implications pointing to the reality of God’s existence.
Fuz discusses the work of Chinese scientists who have identified the functional significance of the [genetic?] fusion event that seemingly generated human chromosome 2. This insight validates a key prediction of the RTB human origins model and adds credibility to the Bible’s description of humanity’s creation.
Jeff explains why scientists and engineers increasingly look to nature for inspiration to “build a better mousetrap.” Virtually every airplane in existence has a vertical tail that keeps the airplane on a straight line without rolling or spinning on its vertical axis. A recent study of how birds fly without a vertical tail reveals the sophisticated system of sensors, reflexes, and materials used to achieve “rudderless” flight. Far from a kludge job, such sophistication points to the work of a Creator who designed birds with this remarkable ability.
Links and Resources:
Incomplete Lineage Sorting of Segmental Duplications Defines the Human Chromosome 2 Fusion Site Early During African Great Ape Speciation
Bird-Inspired Reflexive Morphing Enables Rudderless Flight
Birdlike Robot Flies Steady Without a Vertical Tail
Thinking About Evolution, chapter 22, “Is the Watchmaker Really Blind?” by Fazale Rana

Finding Cosmological Constraints | Tension in Cosmology

Join astrophysicists Hugh Ross and Jeff Zweerink as they discuss  new discoveries with theological and philosophical implications pointing to the existence of God.
Hugh explains that the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) Collaboration has released redshift and position measurements on 3,855,000 galaxies and 857,000 quasars in the redshift range 0.1–2.1. Analysis of this database shows that gravity alternatives to general relativity on large cosmic size scales are negligible and provides stronger evidence for a time-varying dark energy equation of state. The analysis also yields the best measure to date of the cosmic matter density, thereby affirming a feature of cosmic creation. Jeff discusses how scientists over the past 10–15 years have discovered a tension between measurements of the Hubble constant from the early universe compared to the late universe. If found to be a real discrepancy, such a tension could point to new physics and a greater understanding of the development of the universe. A new study with data from James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) affirms the validity of the late Hubble constant measurement, strengthening the case for a legitimate discrepancy.
Links and Resources:
DESI 2024 VII: Cosmological Constraints from the Full-Shape Modeling of Clustering Measurements
Modified Gravity Constraints from the Full Shape Modeling of Clustering Measurements from DESI 2024
Hubble Constant Tension Resolution
Resolving Hubble Constant and Creation Tension
Universe Expansion Study Confirms Challenge to Cosmic Theory
JWST Validates HST Distance Measurements: Selection of Supernova Subsample Explains Differences in JWST Estimates of Local H0

Detransitioning and Desisting

Join biochemist Fazale “Fuz” Rana and OB/GYN Christina Cirucci as they discuss regret, desisting, and detransitioning among people who receive gender-affirming care.
How often do people change their minds after they transition to the opposite gender? What motivates that change of mind?
Can gender transitioning be fully reversed?
Warning: This content may include explicit material. Viewer discretion is advised. The intention is not to offend but to provide information. Proceed only if you are comfortable with conversations regarding gender-affirming care, gender reassignment surgeries, and detransitioning.
Disclaimer: Reasons to Believe is expressing our Christian beliefs on the issues of gender identity in the intersection of science and faith, as it’s an important discussion and many people have valid questions.
This research showcases the expertise of select members of the RTB Scholar Community on matters of gender identity. RTB is not offering medical or other professional advice. People need to consult with their own physicians, psychologists, psychiatrists, etc. We want to see everyone make informed, educated decisions.
Links and Resources:
Gender Identity White Papers: Learn to Defend Biblical Sexuality with Gentleness and Respect

Fossil DNA Supports a Young Earth? and Combating Pollutants

Join biochemist Fazale “Fuz” Rana and astrophysicist Hugh Ross as they discuss DNA survival in fossils and how mussels could help civilization. These new discoveries suggest theological and philosophical implications alluding to the reality of God’s existence.
Fuz surveys three key scientific papers on DNA survival in fossils and explains why the recovery of DNA fragments from fossils can’t be used to make the case that Earth is only 6,000 years old. Meanwhile, Hugh explains how mussels use adhesive properties to stick to almost any surface. Scientists from Rice University bioengineered bacteria, inspired by the mussel’s adhesive properties, that could rid the world’s oceans, rivers, lakes, and food stocks of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) pollutants that threaten human health and civilization.
Links and Resources:
The Half-Life of DNA in Bone: Measuring Decay Kinetics in 158 Dated Fossils
A New Model for Ancient DNA Decay Based on Paleogenomic Meta-Analysis
Deep-Time Paleogenomics and the Limits of DNA Survival
Harnessing Nature-Inspired Catechol Amino Acid to Engineer Sticky Proteins and Bacteria

