Another fine-tuned parameter for Earth’s plate tectonics

Otis from the RTB Houston Chapter writes:

 

An article in Science Daily reports on research that has found another fine-tuned parameter that is necessary for Earth's plate tectonics.  Without plate tectonics there would be no carbon-silicate feedback loop that stabilizes global climate thereby allowing a planet to be habitable over billions of years.

 

There are two parts to this new research.  First, it was found that Earth's composition of uranium, thorium and potassium abundance should be reduced 30% from that of previous models.  Second, a model of Earth's geodynamics shows that the new reduced composition makes plate tectonics possible whereas the previously assumed composition does not.  In the words of one of the researchers, "The new compositional model gives Earth a sweet spot of its own where its interior is neither too hot nor too cold.  . . .  there's another dial that's important to turn."

 

I have not yet read the original research article which is in Nature Geoscience.  However, based on the Science Daily article, I think that the takeaway message is this: Earth is very special. Planetary habitability is very fragile and cannot be determined by simply computing a star's current heat flux on a planet.

 

Otis

 

You can read the Science Daily article via the link below.

 

Abundance of certain elements in Earth dictate whether plate tectonics can happen

Introducing On-Demand Courses

July 15, 2015

Support RTB today! Reasons Institute Now Offering Courses for Personal Enrichment Dear Anthony, Have you ever wanted to take a Reasons Institute course but didn't have the time? Check out our new line of flexible on-demand classes. These courses provide the same quality content but with less time commitment. Just listen and learn—there are no written assignments or homework! Courses Offered Physics and Astronomy Chemistry and Molecular Biology Evolution and the Fossil Record Examining Humans & Hominids Physics and the Christian Worldview Questions? Contact us at (855) REASONS or via email at learning@reasons.org. Here's to a great year! Krista Bontrager Dean of Online Instruction PS - Are you a certified teacher or administrator through ACSI? These Reasons Institute courses also count toward Continuing Education Units (CEUs). If you would like more information about CEUs, we invite you to watch a short introductory video. Click on "Continuing Education Units (CEUs)."

(855) REASONS or (855) 732-7667   |  learning@reasons.org

  

Russell Moore on Evangelicals and Marriage

 

Here is a link to the best thing I've read so far in response to the gay marriage decision:

 

As the Culture Shifts on Marriage, Evangelicals Stand Firm

Why men, women, and sexual complementarity matter On Friday, when the Supreme Court legalized gay marriage, Evangelicals issued a statement on their belief and teaching that marriage is between a man and woman. Russell Moore is president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. We talk about marriage and its future. — KJL

 

 

http://www.nationalreview.com/article/420475/evangelicals-marriage-russell-moore

 

 

Organisation of human brain is nearly ideal

Here's a neat little discovery reported on ScienceDaily.com

 

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/07/150707120101.htm

 

New research reveals that structure of the human brain has an almost ideal network of connections

The structure of the human brain has an almost ideal network of connections -- the links that permit information to travel from, say, the auditory cortex (responsible for hearing) to the motor cortex (responsible for movement).

 

The study continues...

 

Have you ever wondered why the human brain evolved the way it did? A new study by Northeastern physicist Dmitri Krioukov and his colleagues suggests an answer: to expedite the transfer of information from one brain region to another, enabling us to operate at peak capacity.

Putting aside the fact that the human brain has been the same since we first appeared on the planet, and that no evolutionary pathway has yet been clearly demonstrated from the hominids to us (for e.g.  we know humanity didn't descend from Neanderthals, Denasovans or Homo Erectus), and hence no macroevolution can be demonstrated from primates to hominids to us. And putting aside the assumption that macro-evolution is a fact and therefore a theory dependent pre-existed belief in the human brain having evolved from some hominid and primate ancestor, what this study reveals is pretty wonderful and, I believe, echoes the words of David in the Psalms:

 

Psalm 139:14 (NIV)

¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.

 

 

So remember, YOU ARE wonderfully made!

 

 

Cheers and God bless,

Anthony 

Did the Pope really say that? Thoughts on the papal encyclical on Climate Change

There has been a fair bit of hoo-ha in the media of late with the recent release of the papal encyclical on supposed "Climate Change".

The encyclical, titled 'A Cry for the Poor' is actually about the needs of the poor and only very briefly touches on environmental degradation issues (which includes climate as a potential issue) which have the capacity to effect the poor the most. That the Pope is concerned about the poor of the world is of no surprise, as the poor have been on his heart for his entire Catholic ministry.

So what did the Pope write in his encyclical?

Well a very balanced and brief enough article about the encyclical has been posted on Anthony Watts site Wattsupwiththat. The article is entitled 'Thoughts on the papal encyclical on environment'  written by Joe Ronan and contains a link the an English translation of the encyclical.

The article is well worth a read no matter what side of the Climate Change divide you sit on, and at the RTB Sydney Chapter here members hold very different positions on this issue but discuss the science, moral and economic issues of possible impacts from anthropogenic induced climate influences with respect towards one another, following the Golden Rule (Luke 6:31).

Its interesting to note, for example, that the Pope is on to those wishing to become billionaires through pushing carbon credit trading on the world. So check out the links and have a read of the encyclical for yourself. Don't just rely on media outlets to tell you what they want you to think and know. Be informed for yourself. We have nothing to fear from the truth.

Anthony

July meeting for the Sydney Chapter for Reasons to Believe - Friday 3rd July

The July meeting for the Sydney Chapter for Reasons to Believe will be on Friday 3^rd July.

 

We will dive into the fourth session of the Navigating Genesis small group study.

 

Details are:

 

Date: Friday, 3^rd July

Time: 8:00pm

Subject: Navigating Genesis – session 4

 

To find out more, contact us at Sydney.Australia@reasons.org 

Morling College - John Stackhouse - Apologetics for Postmodern Times - 13th July

Apologetics for Postmodern Times

 

Public Forum Day

“Why don’t my friends or family members want to talk with me about the most important things in life? What makes modern (and postmodern, and post-postmodern) culture so resistant to the gospel? How can I compel people to confront Jesus—or should I even try to do so?" Join us as we explore what we’re up against, and what we ought to be striving for, in defending and commending the gospel.

 

 

Location:	Morling College 120 Herring Road, Macquarie Park, NSW, 2113.
Presenter:	John Stackhouse
Date:	Mon, 13/07/2015 - 09:00 to 16:00

 

http://www.morlingcollege.com/events/apologetics-postmodern-times

 

Please note: All attendees should read "Humble Apologetics: Defending the Faith Today" by John Stackhouse prior to this Forum Day. Copies are available through online retailers in both print and e-book editions.

 

Professor John Stackhouse joins us from Regent University in Canada where he lectures in Theology and Culture. He has a BA (Queen’s), MA (Wheaton), and PhD (Chicago). He has given lectures at leading universities, including Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Edinburgh and Fudan, as well  as at institutions as varied as Seoul Theological University, the Elijah Institute in Jerusalem, Tyndale House in Cambridge, Brigham Young University, and the ACTS Institute in Bangalore.