Stars, Cells, and God

Reasons to Believe
  • 4.7 (38)
  • SCIENCE
  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

Discussions of new discoveries taking place at the frontiers of science that have theological and philosophical implications, as well as new discoveries that point to the reality of God’s existence.

  1. 5H AGO

    A Scientific Case from Modern Physics—Does God Exist?

    Join astrophysicist Jeff Zweerink and Rabbis Elie Feder and Aaron Zimmer as they discuss discoveries with theological and philosophical implications that point to the reality of God’s existence. The laws of physics point to design. Unlike the finely tuned constants, these fundamental rules—such as quantum mechanics and general relativity—govern every interaction in the universe. Physicists long hoped these laws would be the only mathematically possible ones, but, as Lee Smolin and others now acknowledge, countless alternative, consistent laws could have existed instead. Why these laws and not the many others that would yield only chaos or sterile simplicity? Most possible laws produce no atoms, stars, structure, or life. Ours are special: they are precisely the kind that generate an ordered, complex universe. Choosing one option from many to achieve a remarkable outcome is the hallmark of intelligence, making an intelligent Designer the most natural explanation for this extraordinary set of laws. LINKS AND RESOURCES:  Intelligent Design in the Laws of Nature Does God Exist? Is the Multiverse Real?

    57 min

  2. FEB 11

    Black Hole Stars and LRDs | Universe Not a Simulation

    Join astrophysicists Hugh Ross and Jeff Zweerink as they discuss discoveries with theological and philosophical implications that point to the reality of God’s existence. “Little Red Dots” (LRDs) are emerging galaxy cores seen during the cosmic dawn. They were thought to challenge some big bang creation models because they’re too bright. This challenge assumed that nearly all their light came from stars. A high-sensitivity JWST spectrum of The Cliff, the brightest known LRD, shows no significant metal lines, meaning stars can’t explain its light. Instead, the data matches dense, absorbing gas falling into a supermassive black hole (SMBH), which supports big bang models where SMBHs formed early in cosmic history. It may seem like a bizarre concept, but scientists have tried to find out whether our universe is a big simulation. Evidence for the idea is ambiguous, plus mathematical developments over the last century seem to rule out the possibility. Recent research in quantum gravity suggests that our universe can’t be explained by algorithms operating on axioms (the basis of every simulation). This non-algorithmic component aligns well with the biblical description of the universe and humanity as the products of supernatural creation. LINKS AND RESOURCES: A Remarkable Ruby: Absorption in Dense Gas, Rather Than Evolved Stars, Drives the Extreme Balmer Break of a Little Red Dot at z = 3.5 Is the Big Bang Theory in Trouble? Physicists Prove the Universe Isn’t a Simulation After All Consequences of Undecidability in Physics on the Theory of Everything

    56 min

  3. FEB 4

    Neanderthal Extinction | Anxiety Study Shows Design

    Join biochemist Fazale “Fuz” Rana and astrophysicist Jeff Zweerink as they discuss discoveries with theological and philosophical implications that point to the reality of God’s existence. Researchers from Europe discovered that differences in the Neanderthal and modern human versions of the gene PIEZO1 led to an incompatibility between the mother and the fetus of second-generation (and beyond) hybrids. This incompatibility could have contributed to Neanderthal extinction. In this episode, biochemist Fuz Rana explains this reproductive barrier and explores its implications for the biblical view of human origins. A recent study of mice reveals an elegant process at work in the brain (mouse brain studies help scientists understand how the human brain works) that impacts anxiety levels. We may think anxiety arises from our thoughts, but the cell structures that determine anxiety levels are part of the immune system at work in the central nervous system. Astrophysicist Jeff Zweerink discusses how research indicates that anxiety might be considered a disease rather than a proper functioning of our minds. It resonates with Paul’s admonition to the Philippians to not be anxious but to take our concerns before God, the reliever of all anxiety, to receive his peace.   I think we need something like this to make the mouse/human connection. LINKS AND RESOURCES: A Maternal-Fetal PIEZO1 Incompatibility as a Barrier to Neanderthal-Modern Human Admixture   Your Anxiety May Be Controlled by Hidden Immune Cells in the Brain   Defective Hoxb8 Microglia Are Causative for Both Chronic Anxiety and Pathological Overgrooming in Mice

    49 min

  4. JAN 28

    Neanderthal Crayons? | Revenge Is a Drug?

