evolutionnewsandviews--2020-11-09--More Just-So Rafting Stories: This Time, Dinosaurs

In the past we ’ ve covered proposals from evolutionists that monkeys rafted across oceans .
Why would anyone make such an outlandish proposal ?
To save common descent from falsification , of course .
Now they ’ re at it again — this time with terrestrial dinosaurs .
According to a story at SciTechDaily , “ Dinosaurs Once Crossed Oceans : First Duckbill Dinosaur Fossil Discovered in Africa , ” duckbilled dinosaurs rafted across ancient oceans to make their way to Africa : Reconstructing duckbill evolution , they found the lambeosaurs evolved in North America , then spread over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there , they colonized Europe , and finally Africa .
Because Africa was isolated by deep oceans at the time , duckbills must have crossed hundreds of kilometers of open water-rafting on debris , floating , or swimming — to colonize the continent .
Duckbills were probably powerful swimmers — they had large tails and powerful legs , and are often found in river deposits and marine rocks , so they may have simply swum the distance .
Of course , this is not what they expected .
According to the story , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ about the last thing in the world you would expect ” : Duckbills evolved in North America and eventually spread to South America , Asia , and Europe .
Because Africa was an island continent in the Late Cretaceous , isolated by deep seaways , it seemed impossible for duckbills to get there .
The discovery of the new fossil in a mine a few hours from Casablanca was “ about the last thing in the world you would expect , ” said Dr. Nicholas Longrich , of the Milner Centre for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who led the study .
Dr. Longrich said : “ It was completely out of place , like finding a kangaroo in Scotland .
Africa was completely isolated by water — so how did they get there ?
” The article lays out the logic by which they inferred that duckbilled dinosaurs must have rafted to Africa : “ Sherlock Holmes said , once you eliminate the impossible , whatever remains , no matter how improbable , must be the truth , ” said Longrich .
“ It was impossible to walk to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continental drift split the continents , and we have no evidence of land bridges .
The geology tells us Africa was isolated by oceans .
If so , the only way to get there is by water.
” Or in other words : • We know that universal common ancestry is true ; this is an inviolable fact .
• Duckbilled dinosaurs are known from North America , South America , and Europe — regions connected by a land bridge in the Cretaceous .
• This fossil of a type of duckbilled dinosaur @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Africa was a continent isolated by oceans at this time .
• How can we explain this ?
It ’ s impossible that universal common ancestry is false .
Therefore , duckbilled dinosaurs must have rafted or swam across oceans to arrive in Africa .
The technical article in Cretaceous Research uses much the same reasoning : Swimming , drifting , or rafting therefore could explain oceanic dispersal in dinosaurs .
Dinosaur reproductive biology may improve the odds of a dispersal events leading to successful colonization .
Large mammals have low reproductive rates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ establish a viable population .
Dinosaurs ’ large clutch size ( Horner , 1999 ) likely improved the odds of a dispersal event becoming established , because a single gravid female could establish a population .
The odds of dinosaurs crossing ocean barriers are low , but improbable is different from impossible .
If vicariance and land bridges can not explain biogeographic patterns , then oceanic dispersal , no matter how improbable , becomes the only viable hypothesis .
Importantly , over millions of years , highly improbable , once-in-million-years events become likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have it , spelled out clearly : for evolutionists , it ’ s more reasonable to accept the “ improbable ” event that dinosaurs rafted across oceans than to accept what they feel is “ impossible ” — that common descent is false .

Image credit: Raul Martin, via EurekAlert! (no restrictions).
In the past we’ve covered proposals from evolutionists that monkeys rafted across oceans. Why would anyone make such an outlandish proposal? To save common descent from falsification, of course. Now they’re at it again — this time with terrestrial dinosaurs.
According to a story at SciTechDaily, “Dinosaurs Once Crossed Oceans: First Duckbill Dinosaur Fossil Discovered in Africa,” duckbilled dinosaurs rafted across ancient oceans to make their way to Africa:
Reconstructing duckbill evolution, they found the lambeosaurs evolved in North America, then spread over a land bridge to Asia. From there, they colonized Europe, and finally Africa. Because Africa was isolated by deep oceans at the time, duckbills must have crossed hundreds of kilometers of open water-rafting on debris, floating, or swimming — to colonize the continent. Duckbills were probably powerful swimmers — they had large tails and powerful legs, and are often found in river deposits and marine rocks, so they may have simply swum the distance.
Expect the Unexpected
Of course, this is not what they expected. According to the story, finding a duckbilled dinosaur in Africa was “about the last thing in the world you would expect”:
Duckbills evolved in North America and eventually spread to South America, Asia, and Europe. Because Africa was an island continent in the Late Cretaceous, isolated by deep seaways, it seemed impossible for duckbills to get there. The discovery of the new fossil in a mine a few hours from Casablanca was “about the last thing in the world you would expect,” said Dr. Nicholas Longrich, of the Milner Centre for Evolution at the University of Bath, who led the study. Dr. Longrich said: “It was completely out of place, like finding a kangaroo in Scotland. Africa was completely isolated by water — so how did they get there?”
The article lays out the logic by which they inferred that duckbilled dinosaurs must have rafted to Africa:
“Sherlock Holmes said, once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth,” said Longrich. “It was impossible to walk to Africa. These dinosaurs evolved long after continental drift split the continents, and we have no evidence of land bridges. The geology tells us Africa was isolated by oceans. If so, the only way to get there is by water.”
Or in other words:
We know that universal common ancestry is true; this is an inviolable fact.
Duckbilled dinosaurs are known from North America, South America, and Europe — regions connected by a land bridge in the Cretaceous.
This fossil of a type of duckbilled dinosaur was found in Africa.
But Africa was a continent isolated by oceans at this time.
How can we explain this? It’s impossible that universal common ancestry is false. Therefore, duckbilled dinosaurs must have rafted or swam across oceans to arrive in Africa.
Ride the Wild Waves, Dinos
The technical article in Cretaceous Research uses much the same reasoning:
Swimming, drifting, or rafting therefore could explain oceanic dispersal in dinosaurs. Dinosaur reproductive biology may improve the odds of a dispersal events leading to successful colonization. Large mammals have low reproductive rates, meaning a herd must disperse to establish a viable population. Dinosaurs’ large clutch size (Horner, 1999) likely improved the odds of a dispersal event becoming established, because a single gravid female could establish a population. The odds of dinosaurs crossing ocean barriers are low, but improbable is different from impossible. If vicariance and land bridges cannot explain biogeographic patterns, then oceanic dispersal, no matter how improbable, becomes the only viable hypothesis. Importantly, over millions of years, highly improbable, once-in-million-years events become likely, even probable.
And there you have it, spelled out clearly: for evolutionists, it’s more reasonable to accept the “improbable” event that dinosaurs rafted across oceans than to accept what they feel is “impossible” — that common descent is false.


evolutionnewsandviews--2020-11-10--Introducing Our “Scientists Say” Collection

To hear the mainstream media tell it , there ’ s no controversy — all reputable scientists repudiate intelligent design @ @ @ @ @ not so .
The reality is , many highly respected scientists ( and mathematicians , @ @ @ @ @ . )
see evidence of design in the cell , in the fine-tuning of the @ @ @ @ @ of the natural world .
And their number continues to grow as our knowledge of @ @ @ @ @ at our Discovery Institute-CSC Zazzle store feature direct quotations from renowned scientists calling attention to @ @ @ @ @ world .
Some of these scientists recognize intelligent design as the best explanation for these @ @ @ @ @ marvel at what they see through their telescopes or microscopes .
So take a look @ @ @ @ @ , wall art , magnets , and other products in our “ Scientists Say ” @ @ @ @ @ our calendars , which feature quotations and beautiful photographs for each month of the year @

To hear the mainstream media tell it, there’s no controversy — all reputable scientists repudiate intelligent design. That’s simply not so. The reality is, many highly respected scientists (and mathematicians, statisticians, engineers, etc.) see evidence of design in the cell, in the fine-tuning of the universe, in myriad facets of the natural world. And their number continues to grow as our knowledge of nature deepens.
Many products at our Discovery Institute-CSC Zazzle store feature direct quotations from renowned scientists calling attention to remarkable features of the natural world. Some of these scientists recognize intelligent design as the best explanation for these features, while others simply marvel at what they see through their telescopes or microscopes.
So take a look at the mugs, notebooks, wall art, magnets, and other products in our “Scientists Say” collection — and notice especially our calendars, which feature quotations and beautiful photographs for each month of the year.


evolutionnewsandviews--2020-11-10--Empathy — The Foundation of Human Exceptionalism?

