A recent article appeared in Vox magazine, written by its environmental correspondent, Benji Jones, which explores the uniqueness of a particular vine found in South America. These are the main points drawn from his article.
“More than a decade ago, a plant ecologist named Ernesto Gianoli …
The Mystery of the Mimic Plant Read More »
An armoured terrorist lurks in the city. Suddenly, thousands of pieces of sticky rope fly at him from all directions. They bind together, immobilising him in a net. The net dissolves the intruder’s armour, and simultaneously signals for miniature robotic snipers to land on the net and use it …
Newly Discovered War Machines in the Immune System Read More »
An adult fruit fly emerges from the egg and pupa in about two weeks. As the eyes are developing in a fruit fly embryo, an amazing process unfolds. A wave of signals sweeps across stem cells, switching on certain progenitor cells to stop proliferating and signalling other cells to undergo programmed cell death (apoptosis). The result is an amazing organ—the compound eye—and it comes in matching left and right sides, like a pair of rubies.
Fruit Flies – Remarkable Pests Read More »
Many flowering plant species rely on wind or water pollination, but most species must have the help of animals, especially insects, to carry pollen from one flower to another.
Yucca species send out an exclusive night-time chemical invitation to Yucca moths, using their special but limited n…
Unanswered Challenge – The Yuccas Read More »
Every day of our lives we assess complexity and the need for the appropriate time and resources to complete some tasks. When you get out of bed you have already considered most of the expected tasks for that day.
Complexity – An Indication of Design Read More »
In Psalm 107:23-24 we read, “They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep.”
In the black of night, thousands upon thousands of deep-sea animals come up to the surface to feed and collect a day’s w…
Wonders of the Deep Read More »
The science of animal self-medication is called zoopharmacognosy, derived from the roots, zoo (“animal”), pharma(“drug”), and gnosy (“knowing”). It’s not clear how much knowing or learning is involved, but many animals seem to have an innate ability to detect the therapeutic constituents in plants and other natural products.
Self-Medicating in the Animal World Read More »
It is difficult to imagine a more profound testimony to design than the delivery of a fully developed baby that, only nine months ago, was a single cell. The degree of regulatory control and informational complexity of the process that drives embryonic development is far beyond human comprehension. Few biological phenomena are as gripping and awe-inspiring as the process of reproduction and the development of a baby in utero. The signature of design here is unmistakable, for so much of the process—from conception to delivery—depends on foresight and planning.
The Genius of the Foetal Circulatory System Read More »
Homology refers to similarities of body structures or organs between species. For example, the vertebrate skeleton across fish, amphibians, reptiles, mammals and birds are very similar; notably they all have a spine with ribs and a skull.
God Made Man Upright [1] Read More »
We need energy to make our bodies function. Whether we are moving or thinking or even just breathing, we need energy. So, how do the cells within our body convert food molecules into molecular fuel? How do they keep pace with our energy needs if we suddenly start to exercise?
Mighty Mitochondria Read More »