DNA Data Storage and Most Hunted Particle

DNA Data Storage
In this episode, biochemist Fazale Rana discusses one of the latest advances in DNA data storage technology and explains how this insight adds to the evidence that a Creator played a role in the origin and basic design of life.
Most Hunted Particle
The most sought-after particles in the universe are axions, the leading candidate to comprise most of the universe’s dark matter. A team of physicists led by Dion Noordhuis has shown that the best place to look for axions is around rapidly spinning neutron stars, where scientists believe axion clouds reside. Current radio telescopes may be able to detect the mystery particles, a discovery that would bolster the evidence for a big bang creation model.
Links and Resources:
Parallel Molecular Data Storage by Printing Epigenetic Bits on DNA
Axion Clouds Around Neutron Stars
Dark Matter Particles

Is Gender Reassignment Surgery Safe and Effective?

In this episode, biochemist Fazale Rana and OB/GYN Christina Cirucci discuss the safety of gender-affirming care, including gender reassignment surgeries.
•What do these procedures entail?•Are there benefits to these procedures?•What are the complications?•How should Christians respond to someone who is considering these types of operations?
Warning: This content may include explicit material. Viewer discretion is advised. Theintention is not to offend but to provide information. Proceed only if you are comfortable with conversations regarding gender-affirming care and gender reassignment surgeries.
Disclaimer: Reasons to Believe is expressing our Christian beliefs on the issues of gender identity in the intersection of science and faith, as it’s an important discussion and many people have valid questions.
This research showcases the expertise of select members of the RTB Scholar Community on matters of gender identity. RTB is not offering medical or other professional advice. People need to consult with their own physicians, psychologists, psychiatrists, etc. We want to see everyone make informed, educated decisions.
Reference:The Truth About Transgenderism—What Scripture, Science, and Medicine Say

Fine-Tuning and the Multiverse

Fine-Tuning and the Multiverse
Join Jeff Zweerink and Rabbis Elie Feder and Aaron Zimmer 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.
Scientists have discovered that the fundamental constants needed to describe our universe provide evidence of an intelligent cause that made the universe. In recent years, many scientists have argued that the multiverse provides an alternative explanation of the fundamental constants. However, for a multiverse to fulfill this role, it must exhibit specific features. A close examination of those features shows that workable multiverse models also demonstrate the same evidence of an intelligent cause. In this episode, we discuss the fine-tuning argument and multiverse response with Rabbis Elie Feder and Aaron Zimmer.
Links and Resources:
3 Proofs of God from Science
Physics to God Episodes
Multiverse Musings: An Updated Summary

Dark Matter Antarctica Experiment | News of the Day

Join Hugh Ross in this breaking News of the Day episode of Stars, Cells, and God. Hugh interviews fellow RTB astrophysicist Jeff Zweerink while Jeff is in Antarctica. Jeff is part of a research team that’s preparing to launch a balloon loaded with instruments that will either detect dark matter particles or impose more stringent constraints that will guide future efforts to find the universe’s elusive dark matter particles. The quest to find dark matter particles is considered the holy grail for astrophysicists, with a Nobel Prize in the waiting for the discovery team.
Links and Resources:
No Dark Matter Near the Sun—Oh Wait, We Found It
Designed to the Core
 

Racism, Worldview, and Science

Join Jeff Zweerink in a conversation with authors Krista Bontrager and Monique Duson as they discuss their theological and philosophical journey toward understanding what the Bible says about racial harmony.
How good and pleasant it is for brothers and sisters to dwell together in unity! Yet conversations between people who hold different views on the topic of race rarely bring unity. Join Jeff, Krista, and Monique as they provide a shining example of how seeking biblical truth can bring true unity even while exploring a divisive topic.

Will AI Ever Be Like Us?

Will AI Ever Be Like Us?
In this episode, biochemist Fuz Rana and philosopher Kristen Davis explore the question, Will AI ever be like us?
One of the most important questions to emerge from advances in AI is the age-old, Who are we as human beings?
Some people claim that when we achieve artificial general intelligence—the ability of machines to learn intellectual tasks that human beings can—AI systems will be persons, just like us. Others claim that when we achieve artificial superintelligence—the ability of machines to surpass human beings’ capabilities—AI systems will represent the next stage in evolutionary history.
Are these viewpoints valid?