Much of the interest of thinking about intelligent design lies in understanding what a human being is .
We are unique , but why ?
What or who made us so ?
Why does that matter ?
And how , exactly , are we unique ?
At Mind Matters , Denyse O ’ Leary points to a fascinating and moving essay by philosopher Hayden Kee .
There is a tendency to see human exceptionalism as grounded in our intelligence .
But of course intelligence is measured across species .
Kee raises the question of what serves as the “ foundation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggest it might be the unique human capacity for empathy .
From , “ On the Same Wavelength , ” at Aeon : [ W ] hat if the primary way in which we are unique , and one of the ultimate causes of our remarkable rational and linguistic capabilities , turns out to be the unique way in which we are emotionally drawn to one another and the world ?
What if humans have become so rational and linguistic because of the very special kind of social way we interact and emote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and some can appear to share our feelings .
But between us and even the smartest beasts there lies a yawning gap : The deepest strains of our humanity might have little to do with our discrete rational aptitudes at all .
For decades now , researchers such as Michael Tomasello have been devising increasingly elaborate and ingenious experiments to study the similarities and differences between human and chimpanzee behaviour and cognition .
The state of the art is summarised in Tomasello ’ s book Becoming Human ( 2018 ) .
Where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is concerned , we are learning that our closest evolutionary kin are much more capable than was once thought .
Just like humans , chimpanzees can follow the gaze of other chimps and humans .
They have some idea about what others see , and can tell when someone else ’ s vision is occluded by an obstacle .
But where emotions and motivations are concerned , more basic differences emerge .
Chimps don ’ t engage in the kinds of prolonged , intimate face-to-face emotional interaction that human infants and their [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This might simply be a factor of how they [ chimps ] have evolved to tune in to the world and their fellow chimpanzees , and what they feel motivated to do .
But it is because of such motivation and basic attunement to the world that human children pursue the endless , grueling apprenticeship required to acquire competence in human cultural and linguistic life .
This heritage provides the foundations of a more wide-ranging rationality .
Before there can be the unique human intellect , the unique human gift for sharing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can look into my dog ’ s eyes and imagine that he feels with me .
Our family dog , Pablo , comes into my home office and looks up at me with sweet eyes .
He has learned that I respond well when he uses a long yawn to produce what sounds like a parody of speech : “ Aarrr-oooo.
” It sounds a bit like “ How are you ?
” As Kee points out , though , rather than inquiring about my emotions , an animal is much more likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Walk me .
Play with me .
Take me out to go potty .
Unknown to animals are those “ prolonged , intimate face-to-face emotional interaction [ s ] ” — shared by human infants as much as by human adults — that carry no request other than : Know me .
Let me know you .
Let ’ s know the world together .
No doubt if I gave you 15 seconds you could come up with a pat evolutionary just-so story to account for this , speculating as to what reproductive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Think like an evolutionary psychologist !
But the striking thing is that this unique capacity , actually it is a burning need , for emotional intimacy serves no apparent practical goal .
The foundation of our intelligence , if that ’ s what it may be , even more than intelligence itself , just is .

Photo credit: Chewy via Unsplash.
Much of the interest of thinking about intelligent design lies in understanding what a human being is. We are unique, but why? What or who made us so? Why does that matter? And how, exactly, are we unique? At Mind Matters, Denyse O’Leary points to a fascinating and moving essay by philosopher Hayden Kee. There is a tendency to see human exceptionalism as grounded in our intelligence. But of course intelligence is measured across species. Kee raises the question of what serves as the “foundation” of that intelligence, and he suggest it might be the unique human capacity for empathy. From, “On the Same Wavelength,” at Aeon:
[W]hat if the primary way in which we are unique, and one of the ultimate causes of our remarkable rational and linguistic capabilities, turns out to be the unique way in which we are emotionally drawn to one another and the world? What if humans have become so rational and linguistic because of the very special kind of social way we interact and emote?
There are some pretty clever animals, and some can appear to share our feelings. But between us and even the smartest beasts there lies a yawning gap:
The deepest strains of our humanity might have little to do with our discrete rational aptitudes at all. For decades now, researchers such as Michael Tomasello have been devising increasingly elaborate and ingenious experiments to study the similarities and differences between human and chimpanzee behaviour and cognition. The state of the art is summarised in Tomasello’s book Becoming Human (2018). Where the most basic level of social cognition is concerned, we are learning that our closest evolutionary kin are much more capable than was once thought. Just like humans, chimpanzees can follow the gaze of other chimps and humans. They have some idea about what others see, and can tell when someone else’s vision is occluded by an obstacle. But where emotions and motivations are concerned, more basic differences emerge. Chimps don’t engage in the kinds of prolonged, intimate face-to-face emotional interaction that human infants and their [caregivers] participate in through their protoconversations. This might simply be a factor of how they [chimps] have evolved to tune in to the world and their fellow chimpanzees, and what they feel motivated to do. But it is because of such motivation and basic attunement to the world that human children pursue the endless, grueling apprenticeship required to acquire competence in human cultural and linguistic life. This heritage provides the foundations of a more wide-ranging rationality.
Before there can be the unique human intellect, the unique human gift for sharing feelings must be in place. I can look into my dog’s eyes and imagine that he feels with me. Our family dog, Pablo, comes into my home office and looks up at me with sweet eyes. He has learned that I respond well when he uses a long yawn to produce what sounds like a parody of speech: “Aarrr-oooo.” It sounds a bit like “How are you?” As Kee points out, though, rather than inquiring about my emotions, an animal is much more likely issuing an appeal: Feed me. Walk me. Play with me. Take me out to go potty. Unknown to animals are those “prolonged, intimate face-to-face emotional interaction[s]” — shared by human infants as much as by human adults — that carry no request other than: Know me. Let me know you. Let’s know the world together.
No doubt if I gave you 15 seconds you could come up with a pat evolutionary just-so story to account for this, speculating as to what reproductive advantage it serves in a Darwinian scheme. Think like an evolutionary psychologist! But the striking thing is that this unique capacity, actually it is a burning need, for emotional intimacy serves no apparent practical goal. The foundation of our intelligence, if that’s what it may be, even more than intelligence itself, just is.


evolutionnewsandviews--2020-11-10--An Intelligent Design Behind Consciousness — Or an Instinctive One?

The evolution of consciousness might seem surprising , but more than that , is it even possible ?
In a new podcast for Mind Matters , now shared at ID the Future , neuroscientist Michael Egnor conducts a fascinating interview with philosopher and computer scientist Bernard Kastrup , who answers in the negative .
Assuming a materialist understanding of evolution , as opposed to what Dr. Egnor calls “ intelligent design evolution ” ( interesting formulation ) , it ’ s impossible to see how an immaterial phenomenon — consciousness — could bootstrap itself into existence .
Something immaterial can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ material realm , presumably , so how would it be selected as advantageous by Darwinian natural selection , which operates only in the material world ?
Moreover , as Kastrup and Egnor ask , if consciousness is an emergent property of the physical realm — the brain — then what called forth this organ with its fantastic complexity into existence when the immaterial mind did not yet exist such that it could make use of the brain and cause , again , any reproductive advantage ?
It ’ s a subtle conversation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s differing perspectives on the nature of the purposefulness behind the universe .
While Dr. Egnor sees the purpose as being an intelligent one , Kastrup argues for an instinctive agent , with desire but not necessarily a plan .
Very interesting !
Download the podcast or listen to it here .

Photo credit: Dean Marston via Pixabay.
The evolution of consciousness might seem surprising, but more than that, is it even possible? In a new podcast for Mind Matters, now shared at ID the Future, neuroscientist Michael Egnor conducts a fascinating interview with philosopher and computer scientist Bernard Kastrup, who answers in the negative. Assuming a materialist understanding of evolution, as opposed to what Dr. Egnor calls “intelligent design evolution” (interesting formulation), it’s impossible to see how an immaterial phenomenon — consciousness — could bootstrap itself into existence. Something immaterial can’t have an effect on the material realm, presumably, so how would it be selected as advantageous by Darwinian natural selection, which operates only in the material world?
Moreover, as Kastrup and Egnor ask, if consciousness is an emergent property of the physical realm — the brain — then what called forth this organ with its fantastic complexity into existence when the immaterial mind did not yet exist such that it could make use of the brain and cause, again, any reproductive advantage? It’s a subtle conversation, enlivened by Egnor’s and Kastrup’s differing perspectives on the nature of the purposefulness behind the universe. While Dr. Egnor sees the purpose as being an intelligent one, Kastrup argues for an instinctive agent, with desire but not necessarily a plan. Very interesting! Download the podcast or listen to it here.


evolutionnewsandviews--2020-11-11--What We Can Learn from Darwin

What We Can Learn from Darwin

We hear a lot of talk these days about “ following the science.
” What this usually means upon closer inspection is “ follow my science.
” Many would have you believe that there is one scientific conclusion cutting across all areas of opinion and belief , and to disagree with that conclusion makes the doubter “ unscientific , ” which means foolish , benighted , uneducated , etc .
But science rarely speaks with one unified voice , and even amidst consensus there are no guarantees of accuracy — Galen ’ s humoral pathology in medicine , Georg Stahl @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Lord Kelvin ’ s universal æther in physics are notable examples .
With this in mind , we might actually learn a valuable lesson from Charles Darwin ’ s relationship with Alfred Russel Wallace .
As I have pointed out many times , although both men are considered the co-discoverers of natural selection , Wallace came to disagree vehemently with Darwin over its nature and application .
For Wallace , evolution was intelligent , guided and detectably designed common descent .
Darwin , of course , couldn ’ t have disagreed more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proclamation of an “ Overruling Intelligence ” to account for the special attributes of human beings , published in the April 1869 issue of the Quarterly Review , Darwin privately complained to his colleague , “ But I groan over man — you write like a metamorphosed ( in retrograde direction ) naturalist , and you the author of the best paper that even appeared in the Anthropological Review !
Eheu !
Eheu !
Eheu !
— Your miserable friend , C. Darwin.
” They never changed their opinions , and they became @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But more importantly , they remained friends and always considered themselves reputable colleagues .
There is no better proof of this than Darwin ’ s successful effort to obtain a civil pension for Wallace .
By 1881 Wallace had fallen on hard times .
A protracted legal dispute and poor business investments left him , in his biographer Ross Slotten ’ s words , “ financially solvent only by means of makeshift employment.
” Sales of his popular travel narrative , The Malay Archipelago ( 1869 ) , had waned , and his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a position for which Darwin and his X-Club followers Joseph Hooker and John Lubbock had written letters of recommendation , failed .
It was Arabella Buckley , Charles Lyell ’ s personal secretary with whom Wallace had formed a close friendship , who first alerted Darwin to Wallace ’ s difficulties .
Darwin thought a government pension might help , so he enlisted Hooker and Huxley in an effort to assist his friend .
That effort paid off , and the letter informing Wallace of that fact is extremely revealing : My @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Miss Buckley that , with her assistance , I drew up a memorial to Mr. Gladstone with respect to your services to science .
The memorial was corrected by Huxley , who had aided me in every possible way .
It was signed by twelve good men , and you would have been gratified if you had seen how strongly they expressed themselves on your claims .
The Duke of Argyll , to whom I sent the memorial , wrote a private note to Mr. Gladstone .
The memorial was sent only on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ received a note in Mr. Gladstone ’ s own handwriting , in which he says : “ I lose no time in apprising you that although the Fund is moderate and at present poor , I shall recommend Mr. Wallace for a pension of £200 a year.
” I will keep this note carefully , as , if the present Government were to go out , I do not doubt that it would be binding on the next Government .
I hope that it will give you some satisfaction to see that not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ applied , but that also our Government appreciated your lifelong scientific labour.—Believe me , my dear Wallace , yours sincerely , Wallace was genuinely grateful .
But can you imagine such a thing happening today ?
!
Wallace — a staunch proponent of intelligent evolution — was being lauded by those who fundamentally disagreed with him for his scientific accomplishments !
At least in Darwin ’ s day differences didn ’ t lead to nasty , mean-spirited diatribes about being “ unscientific.
” There was , curiously enough , room for difference of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was lost is a long story — but that it has been lost is a certainty .
That can not be good for honest , open inquiry because science then degenerates into rank partisanship .
Science , in effect , becomes ideology .
Then everyone loses .

