Reasons to Believe Podcast

Is Nuclear Fusion Feasible?

Join physicists Drs. Jeff Zweerink and Eric Hedin on Stars, Cells, and God for an informative conversation on the use of nuclear fusion to address our energy needs.

 

A recent nuclear fusion breakthrough at the National Ignition Facility brought this topic to mainstream news. While this breakthrough is a tremendous accomplishment, the news coverage has prompted many questions about the feasibility of someday using nuclear fusion as our primary power source. Hedin and Zweerink discuss the scientific background of the achievement and address the remaining hurdles to using nuclear fusion as a replacement for fossil fuels.

 

References:

National Ignition Facility Surpasses Long-Awaited Fusion Milestone

Straight Thinking | Christian Worldview and Truth, Goodness, Beauty

Discussing the three transcendentals and the image of God

God’s Artistry | Stars, Cells, and God

Join Fazale “Fuz” Rana and David Block in a lively conversation about God’s artistry as witnessed in his creation in this special episode of Stars, Cells, and God.

Astronomer Dr. David Block and biochemist Dr. Fuz Rana make the case that God is an artist through a far-ranging conversation about the beautiful images coming from the James Webb Space Telescope and the remarkable design of biochemical systems—both of which highlight the beauty of creation. They also discuss the idea that our remarkable creativity as human beings only makes sense if we are made in the image of God to be co-creators.

Reference:

The Argument from Beauty: Can Evolution Explain Our Aesthetic Sense?

Straight Thinking | Sean Oesch on AI and the Christian Worldview

Visiting scholar Sean Oesch discusses AI's capabilities and limitations  

Hubble’s Theft and Other Scientific Inaccuracies | Stars, Cells, and God

Join Jeff Zweerink and David Block as they discuss new discoveries taking place at the frontiers of science that have theological and philosophical implications, including the reality of God’s existence.

 

Hubble’s Theft & Other Scientific Inaccuracies

The data showing the expansion of the universe is usually referred to as Hubble’s law. However, historical studies show that astronomer Edwin Hubble used others’ research without proper attribution in writing his paper on the subject in 1929. In 2018, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) officially voted to rename it the Hubble-Lemaître law since astronomer Georges Lemaître published a paper on the same subject in 1927, two years before Hubble. We will discuss the implications and apologetic value of this development as well as other common science/faith related misconceptions.

 

References:

Belgian Priest Recognized in Hubble-Law Name Change

IAU Members Vote to Recommend Renaming the Hubble Law as the Hubble-Lemaître Law

Straight Thinking | Apologetics and RTB Core Values 2

Defending the truth with gentleness and respect

Viruses Fuel the Carbon Cycle and Digital Health | Stars, Cells, and God

Join Hugh Ross and James Patterson, MD, as they discuss new discoveries taking place at the frontiers of science that have theological and philosophical implications, including the reality of God’s existence.

Viruses Fuel the Carbon Cycle (Hugh Ross)
A recent study shows that DNA and RNA viruses in the oceans play a crucial role in the ocean carbon flux cycle. Additionally, they play significant roles in the sulfur, nitrogen, and deep ocean cycles. Viruses deposit huge amounts of carbon, sulfur, nitrogen, and oxygen on an ongoing basis onto the ocean floors. Once there, subducting plates move these elements into Earth’s mantle. Without this process, advanced life wouldn’t be possible. These huge deposits require that ocean viruses be extremely abundant and diverse and that they be specifically designed in a variety of ways so that advanced life can thrive.

 

References:

Diversity and Ecological Footprint of Global Ocean RNA Viruses

 

Digital Health (James Patterson)

In a world that is now more connected than ever in a digital sense, it seems that humans are becoming more and more disconnected. We’ve all seen it—a room full of people, all staring at their smartphones. Why is that? Why are more people depressed and suicidal now than ever before? What can we do to promote healthy living in a digitally connected society? 

