BEETLE PRODUCES FUNGICIDE TO PROTECT YOUNG
Psalm 51:7
"Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow."
The southern pine beetle is a real problem in southeastern North America. They burrow into pine trees that could be harvested for lumber, often killing them. Those that aren't killed are left, stained an unattractive blue tint by a fungus they leave behind.
That fungus grows from spores carried in a special pouch under the beetles' neck. It will grow into a tiny garden that will feed the baby pine beetles when they hatch. However, several species of mite also infest the beetle. They have their own fungus that they use for food. That fungus will not sustain the baby beetles. Worse, the mite fungus is more robust than the beetle fungus and will crowd it out. However, the beetle also carries a special bacteria. The bacteria produces a very special fungicide. While it does not harm the beetle's fungus, it targets the mite's fungus, wiping it out. So, the baby southern pine beetle's little ones will have their fungus garden to feed them after all.
Natural fungicides and antibiotics surround us. The hyssop that God commanded His people to use in cleansing ceremonies is a natural antibiotic. While man has since learned to use many antibiotics, how did the beetle learn to use the right fungicide to protect its young? It should be clear that this relationship was arranged by our creating God.
Father, I thank You that I have been cleansed from the filthiness of my sins through the blood of Jesus Christ. Amen.
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/37160/title/beetles_grow_weed_killer, Susan Millius, "Beetles Grow Weed Killer."
Psalm 51:7
"Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow."
The southern pine beetle is a real problem in southeastern North America. They burrow into pine trees that could be harvested for lumber, often killing them. Those that aren't killed are left, stained an unattractive blue tint by a fungus they leave behind.
That fungus grows from spores carried in a special pouch under the beetles' neck. It will grow into a tiny garden that will feed the baby pine beetles when they hatch. However, several species of mite also infest the beetle. They have their own fungus that they use for food. That fungus will not sustain the baby beetles. Worse, the mite fungus is more robust than the beetle fungus and will crowd it out. However, the beetle also carries a special bacteria. The bacteria produces a very special fungicide. While it does not harm the beetle's fungus, it targets the mite's fungus, wiping it out. So, the baby southern pine beetle's little ones will have their fungus garden to feed them after all.
Natural fungicides and antibiotics surround us. The hyssop that God commanded His people to use in cleansing ceremonies is a natural antibiotic. While man has since learned to use many antibiotics, how did the beetle learn to use the right fungicide to protect its young? It should be clear that this relationship was arranged by our creating God.
Father, I thank You that I have been cleansed from the filthiness of my sins through the blood of Jesus Christ. Amen.
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/37160/title/beetles_grow_weed_killer, Susan Millius, "Beetles Grow Weed Killer."
ROBOT WITHOUT A BRAIN
Psalm 18:32
"It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect."
A robot that can move about on its own must be programmed in great detail. Instructions must be given to each moving part. These instructions must also be able to direct the robot under all anticipated conditions. If there is any error in the instructions or an encounter with unexpected conditions, the robot will probably just freeze in place. Even slime mold can do better than this.
Even though slime mold cells are not connected to each other by nerves, when the cells join together, the resulting organism is able to move. It is able to deal with unexpected circumstances moving about by shifting liquid to change their collective bag-shaped body. Taking their cue from slime mold, a research group from Tohoku University in Japan has used the same principle to make a mobile robot. The robot is able to move across any flat surface by shifting liquid around, which changes pressure on different parts of the robot. It is made of 14 interconnected syringes, each with a motor to move the water. It moves around randomly until it is given a direction. Then the motors synchronize, and the robot begins to move in the commanded direction. This slime-mold type arrangement adjusts to changes in environment just like the real thing.
Leave it to God to accomplish a complicated task with a simple design.
Father, move my heart to flee what will spiritually harm me and to seek that good You have to give me. Amen.
Nikkei Weekly, 9/13/10, p. 21. "Robot inspired by slime mold."
Psalm 18:32
"It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect."
A robot that can move about on its own must be programmed in great detail. Instructions must be given to each moving part. These instructions must also be able to direct the robot under all anticipated conditions. If there is any error in the instructions or an encounter with unexpected conditions, the robot will probably just freeze in place. Even slime mold can do better than this.
