Earth Sciences Commons^™

Genealogical Vs Phylogenetic Mutation Rates: Answering A Challenge, Robert Carter

Proceedings of the International Conference on Creationism

There is a discrepancy between the mutation rate we can measure today and the rate at which evolution is supposed to have proceeded. The former is sometimes called the genealogical mutation rate, for it is obtained by comparing individuals whom we know to be related. The latter is sometimes called the phylogenetic mutation rate. It is calculated by counting the fixed differences between two species and dividing by the estimated time since their common ancestor. Genealogical mutation rates are generally several orders of magnitude faster than phylogenetic estimates. This causes problems for the evolutionary model. For example, using the genealogical …

Transformational Road Trip, John H. Whitmore

Science and Mathematics Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Review Of Seeking An Aurora By Elizabeth Pulford, Katie E. Gosman

Library Intern Book Reviews

No abstract provided.

A Four-Legged Megalosaurus And Swimming Brontosaurs, Jordan C. Oldham

Channels: Where Disciplines Meet

Thomas Kuhn in his famous work The Structure of Scientific Revolutions laid out the framework for his theory of how science changes. At the advent of dinosaur paleontology fossil hunters like Gideon Mantell discovered some of the first dinosaurs like Iguanodon and Megalosaurus. Through new disciples like Georges Cuvier’s comparative anatomy lead early dinosaur paleontologist to reconstruct them like giant reptiles of absurd proportions. This lead to the formation of a new paradigm that prehistoric animals like dinosaurs existed and eventually went extinct. The first reconstructions of dinosaur made them to look like giant counterparts of their modern cousins. …

Paradigms And Paleoartists: How Our Perception Of Dinosaurs Forms, Jordan C. Oldham

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

Thomas Kuhn in his famous work The Structure of Scientific Revolutions put forth his idea about how science changes. Kuhn thought that science changed by scientific revolutions brought on by an anomaly. After the anomaly, a crisis point would ensue as more scientists would research the anomaly. While in the process of research they would abandon the old paradigm in favor of one that would explain the anomaly. Not all anomalies create a crisis, but can rather result in a paradigm shift. These shifts occur within the old paradigm, and do not led to the formation of a new paradigm. …

How The Coconino Sandstone Of The Grand Canyon Supports Young-Earth Creation And A Global Flood, John H. Whitmore

Science and Mathematics Faculty Presentations

The Coconino Sandstone is a well-known and recognizable rock layer near the top of the Grand Canyon. Most interpret it as the fossilized remnants of desert sand dunes that formed about 275 million years ago. It is often used as a “silver bullet” of how Scripture is wrong when it comes to a literal interpretation of Noah’s Flood (by Christians and non-Christians alike). In this talk, Whitmore will summarize some easy to understand research that he and others have published which refutes old earth views of the Coconino and instead supports a view that the Coconino was formed underwater. His …

Young Earth Flood Geology In The Grand Canyon, John H. Whitmore

Science and Mathematics Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Initial Conditions For A Post-Flood Rapid Ice Age, Steven M. Gollmer

Science and Mathematics Faculty Publications

In the early years of the modern creationist movement questions were raised as to the role of ice ages in explaining geological data. Beginning with Whitcomb and Morris (1961) and formalized by Oard (1979), a proposed scenario of warm oceans and volcanic activity would provide the needed conditions to initiate a post-flood ice age. During the 1990’s Vardiman used the Community Climate Model (CCM) to study the impact of warm oceans on global air circulation and precipitation patterns. Following Vardiman’s lead this study uses the Goddard Institute of Space Studies (GISS) Model E climate model. The first part of the …

A Systems View Of Life: A Grander Order In The Complexity Of Life, Steven M. Gollmer

Science and Mathematics Faculty Presentations

Design has been a key and yet elusive word in the areas of science and philosophy for many years. It seemed to reach its apex in 1802 with Paley’s Natural Theology. However, in the wake of Darwin’s Origin the recognition of design as part of a biological research paradigm has been greatly undermined. Design as expressed in Natural Theology is equivalent to that of a highly tuned machine. The parts are idealized and their relationships are synchronized and static. Although we see design of this type in nature, it has limitations when dealing with dynamic, complex interactions between components of …

Modeling Holistic Behavior Of Biological Systems For Analysis By Systems Theory, Steven M. Gollmer

Science and Mathematics Faculty Presentations

Due to the complexity of biological systems it is not possible to capture the richness of their interactions by purely studying the individual parts. Only a subset of all possible interactions between individual parts results in functional behavior. This restriction of functional possibilities is sometimes described as an emergent property of the system and emphasizes a holistic approach to the study of biological systems.

By using concepts from systems theory a systemic approach to modeling biological systems is possible. This approach is currently used successfully in such areas as niche theory and organism biology. This presentation looks at a framework …

How Old Is The Earth?, Larry S. Helmick, Donald Baumann

Science and Mathematics Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.