 

References:

Glenn Geher, “The Dark Side of Civilization,” https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/darwins-subterranean-world/202209/the-dark-side-civilization

Straight Thinking | Apologetics and RTB Core Values 1

In apologetics, it's important to know what we're defending 

Interviews with David Block | 28:19

Culture Talk: God and Galileo
with David Block
Dig Deeper: https://reasons.org/team/david-block 

Everyday Apologetics: Two Astronomers Discuss How the Cosmos Point to God
with David Block
Dig Deeper: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnb4vUOI-F8 

Science-Faith Connection: On Being a Christian in Academia
with David Block 
Dig Deeper: https://reasons.org/team/david-block  

If you’d like to support resources like this show, please consider donating at reasons.org/show. 

Design of the Genetic Code and Impacts and Tsunamis | Stars, Cells, and God

Join Fazale “Fuz” Rana and Jeff Zweerink as they discuss new discoveries taking place at the frontiers of science that have theological and philosophical implications, including the reality of God’s existence.

 

Design of the Genetic Code (Fuz Rana)

The genetic code—the rules used to translate the information found in DNA into the information functionally expressed by proteins—displays optimization with respect to error minimization. New work by researchers from Japan indicates that the genetic code optimization exceeds 1 in 1020 randomly generated genetic codes, suggesting that the genetic code found in nature displays a greater degree of optimization than originally thought. This new insight supports the case that biochemical systems are the product of intentional design.

 

Resources:

Rare-Event Sampling Analysis Uncovers the Fitness Landscape of the Genetic Code

Additional Resources:

Fazale Rana, Fit for a Purpose

Fazale Rana, The Cell’s Design

Fazale Rana, “The Genetic Code: Optimized for Resource Conservation”

 

Impacts and Tsunamis (Jeff Zweerink)

A massive asteroid strike in the Yucatan Peninsula is known to have caused one of the mass extinctions on Earth. A recent study investigated the tsunami that would result from such a collision and found waves of incredible heights would have washed across the Northern Atlantic and Southern Pacific oceans. A search of geological records affirms the devastation wrought by these tsunamis. We’ll discuss the details of the techniques behind this research and highlight the apologetic implications of these catastrophic events.

 

Reasources:

The Chicxulub Impact Produced a Powerful Global Tsunami

Additional Resource:

Dinosaur-Killing Asteroid Triggered Global Tsunami

Straight Thinking | Leslie Wickman Discusses Science and Faith

Visiting scholar Leslie Wickman explores the compatibility of science and faith. 

Christmas Star | 28:19

Culture Talk: Being Led by the Christmas Star
with David Block
Dig Deeper: https://reasons.org/team/david-block 

Everyday Apologetics: Christmas Message from Ken Samples (10:09–17:46 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdNuKJcblyk)
with Ken Samples 
Dig Deeper: https://reasons.org/explore/blogs/reflections 

Science-Faith Connection: Possibilities for the Christmas Star
with Hugh Ross
Dig Deeper: https://reasons.org/explore/blogs/take-two/the-star-of-bethlehem-an-astronomer-astrophysicist-and-theologians-perspective 

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Straight Thinking | Worldview Thinking 2

What does a worldview explain?

The Tower of Babel | 28:19

Culture Talk: Racial Diversity and the Tower of Babel
with Fazale Rana
Dig Deeper: https://reasons.org/explore/publications/reasons-newsletter/where-did-the-races-come-from 

Everyday Apologetics: A Christian Perspective on Human Origins and Race (:00 – 6:48)
with Joseph Miller
Dig Deeper: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jr0gAr8n-SE 

Science-Faith Connection: Examining the Out-of-Africa Hypothesis
with Fazale Rana
Dig Deeper: https://reasons.org/explore/publications/reasons-newsletter/where-did-the-races-come-from 

If you’d like to support resources like this show, please consider donating at reasons.org/show.  

Help us create even more empowering resources!
Support Reasons to Believe at: https://support.reasons.org/donate-now?source=OLYOUTUBE

Follow RTB_Official for updates!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RTBofficial
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RTB_official
Instagram: http://instagram.com/rtb_official
Website: http://www.reasons.org

Straight Thinking | Worldview Thinking 1

What is a worldview?