Even though slime mold cells are not connected to each other by nerves, when the cells join together, the resulting organism is able to move. It is able to deal with unexpected circumstances moving about by shifting liquid to change their collective bag-shaped body. Taking their cue from slime mold, a research group from Tohoku University in Japan has used the same principle to make a mobile robot. The robot is able to move across any flat surface by shifting liquid around, which changes pressure on different parts of the robot. It is made of 14 interconnected syringes, each with a motor to move the water. It moves around randomly until it is given a direction. Then the motors synchronize, and the robot begins to move in the commanded direction. This slime-mold type arrangement adjusts to changes in environment just like the real thing.
Leave it to God to accomplish a complicated task with a simple design.
Father, move my heart to flee what will spiritually harm me and to seek that good You have to give me. Amen.
Nikkei Weekly, 9/13/10, p. 21. "Robot inspired by slime mold."
WHAT THE CAT KNEW
Proverbs 16:23
"The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips."
While modern computers can do increasingly amazing things, they would not compete well on even a simple task with an animal.
For example, you can teach a computer where the front door of your home is and where the furniture is in the living room. Give it wheels, park it at the front door and tell it to find the easy chair. No problem. Now move the furniture around and repeat the command to the computer. Now it is hopelessly lost. Move your furniture around, and the cat will still find your easy chair. Today's computers can do a few limited things that a cat's brain can do. But such a computer needs its own power supply and 140,000 central processing units. And even this arrangement is over 80 times slower than a cat's brain. In human and cat brains, memory and learning are possible because neurons are all connected to many other neurons. Thus, either a human or a cat can instantly recognize a familiar face. Engineers have invented a transistor replacement called a memristor which gives a computer the ability to learn and remember. Even using memristors, it would take a huge supercomputer with its own power supply much longer to recognize faces than we do.
Memory and the ability to learn is a gift of God, the source of all knowledge.
Father, I thank You for giving me the ability to learn and then teaching me Your truth in Your Word. Amen.
http://www.ns.umich.edu/htdocs/releases/plainstory.php?id=763.3, University of Michigan News Service, 4/14/10, "Cat brain: A step toward the electronic equivalent."
Proverbs 16:23
"The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips."
While modern computers can do increasingly amazing things, they would not compete well on even a simple task with an animal.
For example, you can teach a computer where the front door of your home is and where the furniture is in the living room. Give it wheels, park it at the front door and tell it to find the easy chair. No problem. Now move the furniture around and repeat the command to the computer. Now it is hopelessly lost. Move your furniture around, and the cat will still find your easy chair. Today's computers can do a few limited things that a cat's brain can do. But such a computer needs its own power supply and 140,000 central processing units. And even this arrangement is over 80 times slower than a cat's brain. In human and cat brains, memory and learning are possible because neurons are all connected to many other neurons. Thus, either a human or a cat can instantly recognize a familiar face. Engineers have invented a transistor replacement called a memristor which gives a computer the ability to learn and remember. Even using memristors, it would take a huge supercomputer with its own power supply much longer to recognize faces than we do.
Memory and the ability to learn is a gift of God, the source of all knowledge.
Father, I thank You for giving me the ability to learn and then teaching me Your truth in Your Word. Amen.
http://www.ns.umich.edu/htdocs/releases/plainstory.php?id=763.3, University of Michigan News Service, 4/14/10, "Cat brain: A step toward the electronic equivalent."
OUR LOGIC AND GOD'S ARE NOT THE SAME
Genesis 1:21a
"And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly..."
Ask any scientist and he'll tell you that blades designed to operate in fluids, like air or water, are best designed to have smooth edges. It only makes sense that a smooth leading edge is more efficient.
That's why, when a biologist noticed bumps on the front edge of a model of a humpback whale fin, he knew it had to be wrong. With some study, he discovered that the model was indeed accurate. The bumps are called tubercles. Testing has shown that the bumps result in an almost ten percent increase in the lift of a fin or blade. It decreases the drag of a blade or fin by one-third. In fact, one scientist concluded that the design is much better than "what [our] systems can accomplish." Inspired, scientists investigated whether similar tubercles could increase the efficiency of manmade blades such as those used on wind turbines. You may also find tubercles on helicopter blades and fan blades, as well.