Photo: Statue of Charles Darwin, Shrewsbury Library, by Bs0u10e01 / CC BY-SA.
We hear a lot of talk these days about “following the science.” What this usually means upon closer inspection is “follow my science.” Many would have you believe that there is one scientific conclusion cutting across all areas of opinion and belief, and to disagree with that conclusion makes the doubter “unscientific,” which means foolish, benighted, uneducated, etc. But science rarely speaks with one unified voice, and even amidst consensus there are no guarantees of accuracy — Galen’s humoral pathology in medicine, Georg Stahl’s phlogiston in physical chemistry, and Lord Kelvin’s universal æther in physics are notable examples.
With this in mind, we might actually learn a valuable lesson from Charles Darwin’s relationship with Alfred Russel Wallace. As I have pointed out many times, although both men are considered the co-discoverers of natural selection, Wallace came to disagree vehemently with Darwin over its nature and application.
For Wallace, evolution was intelligent, guided and detectably designed common descent. Darwin, of course, couldn’t have disagreed more. Even months after Wallace’s proclamation of an “Overruling Intelligence” to account for the special attributes of human beings, published in the April 1869 issue of the Quarterly Review, Darwin privately complained to his colleague, “But I groan over man — you write like a metamorphosed (in retrograde direction) naturalist, and you the author of the best paper that even appeared in the Anthropological Review! Eheu! Eheu! Eheu! — Your miserable friend, C. Darwin.”
Friends and Colleagues
They never changed their opinions, and they became even firmer in their respective disagreements. But more importantly, they remained friends and always considered themselves reputable colleagues.
There is no better proof of this than Darwin’s successful effort to obtain a civil pension for Wallace. By 1881 Wallace had fallen on hard times. A protracted legal dispute and poor business investments left him, in his biographer Ross Slotten’s words, “financially solvent only by means of makeshift employment.” Sales of his popular travel narrative, The Malay Archipelago (1869), had waned, and his application to become superintendent of Epping Forest, a position for which Darwin and his X-Club followers Joseph Hooker and John Lubbock had written letters of recommendation, failed.
It was Arabella Buckley, Charles Lyell’s personal secretary with whom Wallace had formed a close friendship, who first alerted Darwin to Wallace’s difficulties. Darwin thought a government pension might help, so he enlisted Hooker and Huxley in an effort to assist his friend. That effort paid off, and the letter informing Wallace of that fact is extremely revealing:
Down, Beckenham, Kent. January 7, 1881. My dear Wallace, — You know from Miss Buckley that, with her assistance, I drew up a memorial to Mr. Gladstone with respect to your services to science. The memorial was corrected by Huxley, who had aided me in every possible way. It was signed by twelve good men, and you would have been gratified if you had seen how strongly they expressed themselves on your claims. The Duke of Argyll, to whom I sent the memorial, wrote a private note to Mr. Gladstone. The memorial was sent only on January 5th, and I have just received a note in Mr. Gladstone’s own handwriting, in which he says: “I lose no time in apprising you that although the Fund is moderate and at present poor, I shall recommend Mr. Wallace for a pension of £200 a year.” I will keep this note carefully, as, if the present Government were to go out, I do not doubt that it would be binding on the next Government. I hope that it will give you some satisfaction to see that not only every scientific man to whom I applied, but that also our Government appreciated your lifelong scientific labour.—Believe me, my dear Wallace, yours sincerely, CH. Darwin
Science Becomes Ideology
Wallace was genuinely grateful. But can you imagine such a thing happening today?!
Wallace — a staunch proponent of intelligent evolution — was being lauded by those who fundamentally disagreed with him for his scientific accomplishments! At least in Darwin’s day differences didn’t lead to nasty, mean-spirited diatribes about being “unscientific.” There was, curiously enough, room for difference of opinion. How this healthy mutual respect was lost is a long story — but that it has been lost is a certainty. That cannot be good for honest, open inquiry because science then degenerates into rank partisanship. Science, in effect, becomes ideology. Then everyone loses.


evolutionnewsandviews--2020-11-11--Intelligent Design — Join the Resistance While There’s Still Time

The Resistance , that is , to science driven by ideology .
Evolution News is the daily voice of the scientists and scholars who advocate for an objective recognition of the intelligent design that flows through the universe , from the level of the cosmos as a whole , through the history of life , down to the level of the individual cell and even the atom .
Stephen Meyer , Michael Denton , Douglas Axe , Ann Gauger , Günter Bechly , Brian Miller , Douglas Axe , Michael Behe , David Berlinski , and others — these are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movement .
As the editor of Evolution News , I have the privilege of working with them all .
They are the Resistance to the media and academic powers that be , powers that seek to drain the hope from young people , adults — everyone — just when we need it most .
Our hope is for a cosmos filled with meaning and purpose , communicated through the language of strong scientific evidence .
It ’ s what Stephen Meyer calls , in the title of his upcoming book , the “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consider joining the Resistance with your gift now to support our work at Evolution News .
Science , as it ’ s presented to the public , is increasingly weaponized , politicized .
We saw that recently when editors of a prestigious biology journal , the Journal of Theoretical Biology , buckled to the censors and denounced an article , explicitly supporting intelligent design , that they themselves had published !
The online landscape of news and social media is shifting quickly , as you know , and not in the direction of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University mathematician John Lennox about the ID movement and its leaders , he said , “ I greatly respect other people who , sometimes at great risk to their academic reputation , have decided that they are going to say these kinds of things in public.
” Yale computer scientist David Gelernter agrees , saying that to reject Darwinism in academia today is “ to take your life in your hands.
” The risks are greater than ever .
We may be in a precious window when ID scientists can still reach any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , any day of the year — though the vehicle of Evolution News .
Will that window remain open indefinitely ?
I could assure you that it will , but the drive to control opinion in our world tells me not to be so confident about that !
Just think — who could have foreseen all the events , in science and in culture , of 2020 ?
Not me .
We live in combustible times .
Please take a moment now to support good science and a positive alternative to the policing @ @ @ @ @

Photo: Stephen Meyer, David Berlinski, and David Gelernter (l to r).
The Resistance, that is, to science driven by ideology. Evolution News is the daily voice of the scientists and scholars who advocate for an objective recognition of the intelligent design that flows through the universe, from the level of the cosmos as a whole, through the history of life, down to the level of the individual cell and even the atom. Stephen Meyer, Michael Denton, Douglas Axe, Ann Gauger, Günter Bechly, Brian Miller, Douglas Axe, Michael Behe, David Berlinski, and others — these are the science stars who lead the ID movement.
As the editor of Evolution News, I have the privilege of working with them all. They are the Resistance to the media and academic powers that be, powers that seek to drain the hope from young people, adults — everyone — just when we need it most. Our hope is for a cosmos filled with meaning and purpose, communicated through the language of strong scientific evidence. It’s what Stephen Meyer calls, in the title of his upcoming book, the “Return of the God Hypothesis.”
Science Weaponized
Please consider joining the Resistance with your gift now to support our work at Evolution News. Science, as it’s presented to the public, is increasingly weaponized, politicized. We saw that recently when editors of a prestigious biology journal, the Journal of Theoretical Biology, buckled to the censors and denounced an article, explicitly supporting intelligent design, that they themselves had published! The online landscape of news and social media is shifting quickly, as you know, and not in the direction of greater freedom.
When I asked Oxford University mathematician John Lennox about the ID movement and its leaders, he said, “I greatly respect other people who, sometimes at great risk to their academic reputation, have decided that they are going to say these kinds of things in public.” Yale computer scientist David Gelernter agrees, saying that to reject Darwinism in academia today is “to take your life in your hands.” The risks are greater than ever.
A Precious Window
We may be in a precious window when ID scientists can still reach any interested reader, anywhere in the world, any day of the year — though the vehicle of Evolution News. Will that window remain open indefinitely? I could assure you that it will, but the drive to control opinion in our world tells me not to be so confident about that! Just think — who could have foreseen all the events, in science and in culture, of 2020?
Not me. We live in combustible times. Please take a moment now to support good science and a positive alternative to the policing of science by power.


evolutionnewsandviews--2020-11-11--From Isaac Newton to Stephen Hawking in Three Catastrophic Steps

Theism is pressed by a range of challenges but none is greater than the perception that science has “ buried God , ” as Oxford mathematician John Lennox puts it .
Nothing is more poisonous , for the young and the old alike , than the perception that the smart money is all on atheism .
Of course , it ’ s not .
In a video presentation , Lennox considers , among other questions , how and why the profile of what a great scientist must believe has evolved since Isaac Newton : Newton was a devout if slightly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ iconic scientist-genius we know is the late Stephen Hawking , an atheist .
Does the transition simply reflect the advance of scientific knowledge ?
Lennox says no .
He identifies three catastrophic steps the culture has taken on the road from Newton to Hawking .
They stem from “ False logic , ” “ False ideas about the nature of God , ” and “ False ideas about the nature of scientific explanation.
” Lennox stars in the upcoming documentary Against the Tide : Finding God in an Age of Science , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ post-movie conversation between Lennox and Discovery Institute philosopher of science Stephen Meyer .
You can see it one of just three nights this month : November 19 , 20 , and 23 .
Those are a Thursday , Friday , and Monday , respectively .
That ’ s just a little over a week away , so you are advised to get your tickets before they sell out .

