Creation Research Society

1 day ago

Juno spacecraft: Io is young

The age of the universe is an important topic in origins. If the universe is “young,” then the creation model is supported. There are many physical indicators that the universe is young, including the evidence of “hot moons.”

Nasa identifies Jupiter’s moon Io as “the most volcanically active world in the solar system.” Io has “hundreds of volcanoes, some erupting lava fountains dozens of miles (or kilometers) high.” “Io even has lakes of molten silicate lava on its surface.” “Io’s volcanoes are at times so powerful that they are seen with large telescopes on Earth.”

The following Speaking of Science article by David Coppedge appeared in Creation Matters, Vol. 24, No.1, January/February 2019.

A different spacecraft that is at Jupiter, named Juno (see Coppedge, 2017 [5]), imaged a volcanic plume on the little moon Io that stands out prominently on the speck of image taken 186,000 miles away, reports Space.com.[6] This must have been a major eruption to be visible from that far. Meghan Bartels says, “The activity is spurred by Jupiter’s massive gravity tugging at the moon,” but she fails to mention whether that kind of dynamic activity could continue for 4.5 billion years. Secular reporters usually fail to connect the dots. This may be on purpose. They will make contradictory statements in isolation so that the public doesn’t see the trick. The quote above about Io is a prime example: on the one hand, Jupiter causes Io to erupt (but no mention of age). On the other hand, the Jupiter system is alleged to be 4.5 billion years old (but no mention of the activity). Critical thinkers have to connect those two statements to see the age problem, because the media that is committed to millions/billions-of-years thinking will never do it for you.

[5] Coppedge, D.F. (2017, June 29). Juno Finds a ‘Whole New Jupiter.’ CREV Headlines. Retrieved January 16, 2019 from crev.info/2017/06/junofinds-whole-new-jupiter/

[6]. Bartels, M. (2019, January 2). Volcanic Plume on Jupiter's Moon Io Spied by Juno Spacecraft. Space.com. Retrieved January 16, 2019 from www.space.com/42876-jupiter-moon-io-volcanic-plume-junophoto.html

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Creation Research Society

2 days ago

Original Proteins Found in Fossil Sea Turtle, Part 2

Original biomolecules are powerful evidence for a Biblical age of the Earth.

The following Speaking of Science article by David Coppedge appeared in Creation Matters, Vol. 22, No. 6, November/December 2017.

The open-access paper, published October 17 in Nature Scientific Reports,[2] calls the specimen “arguably one of the best preserved juvenile fossil sea turtles on record.” Traces of soft tissue were preserved “with great fidelity,” the paper says. What was found was original, unmineralized material.

“Here we show that the extraordinary preservation of the type of T. Danica goes beyond gross morphology to include ultrastructural details and labile molecular components of the once-living animal. Haemoglobin-derived compounds, eumelanic pigments and proteinaceous materials retaining the immunological characteristics of sauropsid­specific β­keratin and tropomyosin were detected in tissues containing remnant melanosomes and decayed keratin plates. The preserved organics represent condensed remains of the cornified epidermis and, likely also, deeper anatomical features, and provide direct chemical evidence that adaptive melanism — a biological means used by extant sea turtle hatchlings to elevate metabolic and growth rates — had evolved 54 million years ago.

The evolutionary speculation and dates are not derived from the observations. It’s important to recall that until recently, no one expected original proteins to survive a hundred thousand years, let alone millions. So how do the researchers explain this “extraordinary preservation” of material in this fossil labeled MHM-K2, that should be long gone?

“We hypothesise that calcium ions (and other trace elements) adsorbed onto the surface of the carcass during the microbially mediated formation of the calcareous concretion in which MHM-K2 was found. Mild geothermal conditions might then have limited further breakdown of the stabilised organics. Haemoglobin also imparts tissue fixation by iron-catalysed free radical reactions and/or inhibition of bacterial growth …,possibly contributing to preservation of anatomical features deeper than the cornified epidermis. Blood breakdown products released from erythrocytes during hemolysis can seep into surrounding tissues, causing a reddish-brown discolouration. Impregnation by haemoglobin-derived compounds has been recorded not only in bones, but also in scales and teeth. Consequently, it is possible that the outer integument was infiltrated by blood residues diffusing from underlying (and now almost completely degraded) dermal or deeper tissues sometime during the early stages of decomposition of MHM-K2. Detection of haemoglobin- and tropomyosin-derived compounds supports this possibility.

The language is cautious, because they can only suggest “possibilities” that “might” explain the preservation. Proteins, however, are delicate molecules subject to thermal breakdown. Stabilizing processes, even if plausible, cannot last indefinitely. But for tens of millions of years? Mark Armitage, who has recovered and analyzed dinosaur soft tissue himself, strongly disputes the ability of blood-derived iron to stabilize soft tissues.

Much of the paper sidesteps this important question by speculating about when “adaptive melanism” evolved. But really, does the fossil look any “less evolved” than the living turtle? Why do they give it a different scientific name when it is virtually identical? Did the hatchling really fossilize that long ago?

Since dinosaur soft tissues and proteins have been found twice as old as those in this sea turtle, long-age evolutionists are panicking. They are scrambling to downplay the findings or pretending soft tissue is exciting because it can shed light on evolution. These are distractions from the danger their worldview is in.

The Darwin hot-air balloon can only hold a finite number of fossils with soft tissue before it comes crashing to the ground. Keep piling them up in the gondola. And turn on those video cams, everyone! Let the public see the collapse.

[2] Lindgren,J., T.Kuriyama, H.Madsen, P.Sjövall, et al. 2017. Biochemistry and adaptive colouration of an exceptionally preserved juvenile fossil sea turtle Scientific Reports 7, Article number: 1332. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-13187-5

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