While science can discover the excellency and superiority of God's design, it cannot learn of His spiritual wisdom by investigating the creation. That is revealed to us in Holy Scripture which tells us that He designed and created the whales as well as planning and carrying out His plan for our salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Father, I thank You for revealing the wisdom of Your salvation to me through Your Holy Word. Amen.
Answers, 4-6/09, p. 54, A. Peter Galling, "A Whale of a Design."
Genesis 1:21a
"And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly..."
Ask any scientist and he'll tell you that blades designed to operate in fluids, like air or water, are best designed to have smooth edges. It only makes sense that a smooth leading edge is more efficient.
That's why, when a biologist noticed bumps on the front edge of a model of a humpback whale fin, he knew it had to be wrong. With some study, he discovered that the model was indeed accurate. The bumps are called tubercles. Testing has shown that the bumps result in an almost ten percent increase in the lift of a fin or blade. It decreases the drag of a blade or fin by one-third. In fact, one scientist concluded that the design is much better than "what [our] systems can accomplish." Inspired, scientists investigated whether similar tubercles could increase the efficiency of manmade blades such as those used on wind turbines. You may also find tubercles on helicopter blades and fan blades, as well.
While science can discover the excellency and superiority of God's design, it cannot learn of His spiritual wisdom by investigating the creation. That is revealed to us in Holy Scripture which tells us that He designed and created the whales as well as planning and carrying out His plan for our salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Father, I thank You for revealing the wisdom of Your salvation to me through Your Holy Word. Amen.
Answers, 4-6/09, p. 54, A. Peter Galling, "A Whale of a Design."
UNKNOWN TREASURES STILL BEING DISCOVERED
Proverbs 31:22
"She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple."
Many types of insects make silk. Among them, they make many types of silk. But many of the multitude of species of the caddisfly make a very unique silk even among silk-makers.
Many species of caddisfly larvae live underwater, which is where they spin their special silk. They spin silk to surround all but their head and four legs. Then they stick underwater debris like sand and bits of leaf to the silk. This helps camouflage them as they grow. It works so well that until recently scientists didn't realize that the caddisfly's protective cocoon was actually formed around silk. Perhaps you have already figured out what makes this silk unique. It is not only the only silk spun underwater, but it stays sticky despite the wet environment. Scientists are studying the chemistry of the silk to learn its secrets. What they learn could help them design a surgical tape for use in the body.
That we can learn so much from the creation bespeaks a Designer. If such designs were just the result of nature mindlessly stumbling upon these solutions, chances are that mankind would also have stumbled upon them by now, too. That we can learn such knowledge and apply it to problems we face is also among the treasures our Creator has placed in the creation for us.
Father, I thank You that You have filled Your creation with so many treasures for us, including the treasure of knowledge. Amen.
http://www.laboratoryequipment.com/news-fly-glue-creates-bioadhesive-030110.aspx
xmlmenuid=5, 3/1/10 "Fly Glue Creates Bioadhesive."
Proverbs 31:22
"She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple."
Many types of insects make silk. Among them, they make many types of silk. But many of the multitude of species of the caddisfly make a very unique silk even among silk-makers.
Many species of caddisfly larvae live underwater, which is where they spin their special silk. They spin silk to surround all but their head and four legs. Then they stick underwater debris like sand and bits of leaf to the silk. This helps camouflage them as they grow. It works so well that until recently scientists didn't realize that the caddisfly's protective cocoon was actually formed around silk. Perhaps you have already figured out what makes this silk unique. It is not only the only silk spun underwater, but it stays sticky despite the wet environment. Scientists are studying the chemistry of the silk to learn its secrets. What they learn could help them design a surgical tape for use in the body.
That we can learn so much from the creation bespeaks a Designer. If such designs were just the result of nature mindlessly stumbling upon these solutions, chances are that mankind would also have stumbled upon them by now, too. That we can learn such knowledge and apply it to problems we face is also among the treasures our Creator has placed in the creation for us.
Father, I thank You that You have filled Your creation with so many treasures for us, including the treasure of knowledge. Amen.
http://www.laboratoryequipment.com/news-fly-glue-creates-bioadhesive-030110.aspx
xmlmenuid=5, 3/1/10 "Fly Glue Creates Bioadhesive."
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