Photo credit: Jim Campbell/Aero-News Network [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.
Theism is pressed by a range of challenges but none is greater than the perception that science has “buried God,” as Oxford mathematician John Lennox puts it. Nothing is more poisonous, for the young and the old alike, than the perception that the smart money is all on atheism. Of course, it’s not. In a video presentation, Lennox considers, among other questions, how and why the profile of what a great scientist must believe has evolved since Isaac Newton:
Newton was a devout if slightly unorthodox religious believer. Today the most iconic scientist-genius we know is the late Stephen Hawking, an atheist. Does the transition simply reflect the advance of scientific knowledge? Lennox says no. He identifies three catastrophic steps the culture has taken on the road from Newton to Hawking. They stem from “False logic,” “False ideas about the nature of God,” and “False ideas about the nature of scientific explanation.”
Lennox stars in the upcoming documentary Against the Tide: Finding God in an Age of Science, with actor Kevin Sorbo and including an exclusive post-movie conversation between Lennox and Discovery Institute philosopher of science Stephen Meyer. You can see it one of just three nights this month: November 19, 20, and 23. Those are a Thursday, Friday, and Monday, respectively. That’s just a little over a week away, so you are advised to get your tickets before they sell out.


evolutionnewsandviews--2020-11-12--Doctor’s Diary: Till Death Do Us Part

Doctor’s Diary: Till Death Do Us Part

According to Gautama Buddha , “ We begin to die from the moment we are born , for birth is the cause of death .
The nature of decay is inherent in youth , the nature of sickness is inherent in health , in the midst of life we are verily in death.
” The Japanese writer Huraki Murakami once wrote , “ Death is not the opposite of life .
It is part of it.
” Why any one person ’ s life ends is very hard to explain .
But , not how .
On a recent ID @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that there is something about life that is greater than the sum of the parts .
On the same podcast , James Tour asked about cell death .
Nothing appears to change the moment a cell dies .
All the parts are present , but signs of life under the microscope are missing .
Each person ’ s race to the finish begins at conception .
The passage of time is marked by dwindling telomeres .
Even though we humans pride ourselves on having different roadmaps , we are all pretty much the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talk at roughly the same time .
In later life , most of us turn gray and/or lose our hair ; and , after 40 we slow down at similar rates and in nearly identical ways .
( See my article for Evolution News , “ Doctor ’ s Diary : On Designed Obsolescence.
” ) We typically die between ages 65 and 85 .
With very rare exceptions , few of us live beyond 126 years .
As an attending physician , I have witnessed death many times .
The end of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this is particularly evident when death is imminent and expected .
Signs of intelligent design are evident as if following a DIY pamphlet .
Like Elisabeth Kübler-Ross ’ s five steps of grieving — Denial , Anger , Bargaining , Depression and Acceptance — we pass through somewhat similar steps of Realization , Doubt , Sadness , Resolution , and Acceptance .
Oftentimes , death is harder on the living than the dying .
Acceptance among the dying often precedes acceptance among the survivors .
There are successive , overlapping , common , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person approaches the end of life .
These include a mental and physical withdrawal from life , decreasing appetite and striking weight loss , less desire for social interactions , increasing somnolence , changing toilet habits , worsening vital signs , especially the dropping of body temperature , weakening muscles , sometimes increasing pain , confusion/hallucinations with possible agitation , some congestion ( these people can not clear their secretions ) , and lastly , a deepening sleep .
At the moment of death , the pulse ceases , breathing stops , muscles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dilated , there is pallor , skin is cool to the touch , bowel and bladder release , and arousal from sleep is impossible .
We all do this .
Not uncommonly there ’ s a relaxed , almost euphoric grin .
Few of us die with a grimace .
Life is gone , yet all the parts are still there .
Traumatic and early deaths are a little different , although they also seem to me to show signs of intelligent design .
We see this in nature , for example , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The prey immediately collapses in the jaws of the predator .
Granted , this could be due to the sudden crush of the windpipe and low oxygen , but it may also be , in part , due to the sudden rush of endorphins and mental mechanisms to lessen suffering .
We commonly see evidence of amnesia in people who have survived truly life-threatening assaults .
I suspect it ’ s a normal coping or defensive mechanism .
Many of these victims will have no recollection of the event for days , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a minimum of reported pain despite gaping wounds .
Again , it might be low blood pressure and/or low oxygen , but oftentimes it seems to be more than that .
My Experiences as an ER Physician When I was in charge of the Emergency Room at Los Angeles County Hospital , I saw many instances of near-death trauma , yet there was little complaint about pain during the immediate care period .
In practice , pain was related more to lesser injuries and chronic problems — a different phenomenon .
I once @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was severely injured after being trapped in his trawling equipment .
His memory of that day stopped with the preceding meal ; he never recalled the two hours before the accident or days in the hospital even though he was very conversant throughout .
He could not recollect any pain yet the injuries were deep and numerous .
Another patient was severely injured when a speeding car struck his bicycle .
He was on his way to work and fortunately was wearing a helmet , which was smashed .
Later , he recalled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his wife .
But , that ’ s it .
His next recollection was weeks afterward , yet he was conversant in the ambulance .
One might say my stories are anecdotal , but there is substantial evidence to the contrary .
It ’ s widely known that severely wounded soldiers during wartime may not feel pain , when excruciating pain is what you might expect .
During 1943 and 1944 , an American physician , Henry K. Beecher , traveled to the Italian fronts and interviewed 215 seriously injured servicemen who were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He found that there was no correlation between the seriousness of a wound and the men ’ s degree of suffering .
Three-quarters of the men said they weren ’ t experiencing significant pain and didn ’ t need pain relief , even when it was offered .
One-third said they weren ’ t experiencing any pain .
In fact , there ’ s a joke , of sorts , among paramedics about dying soldiers who complain more about the pain from an injection or IV than from their wounds .
Perhaps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pain is emotional and/or endorphins .
Or , both .
Either way , it must be there by design .
The standstill from death happens throughout the body .
It affects trillions of chemical reactions , every cell ’ s routine activity , everything flowing through the bloodstreams , every tissue function , every bone , every joint , and every organ .
It seems to be more than just the halting of electrical pulses .
The change is not as simple as turning a light switch off .
Although the heart ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , actually two , neither is recruited into action .
Lungs do not have a back-up system .
Why not ?
The brain waves cease ; there is no generator for power outages .
There must be a reason .
The “ Frankenstein ” shock giving life to that monster will not , with very rare exceptions , bring about life .
After death , everything that is considered to be soft tissue slowly reverts to whence it came .
It dissolves and disintegrates .
Nature has its clean-up crews already in place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does across Nature .
Forensic pathologists make use of a standard timetable to determine the moment and sometimes the mechanism of death .
Is there a spirit or soul that comes in the beginning and leaves at the end ?
What makes all these systems work so well together from the first day to the last day ?
What is it in that half-baton of life passed from mom and dad to the child that starts this biological engine ?
These are among the many fascinating questions with which we are left .

Photo credit: Aron Visuals via Unsplash.
According to Gautama Buddha, “We begin to die from the moment we are born, for birth is the cause of death. The nature of decay is inherent in youth, the nature of sickness is inherent in health, in the midst of life we are verily in death.” The Japanese writer Huraki Murakami once wrote, “Death is not the opposite of life. It is part of it.”
Why any one person’s life ends is very hard to explain. But, not how.
On a recent ID the Future podcast, Stephen Meyer commented that there is something about life that is greater than the sum of the parts. On the same podcast, James Tour asked about cell death. Nothing appears to change the moment a cell dies. All the parts are present, but signs of life under the microscope are missing.
Race to the Finish
Each person’s race to the finish begins at conception. The passage of time is marked by dwindling telomeres. Even though we humans pride ourselves on having different roadmaps, we are all pretty much the same. We begin to walk and talk at roughly the same time. In later life, most of us turn gray and/or lose our hair; and, after 40 we slow down at similar rates and in nearly identical ways. (See my article for Evolution News, “Doctor’s Diary: On Designed Obsolescence.”) We typically die between ages 65 and 85. With very rare exceptions, few of us live beyond 126 years.
As an attending physician, I have witnessed death many times. The end of life often follows a clearcut blueprint; this is particularly evident when death is imminent and expected. Signs of intelligent design are evident as if following a DIY pamphlet. Like Elisabeth Kübler-Ross’s five steps of grieving — Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance — we pass through somewhat similar steps of Realization, Doubt, Sadness, Resolution, and Acceptance. Oftentimes, death is harder on the living than the dying. Acceptance among the dying often precedes acceptance among the survivors.
As the End Approaches
There are successive, overlapping, common, and cumulative physical changes seen as a person approaches the end of life. These include a mental and physical withdrawal from life, decreasing appetite and striking weight loss, less desire for social interactions, increasing somnolence, changing toilet habits, worsening vital signs, especially the dropping of body temperature, weakening muscles, sometimes increasing pain, confusion/hallucinations with possible agitation, some congestion (these people cannot clear their secretions), and lastly, a deepening sleep. At the moment of death, the pulse ceases, breathing stops, muscles become limp, pupils become fixed and dilated, there is pallor, skin is cool to the touch, bowel and bladder release, and arousal from sleep is impossible. We all do this. Not uncommonly there’s a relaxed, almost euphoric grin. Few of us die with a grimace. Life is gone, yet all the parts are still there.
Traumatic and early deaths are a little different, although they also seem to me to show signs of intelligent design. We see this in nature, for example, when a tiger takes down a gazelle. The prey immediately collapses in the jaws of the predator. Granted, this could be due to the sudden crush of the windpipe and low oxygen, but it may also be, in part, due to the sudden rush of endorphins and mental mechanisms to lessen suffering.
We commonly see evidence of amnesia in people who have survived truly life-threatening assaults. I suspect it’s a normal coping or defensive mechanism. Many of these victims will have no recollection of the event for days, sometimes for life; medics often report a minimum of reported pain despite gaping wounds. Again, it might be low blood pressure and/or low oxygen, but oftentimes it seems to be more than that.
My Experiences as an ER Physician
When I was in charge of the Emergency Room at Los Angeles County Hospital, I saw many instances of near-death trauma, yet there was little complaint about pain during the immediate care period. In practice, pain was related more to lesser injuries and chronic problems — a different phenomenon. I once took care of a Russian fisherman who was severely injured after being trapped in his trawling equipment. His memory of that day stopped with the preceding meal; he never recalled the two hours before the accident or days in the hospital even though he was very conversant throughout. He could not recollect any pain yet the injuries were deep and numerous.
Another patient was severely injured when a speeding car struck his bicycle. He was on his way to work and fortunately was wearing a helmet, which was smashed. Later, he recalled leaving his home and saying goodbye to his wife. But, that’s it. His next recollection was weeks afterward, yet he was conversant in the ambulance.
One might say my stories are anecdotal, but there is substantial evidence to the contrary.
It’s widely known that severely wounded soldiers during wartime may not feel pain, when excruciating pain is what you might expect. During 1943 and 1944, an American physician, Henry K. Beecher, traveled to the Italian fronts and interviewed 215 seriously injured servicemen who were waiting to be evacuated to a hospital. He found that there was no correlation between the seriousness of a wound and the men’s degree of suffering. Three-quarters of the men said they weren’t experiencing significant pain and didn’t need pain relief, even when it was offered. One-third said they weren’t experiencing any pain. In fact, there’s a joke, of sorts, among paramedics about dying soldiers who complain more about the pain from an injection or IV than from their wounds. Perhaps. The mechanism blocking the feeling of pain is emotional and/or endorphins. Or, both. Either way, it must be there by design.
A Body-Wide Standstill
The standstill from death happens throughout the body. It affects trillions of chemical reactions, every cell’s routine activity, everything flowing through the bloodstreams, every tissue function, every bone, every joint, and every organ. It seems to be more than just the halting of electrical pulses. The change is not as simple as turning a light switch off. Although the heart’s electrical system has a back-up pacemaker, actually two, neither is recruited into action. Lungs do not have a back-up system. Why not? The brain waves cease; there is no generator for power outages. There must be a reason. The “Frankenstein” shock giving life to that monster will not, with very rare exceptions, bring about life.
After death, everything that is considered to be soft tissue slowly reverts to whence it came. It dissolves and disintegrates. Nature has its clean-up crews already in place, within and without, as it does across Nature. Forensic pathologists make use of a standard timetable to determine the moment and sometimes the mechanism of death.
Is there a spirit or soul that comes in the beginning and leaves at the end? What makes all these systems work so well together from the first day to the last day? What is it in that half-baton of life passed from mom and dad to the child that starts this biological engine? These are among the many fascinating questions with which we are left.


evolutionnewsandviews--2020-11-12--Animals Set World Records

Animals Set World Records

Animals of all phyla , many of them small and hardly noticeable , continue to astound researchers who study them .
In 2019 , scientists were amazed that the froghopper ( an insect ) could jump with an acceleration of 400 g ’ s , one of “ the highest accelerations known among animals.
” Nymphs of the related planthopper astounded everyone with the first discovery of gears in the animal world .
It ’ s time to look at more animal champions that show design with Olympic flair .
A bat so small it could fit into a matchbox @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) — and that could be an underestimate , says Nature .
Weighing “ less than a toothbrush , ” the 10-gram bat Nathusius ’ pipistrelles ( Pipistrellus nathusii ) flies between summer feeding grounds in Latvia and warmer climes in Spain .
Mexican free-tailed bats are not much bigger , and they migrate annually from Colorado to Mexico or as far as South America .
That ’ s in addition to their nightly hunts for insects , which could cover many miles .
These “ jets of the bat world ” live @ @ @ @ @ @ @ individuals , and can live for 18 years , says the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum website .
Olympic gymnasts seem to defy gravity , but they know their limits .
Their twists and turns must fit within the ballistic time of flight according to their body mass and the springiness of the mat .
Years of experience lets them attempt more complex moves within what is physically possible .
But could they flip like that from water ?
Water striders can .
Researchers from Seoul National University , reporting in Nature , decided to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their limits : Why don ’ t the males train like this ?
The summary here explains that females have to bear the weight of males during mating on the water .
To be prepared , they practice jumping as high as they can without breaking the water .
When researchers added extra weight to them , the bugs adjusted their leg movements and jumping velocities .
This is a human-like ability ; “ There are many examples of animals , including insects , adjusting their behavior to changing environmental conditions through developmental @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says , “ but this study clearly shows that they can do it through personal experience , just like we do.
” The chameleon , a reptile , has one of the fastest tongues known , and that requires one of the fastest muscles in the animal world .
The Florida Museum of Natural History describes how the slingshot tongue works : Now , the museum curators , looking at fossil albanerpetontids , “ mercifully called ‘ albies ’ for short , ” found this ability in these ancient amphibians .
Said to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , albies have the skull and tongue-bone structure that suggests they had rapid-fire tongues 45 million years before chameleons “ evolved ” them — maybe even much earlier .
The article shows a digital scan of the skull of an albie that was probably only two inches long in life .
Speaking of slingshots , there ’ s a spider that , like Spiderman , flings its web over its victim instead of waiting for the prey to find it .
We met it here before .
The Scientist says that spiders in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a trigger strand that launches spider and web over passing insects .
This little 2-millimeter spider may not best the froghopper ’ s 400 g , but 130 g is not bad when it has to launch itself and its web accurately at a target .
Researchers at Georgia Tech who observed the spiders in the Peruvian rainforest learned that snapping their fingers made the spider release the web , which they captured on a high-speed camera .
Sheila Patek , a biologist from Duke who was not involved in this work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ We humans always think we ’ re the best at everything , and in the natural world , those spiders are doing something that ’ s pretty difficult.
” Other critters , including trap-jaw spiders and mantis shrimp , can move certain appendages such as claws or mouthparts at speeds of 30 to 80 kilometers per hour ( 20 to 50 miles per hour ) , she says .
But slingshot spiders are using an external tool , a web , to snare their prey , and they ’ re working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can monitor , so they have to plan ahead and essentially let their spring and latch system control what happens after they let go of the tension thread .
“ It ’ s superpower-type stuff , ” Patek says .
The spider , tricked by the finger snap , was able to reset and reload its slingshot “ pretty quickly.
” A different species , the ogre-faced net-casting spider ( Deinopis spinosa ) has a similar but different method of casting nets .
This species , 25 mm in size ( 10 times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ builds a small orb web between its four front legs that it can cast over its prey as it dangles from a single silk line .
New Scientist shows its ogre face in a color photo .
It resembles a villain with sunglasses on , but during the day it disguises itself as a stick .
Slow-motion video in the article shows it stretching out its net and quickly collapsing it around a potential meal .
Researchers determined by blindfolding the spider that it “ listens with its legs ” at night for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It can even do backflips to catch prey overhead .
Thankfully , this hunter that lives in the southern states and Latin America is relatively harmless to humans .
Roaches are not welcome in the house , but one has to admire how they get around .
They can push , climb , run , and slide around unfamiliar terrain with ease .
That ’ s hard for robots to do .
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University built an obstacle course for cockroaches so that they could film them in slow-mo and learn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a short video clip in the article .
One trick they learned is the “ leg jitter ” ( shake a leg , so to speak ) .
The leg jitter “ shook the body to give it enough energy to overcome the barrier from a more strenuous pitch to an easier roll movement , facilitating traversal.
” Watch the bugs get around obstacles comparable to Navy Seals getting through fences ; it ’ s impressive .
Here we are in 2020 and scientists are still finding animals doing amazing tricks .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Darwin into the story at times , but he has little to say , because most of these capabilities appear fully formed and already in use at high performance levels .
Science can do fine without the old-fashioned , obligatory just-so stories about How the Olympic Animal Earned Its Medal .
The simple awe of nature is sufficient to propel kids to want to become scientists , scientists to become biomimicry advisers , and engineers to take the knowledge gained by studying animal feats all the way to the patent office .
Don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it first .

Photo: Mexican free-tailed bats, by dizfunkshinal, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons.
Animals of all phyla, many of them small and hardly noticeable, continue to astound researchers who study them. In 2019, scientists were amazed that the froghopper (an insect) could jump with an acceleration of 400 g’s, one of “the highest accelerations known among animals.” Nymphs of the related planthopper astounded everyone with the first discovery of gears in the animal world. It’s time to look at more animal champions that show design with Olympic flair.
Aero-BAT-ics
A bat so small it could fit into a matchbox has flown 2,224 kilometers (1,382 miles) — and that could be an underestimate, says Nature. Weighing “less than a toothbrush,” the 10-gram bat Nathusius’ pipistrelles (Pipistrellus nathusii) flies between summer feeding grounds in Latvia and warmer climes in Spain.
Mexican free-tailed bats are not much bigger, and they migrate annually from Colorado to Mexico or as far as South America. That’s in addition to their nightly hunts for insects, which could cover many miles. These “jets of the bat world” live in colonies of up to 20 million individuals, and can live for 18 years, says the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum website.
Gymnastics: Water Striders
Olympic gymnasts seem to defy gravity, but they know their limits. Their twists and turns must fit within the ballistic time of flight according to their body mass and the springiness of the mat. Years of experience lets them attempt more complex moves within what is physically possible. But could they flip like that from water? Water striders can. Researchers from Seoul National University, reporting in Nature, decided to see if the Korean water striders push their limits:
Can individuals modify their leg movements based on their body mass and locomotor experience? Here we tested if water striders, Gerris latiabdominis, adjust jumping behaviour based on their personal experience and how an experimentally added body weight affects this process. Females, but not males, modified their jumping behaviour in weight-dependent manner, but only when they experienced frequent jumping. They did so within the environmental constraint set by the physics of water surface tension. [Emphasis added.]
Why don’t the males train like this? The summary here explains that females have to bear the weight of males during mating on the water. To be prepared, they practice jumping as high as they can without breaking the water. When researchers added extra weight to them, the bugs adjusted their leg movements and jumping velocities. This is a human-like ability; “There are many examples of animals, including insects, adjusting their behavior to changing environmental conditions through developmental or behavioral plasticity,” the article says, “but this study clearly shows that they can do it through personal experience, just like we do.”
Slingshot Tongue: Chameleon
The chameleon, a reptile, has one of the fastest tongues known, and that requires one of the fastest muscles in the animal world. The Florida Museum of Natural History describes how the slingshot tongue works:
The chameleon tongue is one of the fastest muscles in the animal kingdom and can rocket from 0 to 60 mph in a hundredth of a second in some species. It gets its speed from a specialized accelerator muscle that stores energy by contracting and then launching the elastic tongue with a recoil effect.
Now, the museum curators, looking at fossil albanerpetontids, “mercifully called ‘albies’ for short,” found this ability in these ancient amphibians. Said to have lived from 160 million years ago, albies have the skull and tongue-bone structure that suggests they had rapid-fire tongues 45 million years before chameleons “evolved” them — maybe even much earlier. The article shows a digital scan of the skull of an albie that was probably only two inches long in life.
Target Shooting: Spider
Speaking of slingshots, there’s a spider that, like Spiderman, flings its web over its victim instead of waiting for the prey to find it. We met it here before. The Scientist says that spiders in the Theridiosomatidae family build their orb webs with a trigger strand that launches spider and web over passing insects.
Leg over leg, a furry brownish-black spider tugs on a single silk thread, tightening the frame of its web. It pulls and pulls, as if removing slack from a slingshot, and then it waits. Minutes pass, sometimes hours. Then, when an unsuspecting insect flies by, the spider releases the thread, springing itself and its satellite dish–shaped web toward its prey. All of this happens in the blink of an eye, with the spider and its web hurtling through the air at more than 4 meters per second (9 miles per hour) with accelerations exceeding 130 g. That’s 130 times the acceleration experienced in freefall, and an order of magnitude greater than that of a sprinting cheetah.
This little 2-millimeter spider may not best the froghopper’s 400 g, but 130 g is not bad when it has to launch itself and its web accurately at a target. Researchers at Georgia Tech who observed the spiders in the Peruvian rainforest learned that snapping their fingers made the spider release the web, which they captured on a high-speed camera. Sheila Patek, a biologist from Duke who was not involved in this work, was humbled by watching the video:
“We humans always think we’re the best at everything, and in the natural world, those spiders are doing something that’s pretty difficult.” Other critters, including trap-jaw spiders and mantis shrimp, can move certain appendages such as claws or mouthparts at speeds of 30 to 80 kilometers per hour (20 to 50 miles per hour), she says. But slingshot spiders are using an external tool, a web, to snare their prey, and they’re working at speeds faster than their nervous systems can monitor, so they have to plan ahead and essentially let their spring and latch system control what happens after they let go of the tension thread. “It’s superpower-type stuff,”Patek says.
The spider, tricked by the finger snap, was able to reset and reload its slingshot “pretty quickly.”
A different species, the ogre-faced net-casting spider (Deinopis spinosa) has a similar but different method of casting nets. This species, 25 mm in size (10 times larger than the other one), builds a small orb web between its four front legs that it can cast over its prey as it dangles from a single silk line. New Scientist shows its ogre face in a color photo. It resembles a villain with sunglasses on, but during the day it disguises itself as a stick. Slow-motion video in the article shows it stretching out its net and quickly collapsing it around a potential meal. Researchers determined by blindfolding the spider that it “listens with its legs” at night for passing insects and has remarkable aim. It can even do backflips to catch prey overhead. Thankfully, this hunter that lives in the southern states and Latin America is relatively harmless to humans.
Obstacle Course: The Cockroach
Roaches are not welcome in the house, but one has to admire how they get around. They can push, climb, run, and slide around unfamiliar terrain with ease. That’s hard for robots to do. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University built an obstacle course for cockroaches so that they could film them in slow-mo and learn their tricks. The results are shown in a short video clip in the article. One trick they learned is the “leg jitter” (shake a leg, so to speak). The leg jitter “shook the body to give it enough energy to overcome the barrier from a more strenuous pitch to an easier roll movement, facilitating traversal.” Watch the bugs get around obstacles comparable to Navy Seals getting through fences; it’s impressive.
Inviting Darwin In
Here we are in 2020 and scientists are still finding animals doing amazing tricks. Evolutionary scientists and reporters try to invite Darwin into the story at times, but he has little to say, because most of these capabilities appear fully formed and already in use at high performance levels. Science can do fine without the old-fashioned, obligatory just-so stories about How the Olympic Animal Earned Its Medal. The simple awe of nature is sufficient to propel kids to want to become scientists, scientists to become biomimicry advisers, and engineers to take the knowledge gained by studying animal feats all the way to the patent office. Don’t ever forget that nature had it first.


evolutionnewsandviews--2020-11-12--Today: Debut of New “Long Story” on Bacterial Antibiotic Resistance, with Live Chat

If bacteria can evolve resistance to antibiotics , surely that means unguided evolution can do…pretty much anything .
That ’ s a challenge we often get — believe it or not .
A variation is that evolution is critical to understanding the development of bacterial antibiotic resistance .
Thus , doubting Darwinian theory is a threat to the public health .
Even raising the topic of intelligent design imperils life and limb .
ID proponents basically want everyone to get sick and die .
I exaggerate , but only a little .
As The Guardian newspaper put it : It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a clear understanding of evolution .
Adaptation by natural selection , the primary mechanism of evolution , underpins a raft of current social concerns such as antibiotic resistance , the impact of climate change and the relationship between genes and environment .
So why , despite formal scientific education , does intelligent design remain so intuitively plausible and evolution so intuitively opaque ?
And what can we do about it ?
In other words , what we are dealing with here is another icon of evolution , in biologist Jonathan Wells ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ argument ?
We ’ ll have a chance to discuss the subject in detail today when Discovery Institute premieres the latest in our delightful “ Long Story Short ” series of animations .
Join us here at 6 pm Pacific time for “ ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE & BACTERIAL EVOLUTION — WHAT ’ S THE REAL STORY ?
” The video event , which requires no registration , will include a live chat with the creator of the series , “ Long Story , ” and Discovery Institute science staff .

If bacteria can evolve resistance to antibiotics, surely that means unguided evolution can do…pretty much anything. That’s a challenge we often get — believe it or not. A variation is that evolution is critical to understanding the development of bacterial antibiotic resistance. Thus, doubting Darwinian theory is a threat to the public health. Even raising the topic of intelligent design imperils life and limb. ID proponents basically want everyone to get sick and die.
I exaggerate, but only a little. As The Guardian newspaper put it:
It is critical that the voting public have a clear understanding of evolution. Adaptation by natural selection, the primary mechanism of evolution, underpins a raft of current social concerns such as antibiotic resistance, the impact of climate change and the relationship between genes and environment. So why, despite formal scientific education, does intelligent design remain so intuitively plausible and evolution so intuitively opaque? And what can we do about it?
In other words, what we are dealing with here is another icon of evolution, in biologist Jonathan Wells’s phrase. Well, what about these argument?
We’ll have a chance to discuss the subject in detail today when Discovery Institute premieres the latest in our delightful “Long Story Short” series of animations. Join us here at 6 pm Pacific time for “ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE & BACTERIAL EVOLUTION — WHAT’S THE REAL STORY?” The video event, which requires no registration, will include a live chat with the creator of the series, “Long Story,” and Discovery Institute science staff.


evolutionnewsandviews--2020-11-13--Against the Tide: John Lennox’s Next Book Will Be His Own Story

Oxford University mathematician John Lennox stars in the three-nights-only film Against the Tide : Finding God in an Age of Science , in theaters across the country on November 19 , 20 , and 23 .
Get your tickets here , and don ’ t forget to bring family and friends !
Looking forward to the documentary ’ s release , Professor Lennox took time to answer some questions from Evolution News .
You ’ ve written many books about faith and science .
Do you have another book topic in mind ?
Yes , I am writing my story @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things .
I ’ ve resisted it up until now .
But many of my friends said that particularly the bit [ about being ] behind the Iron Curtain , where I went many times — there ’ s virtually no one alive that knows about that many details .
So , I ’ m at the moment getting archival material together on which a book will be based .
Because it ’ s far too long for a book and it will have to be condensed .
But that is one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the film a little bit as well .
We ’ re looking forward to those three nights later this month .
See the trailer here : Find Professor Lennox ’ s book here on Amazon .
Against the Tide includes an exclusive conversation after the film with Discovery Institute philosopher of science Stephen Meyer .
Be sure to get tickets before it sells out , as events with John Lennox tend to do !

Oxford University mathematician John Lennox stars in the three-nights-only film Against the Tide: Finding God in an Age of Science, in theaters across the country on November 19, 20, and 23. Get your tickets here, and don’t forget to bring family and friends! Looking forward to the documentary’s release, Professor Lennox took time to answer some questions from Evolution News.
You’ve written many books about faith and science. Do you have another book topic in mind? Yes, I am writing my story. Because, well a number of things. I’ve resisted it up until now. But many of my friends said that particularly the bit [about being] behind the Iron Curtain, where I went many times — there’s virtually no one alive that knows about that many details. So, I’m at the moment getting archival material together on which a book will be based. Because it’s far too long for a book and it will have to be condensed. But that is one of my objectives. And it might complement the film a little bit as well.
We’re looking forward to those three nights later this month. See the trailer here:
Find Professor Lennox’s book here on Amazon. Against the Tide includes an exclusive conversation after the film with Discovery Institute philosopher of science Stephen Meyer. Be sure to get tickets before it sells out, as events with John Lennox tend to do!


evolutionnewsandviews--2020-11-13--New “Long Story” on Bacterial Evolution Is Here!

The latest entry in the “ Long Story Short ” series is about as needed , and amusing , as it could be .
In just under 13 minutes , the video examines a mythic piece of evidence for Darwinian evolution ’ s creative power .
We debuted it last night on YouTube , and you can find it below .
It is “ Antibiotic Resistance & Bacterial Evolution : What ’ s the Real Story ?
” The real story is conveyed with charm , humor , clarity , and rigor .
Watch for the jokes at the bottom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go by a little fast and you have to pause the video to read them .
It ’ s worth it .
I am grateful for these videos in part because my younger daughter is taking high school biology .
The class uses the Glencoe Biology textbook .
It ’ s a beautiful book and Chapter 15 covers Evolution .
On the second page , they serve up what the textbook calls the BIG IDEA : “ The theory of evolution is supported by natural selection and explains the diversity of life.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which is typical of how evolution is presented to students and to the general public : Darwinian theory explains ALL of the diversity of life .
As evidence for the theory , under the section heading Adaptation , the textbook , of course , includes the heading “ Antimicrobial resistance.
” Students read : Species of bacteria that originally were killed by penicillin and other antibiotics have developed drug resistance .
For almost every antibiotic , at least one species of resistant bacteria exists .
One unintended consequence of the continued development of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were once thought to be contained , such as tuberculosis , have re-emerged in more harmful forms .
And that is all true .
But is it a piece of evidence for how unguided evolution “ explains the diversity of life ” ?
Not a bit .
As animator and author “ Long Story ” puts it in his video , the claim is an example of evolutionary “ equivocation ” : “ The use of ambiguous language to conceal the truth.
” Bacteria “ evolve ” by getting broken in various ways @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Darwin sought to explain the “ origin of species.
” The title of his great book is not , How Pre-existing Organisms Break Themselves .
The video is great , and congratulations to Long Story .
Consider sharing it with your kid ’ s biology teacher , and with your young person herself .
Also look for previous entries on other evolutionary icons : homology and whale evolution .

The latest entry in the “Long Story Short” series is about as needed, and amusing, as it could be. In just under 13 minutes, the video examines a mythic piece of evidence for Darwinian evolution’s creative power. We debuted it last night on YouTube, and you can find it below. It is “Antibiotic Resistance & Bacterial Evolution: What’s the Real Story?”
The real story is conveyed with charm, humor, clarity, and rigor. Watch for the jokes at the bottom of the screen. Some of them go by a little fast and you have to pause the video to read them. It’s worth it.
Evolution’s “BIG IDEA”
I am grateful for these videos in part because my younger daughter is taking high school biology. The class uses the Glencoe Biology textbook. It’s a beautiful book and Chapter 15 covers Evolution. On the second page, they serve up what the textbook calls the BIG IDEA: “The theory of evolution is supported by natural selection and explains the diversity of life.” This idea is framed without qualification, which is typical of how evolution is presented to students and to the general public: Darwinian theory explains ALL of the diversity of life.
As evidence for the theory, under the section heading Adaptation, the textbook, of course, includes the heading “Antimicrobial resistance.” Students read:
Species of bacteria that originally were killed by penicillin and other antibiotics have developed drug resistance. For almost every antibiotic, at least one species of resistant bacteria exists. One unintended consequence of the continued development of antibiotics is that some diseases, which were once thought to be contained, such as tuberculosis, have re-emerged in more harmful forms.
And that is all true. But is it a piece of evidence for how unguided evolution “explains the diversity of life”? Not a bit. As animator and author “Long Story” puts it in his video, the claim is an example of evolutionary “equivocation”: “The use of ambiguous language to conceal the truth.” Bacteria “evolve” by getting broken in various ways. But, says Long Story, Darwin sought to explain the “origin of species.” The title of his great book is not, How Pre-existing Organisms Break Themselves.
The video is great, and congratulations to Long Story. Consider sharing it with your kid’s biology teacher, and with your young person herself. Also look for previous entries on other evolutionary icons: homology and whale evolution.


evolutionnewsandviews--2020-11-13--A Biomimetics Cure for COVID-19? Thank This Llama

Someday soon , we may have llamas to thank for stopping the COVID-19 pandemic , specifically , we may express our gratitude to a pet llama named Wally .
From Wally ’ s blood , scientists at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have isolated “ nanobodies ” that bind to the spike proteins on the SARS-CoV-2 virus , disabling its entry into cells .
And if the viruses can not enter cells , they can not reproduce and spread .
Wally ’ s nanobodies , after some manipulation by the researchers , stop the virus in its tracks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The research team believes the nanobodies can be manufactured in large quantities , rapidly distributed globally , and administered by inhalers , getting them right where they are needed most : in the respiratory tract and the lungs .
The nanobodies appear to have a long shelf life , are inexpensive and safe .
What ’ s not to like about Wally ’ s gift to the world ?
Medical Xpress ’ s version of the news from University of Pittsburgh includes a short video showing Wally prancing around his pen , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nanobodies .
These special llama antibodies , called “ nanobodies , ” are much smaller than human antibodies and many times more effective at neutralizing the SARS-CoV-2 virus .
They ’ re also much more stable .
“ Nature is our best inventor , ” said senior author Yi Shi , assistant professor of cell biology at Pitt .
“ The technology we developed surveys SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing nanobodies at an unprecedented scale , which allowed us to quickly discover thousands of nanobodies with unrivaled affinity and specificity.
” [ Emphasis added . ]
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 8 in a preprint on bioRxiv , accompanied August 11 by news from the University of California San Francisco ( UCSF ) with a good short video explaining how the nanobodies bind to the spike proteins of the coronavirus .
UCSF ’ s research , very similar to Pitt ’ s , indicates international interest in this approach .
Indeed , researchers at Hebrew University in Jerusalem are participating with Shi ’ s team .
This is not a meteoric story making a quick flash and then disappearing into the void like so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never make it to market .
Although clinical trials were not announced in either press release or the paper in Science , demand for this kind of rapidly deployable and inexpensive treatment could drive government support .
The UCSF team is seeking a patent for their engineered nanobodies , which they named AeroNabs .
Many have heard about antibody treatments for COVID-19 , such as Regeneron , but nanobodies ( sometimes abbreviated Nb or Nabs ) have several advantages .
Yi Shi , one of the authors of the Science paper , explains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at room temperature for six weeks and tolerate being fashioned into an inhalable mist to deliver antiviral therapy directly into the lungs where they ’ re most needed .
Since SARS-CoV-2 is a respiratory virus , the nanobodies could find and latch onto it in the respiratory system , before it even has a chance to do damage .
In contrast , traditional SARS-CoV-2 antibodies require an IV , which dilutes the product throughout the body , necessitating a much larger dose and costing patients and insurers around $ 100,000 per treatment course @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less , ” said Shi .
“ They ’ re ideal for addressing the urgency and magnitude of the current crisis.
” Wally the Llama provided the raw material which was potent already .
Then researchers applied some genetic engineering to make the natural nanobody binding even stronger .
Medical researchers commonly look for therapeutic agents in animals .
Monoclonal antibodies , for instance , can be “ fished ” in animals using phage display methods .
Among mammals , camelids ( including camels , llamas , and alpacas ) have an unusual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ higher specificity to individual proteins .
Being a tenth the size of human antibodies , it makes them extremely potent and stable .
The research team injected some of the virus spike protein into Wally .
About two months later , they collected hundreds of nanobodies his body had produced to fight the invader .
Then they found the ones that bound to the coronavirus most strongly .
Nanobody search efforts are not new , but the particles are difficult to find .
Shi ’ s team at Pitt developed new technology within @ @ @ @ @ @ @ characterizing , and sorting through thousands of Nbs rapidly .
That ’ s how they were able to find ones with the highest affinity and , within 3 months , produce Nbs that bind more strongly by orders of magnitude than any others that have been produced .
The paper in Science ends on a very optimistic note .
Here , in vivo antibody affinity maturation [ in Wally ] followed by advanced proteomics enabled the rapid discovery of a diverse repertoire of high-affinity RBD [ receptor binding domain ] Nbs , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which is unprecedented for natural , single-domain antibodies .
We demonstrated the simplicity and versatility of Nb bioengineering and the outstanding physicochemical properties of the monomeric Nbs and their multivalent forms .
To our knowledge , the multivalent constructs represent the most potent SARS-CoV-2 neutralizers to date .
Flexible and efficient administration , such as inhalation may further improve their antiviral efficacy while minimizing the dose , cost , and potential toxicityfor clinical applications .
The high sequence similarity between Nbs and human IgGs [ immunoglobulins ] may restrain the immunogenicity .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with highly stable , albumin-Nb constructs to improve pharmacokinetics .
These high-quality Nbs can also be applied as rapid and economic point-of-care diagnostics .
We envision that the Nb technology described here will contribute to curbing the current pandemic and possibly a future event .
The most challenging part of the work was done by Wally the Llama .
His immune system had to recognize the invader and then manufacture tiny particles that could fit onto its unique shape , so that it could be neutralized .
The rest of the work by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ design in Wally ’ s immune system had accomplished .
For Operation Warp Speed , the world ’ s leading pharmaceutical companies have revved up their search for a vaccine from four years to under one year .
Wally found the key within two months .
Put this potentially lifesaving discovery in the ID column .

Photo: Wally the Llama, by Sonya Paske, Capralogics Ltd., via EurekAlert!
Someday soon, we may have llamas to thank for stopping the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically, we may express our gratitude to a pet llama named Wally. From Wally’s blood, scientists at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have isolated “nanobodies” that bind to the spike proteins on the SARS-CoV-2 virus, disabling its entry into cells. And if the viruses cannot enter cells, they cannot reproduce and spread. Wally’s nanobodies, after some manipulation by the researchers, stop the virus in its tracks.
There’s more good news. The research team believes the nanobodies can be manufactured in large quantities, rapidly distributed globally, and administered by inhalers, getting them right where they are needed most: in the respiratory tract and the lungs. The nanobodies appear to have a long shelf life, are inexpensive and safe. What’s not to like about Wally’s gift to the world?
Medical Xpress’s version of the news from University of Pittsburgh includes a short video showing Wally prancing around his pen, then describes how the researchers found the nanobodies.
These special llama antibodies, called “nanobodies,” are much smaller than human antibodies and many times more effective at neutralizing the SARS-CoV-2 virus. They’re also much more stable. “Nature is our best inventor,” said senior author Yi Shi, assistant professor of cell biology at Pitt. “The technology we developed surveys SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing nanobodies at an unprecedented scale, which allowed us to quickly discover thousands of nanobodies with unrivaled affinity and specificity.” [Emphasis added.]
The story first hit the media August 8 in a preprint on bioRxiv, accompanied August 11 by news from the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) with a good short video explaining how the nanobodies bind to the spike proteins of the coronavirus. UCSF’s research, very similar to Pitt’s, indicates international interest in this approach. Indeed, researchers at Hebrew University in Jerusalem are participating with Shi’s team. This is not a meteoric story making a quick flash and then disappearing into the void like so many cancer cures and memory boosters that never make it to market. Although clinical trials were not announced in either press release or the paper in Science, demand for this kind of rapidly deployable and inexpensive treatment could drive government support. The UCSF team is seeking a patent for their engineered nanobodies, which they named AeroNabs.
Antibodies vs. Nanobodies
Many have heard about antibody treatments for COVID-19, such as Regeneron, but nanobodies (sometimes abbreviated Nb or Nabs) have several advantages. Yi Shi, one of the authors of the Science paper, explains.
Shi’s nanobodies can sit at room temperature for six weeks and tolerate being fashioned into an inhalable mist to deliver antiviral therapy directly into the lungs where they’re most needed. Since SARS-CoV-2 is a respiratory virus, the nanobodies could find and latch onto it in the respiratory system, before it even has a chance to do damage. In contrast, traditional SARS-CoV-2 antibodies require an IV, which dilutes the product throughout the body, necessitating a much larger dose and costing patients and insurers around $100,000 per treatment course. “Nanobodies could potentially cost much less,” said Shi. “They’re ideal for addressing the urgency and magnitude of the current crisis.”
Wally the Llama provided the raw material which was potent already. Then researchers applied some genetic engineering to make the natural nanobody binding even stronger.
In collaboration with Cheng Zhang at Pitt and Dina Schneidman-Duhovny at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the team found that their nanobodies use a variety of mechanisms to block SARS-CoV-2 infection. This makes nanobodies ripe for bioengineering. For instance, nanobodies that bind to different regions on the SARS-CoV-2 virus can be linked together, like a Swiss army knife, in case one part of the virus mutates and becomes drug-resistant.
Why Llamas?
Medical researchers commonly look for therapeutic agents in animals. Monoclonal antibodies, for instance, can be “fished” in animals using phage display methods. Among mammals, camelids (including camels, llamas, and alpacas) have an unusual way of producing small single-domain antibodies with higher specificity to individual proteins. Being a tenth the size of human antibodies, it makes them extremely potent and stable.
“As a virologist, it’s incredible to see how harnessing the quirkiness of llama antibody generation can be translated into the creation of a potent nanoweapon against clinical isolates of SARS-CoV-2,” said study coauthor and CVR Director Paul Duprex.
The research team injected some of the virus spike protein into Wally. About two months later, they collected hundreds of nanobodies his body had produced to fight the invader. Then they found the ones that bound to the coronavirus most strongly.
Then, with the help of Pitt’s Center for Vaccine Research (CVR), the scientists exposed their nanobodies to live SARS-CoV-2 virus and found that just a fraction of a nanogram could neutralize enough virus to spare a million human cells from being infected.
Nanobody search efforts are not new, but the particles are difficult to find. Shi’s team at Pitt developed new technology within the past three years for identifying, characterizing, and sorting through thousands of Nbs rapidly. That’s how they were able to find ones with the highest affinity and, within 3 months, produce Nbs that bind more strongly by orders of magnitude than any others that have been produced. The paper in Science ends on a very optimistic note.
Here, in vivo antibody affinity maturation [in Wally] followed by advanced proteomics enabled the rapid discovery of a diverse repertoire of high-affinity RBD [receptor binding domain] Nbs, including an ultrapotent neutralizer with sub-picomolar affinity, which is unprecedented for natural, single-domain antibodies. We demonstrated the simplicity and versatility of Nb bioengineering and the outstanding physicochemical properties of the monomeric Nbs and their multivalent forms. To our knowledge, the multivalent constructs represent the most potent SARS-CoV-2 neutralizers to date. Flexible and efficient administration, such as inhalation may further improve their antiviral efficacy while minimizing the dose, cost, and potential toxicityfor clinical applications. The high sequence similarity between Nbs and human IgGs [immunoglobulins] may restrain the immunogenicity. It is possible to fuse the antiviral Nbs with highly stable, albumin-Nb constructs to improve pharmacokinetics. These high-quality Nbs can also be applied as rapid and economic point-of-care diagnostics. We envision that the Nb technology described here will contribute to curbing the current pandemic and possibly a future event.
The most challenging part of the work was done by Wally the Llama. His immune system had to recognize the invader and then manufacture tiny particles that could fit onto its unique shape, so that it could be neutralized. The rest of the work by humans was just refining what the intelligent design in Wally’s immune system had accomplished.
For Operation Warp Speed, the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies have revved up their search for a vaccine from four years to under one year. Wally found the key within two months. Put this potentially lifesaving discovery in the ID column.


evolutionnewsandviews--2020-11-14--From Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, Advice for Intelligent Design Dissidents

On a new episode of ID the Future , neurosurgeon Michael Egnor discusses his recent article about Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn .
@ @ @ @ @ dissident and recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature , penned the essay “ Live @ @ @ @ @ 1974 , just before he was arrested and exiled from Russia .
It was his @ @ @ @ @ for living under totalitarianism .
Download the podcast or listen to it here .
Solzhenitsyn @ @ @ @ @ simply not to participate with lies , and to refuse to speak what one does @ @ @ @ @ s unnervingly relevant counsel to us in America today , where “ cancel culture ” @ @ @ @ @ long foreshadowed in the intelligent design debate , are spreading to the broader culture .

Photo: Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, by Verhoeff, Bert / Anefo / CC0.
On a new episode of ID the Future, neurosurgeon Michael Egnor discusses his recent article about Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. Solzhenitsyn, the great Soviet dissident and recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature, penned the essay “Live Not By Lies” in 1974, just before he was arrested and exiled from Russia. It was his advice, or strategy, for living under totalitarianism. Download the podcast or listen to it here.
Solzhenitsyn’s basic advice is simply not to participate with lies, and to refuse to speak what one does not believe. It’s unnervingly relevant counsel to us in America today, where “cancel culture” and other silencing tactics, long foreshadowed in the intelligent design debate, are spreading to the broader culture.


evolutionnewsandviews--2020-11-16--Armed and Dangerous: Human Evolution in Action — Or Is It Fake News?

Researchers say a growing number of adults have a persistent , prominent median artery in their arms , an artery that ’ s important in the embryonic stage but tends to disappear later on .
The study was quickly promoted in the popular press with breathless headlines such as “ Evolution arms us with an extra artery.
” The human body continues to evolve in intriguing ways .
New research in Australia has confirmed that more and more adults have a median artery in their forearms .
Or , more accurately , they have retained the median artery .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the forearm and hand in the womb , but usually disappears once the radial and ulnar arteries develop .
Usually , but not always .
Since the 18th century , anatomists have been studying its existence in adults , and the new study suggests it could soon become the norm .
On a new episode of ID the Future , host Eric Anderson and physician Howard Glicksman discuss the original article in the Journal of Anatomy suggesting new microevolutionary changes .
It sounds like human evolution , before our eyes .
Or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into a fake news trap ?
On the way to separating hype from substance , Anderson and Glicksman dive into the physiology of arteries and embryological development .
Download the podcast or listen to it here .
Their conversation grows out of a post on the subject by Anderson at Evolution News .
Oh and by the way , don ’ t let the new opening and closing ID the Future bumpers catch you off guard .
They make their first “ appearance ” on this episode .

Photo credit: sina rezakhani via Unsplash.
Researchers say a growing number of adults have a persistent, prominent median artery in their arms, an artery that’s important in the embryonic stage but tends to disappear later on. The study was quickly promoted in the popular press with breathless headlines such as “Evolution arms us with an extra artery.”
From the magazine Cosmos:
The human body continues to evolve in intriguing ways. New research in Australia has confirmed that more and more adults have a median artery in their forearms. Or, more accurately, they have retained the median artery. It is the main vessel that supplies blood to the forearm and hand in the womb, but usually disappears once the radial and ulnar arteries develop. Usually, but not always. Since the 18th century, anatomists have been studying its existence in adults, and the new study suggests it could soon become the norm.
On a new episode of ID the Future, host Eric Anderson and physician Howard Glicksman discuss the original article in the Journal of Anatomy suggesting new microevolutionary changes. It sounds like human evolution, before our eyes. Or is there some danger here of falling into a fake news trap? On the way to separating hype from substance, Anderson and Glicksman dive into the physiology of arteries and embryological development. Download the podcast or listen to it here.
Their conversation grows out of a post on the subject by Anderson at Evolution News. Oh and by the way, don’t let the new opening and closing ID the Future bumpers catch you off guard. They make their first “appearance” on this episode.