    Join biochemist Fazale “Fuz” Rana and astrophysicist Jeff Zweerink as they discuss theological and philosophical implications that point to the reality of God’s existence. Researchers from France and Spain claim that they have discovered evidence that Neanderthals were using pieces of ochre (some shaped like crayons) to color surfaces and tools. If Neanderthals made art, does that mean they were like us? Does that mean humans aren’t unique, as the Bible teaches? In this episode, Fuz Rana turns a critical eye on these claims, demonstrating why this claim fails to displace humans as the crown of creation. Revenge, even just thinking about it, often feels good. However, a growing body of scientific evidence shows how revenge activates regions of your brain in the same way as taking drugs. This recognition should motivate effort to avoid any activity that arouses our emotions beyond a desire for true justice. More importantly, the science also shows that the most effective deterrent to the craving for revenge is a strikingly biblical idea—forgiveness.  LINKS AND RESOURCES: Evidence for Symbolic Use of Ochre by Micoquian Neanderthals in Crimea Bad Brains The Neural Systems of Forgiveness: An Evolutionary Psychological Perspective A Pilot Study of Motive Control to Reduce Vengeance Cravings

    56 min

  5. 11/26/2025

    Your Beliefs and Science

    Join astrophysicist Jeff Zweerink and Dr. Latha Christie, senior scientist with the government of India, as they discuss theological and philosophical implications that point to the reality of God’s existence. Many skeptics claim that there is no scientific evidence for God, and many Christians claim the scientific evidence for God is overwhelming. Perhaps the conflict doesn’t reside in the science but in the worldview that we bring to account for the scientific data. Join us in this episode as a former skeptic describes aspects of her journey from skepticism to seeing abundant scientific evidence for the truth of Christianity. LINKS AND RESOURCES: Beyond the Boundaries of Science: Exploring the Cosmic Story

    38 min

  6. 11/19/2025

    Biodiversity and Creation | Life: Unlikely, Yet We Exist

    Join biochemist Fazale “Fuz” Rana and astrophysicist Jeff Zweerink as they discuss new discoveries with theological and philosophical implications that point to the reality of God’s existence. A research team discovered that most life on Earth came from explosive bursts of species diversification, known as adaptive radiations. In this episode, Fuz Rana explains how this insight supports RTB’s creation model for life’s history and discusses why it challenges materialistic evolution. Jeff Zweerink explains how the origin of life on Earth continues to defy a naturalistic explanation. Rather than simply throw up our hands and say, “God did it!”, he invites us to investigate what science can say about knowledge gaps and how we might address them. More significantly, by understanding these challenges, Christians can bring a biblical understanding of how God works in creation to propose fruitful scientific models—models that not only respect Scripture but also help us make meaningful progress in understanding the origin of life. LINKS AND RESOURCES: Rapid Radiations Underlie Most of the Known Diversity of Life   The Math Says Life Shouldn’t Exist, But Somehow It Does   The Unreasonable Likelihood of Being: Origin of Life, Terraforming, and AI

    1h 6m

  7. 11/12/2025

    Genetics and Human Uniqueness | Solar System Disturbances Led to Life-Friendly Conditions on Earth

    Join biochemist Fazale “Fuz” Rana and astrophysicist Hugh Ross as they discuss DNA survival in fossils and how mussels can help civilization. These discoveries carry theological and philosophical implications alluding to the reality of God’s existence. Scientists have discovered that a small region of the human genome, dubbed HAR123, is unique in humans compared to other mammals, including chimpanzees. This sequence impacts neural development and explains humans’ unique capacity for cognitive flexibility. In this episode, biochemist Fuz Rana explains how this discovery supports the biblical view of human nature and identity. Dates of oxygen isotope changes in Earth’s oldest zircons correlate with times our solar system crossed the Scutum-Centaurus and Perseus spiral arms. This correlation implies that dense interstellar clouds of gas and dust in those spiral arms disturbed the Oort Cloud, sending giant comets toward Earth. Their impacts may have stirred Earth’s interior, speeding up plate tectonics and the supercontinent cycle, thus preparing Earth more quickly for humans and global civilization. LINKS & RESOURCES: An Ancient Enhancer Rapidly Evolving in the Human Lineage Promotes Neural Development and Cognitive Flexibility From the Grain to Galactic Scale; Milky Way Neutral Hydrogen and Terrestrial Zircon Oxygen Support Coupling of Astrophysical and Geological Processes Over Deep-Time Improbable Planet

    40 min

  8. 11/05/2025

    What Archaeology Tells Us About the Bible

    Join biochemist Fazale “Fuz” Rana and physicist and theologian John Bloom as they discuss archaeological finds with philosophical implications that point to the reality of God’s existence. Since the 1970s, critical and skeptical academic scholars have vigorously challenged Old Testament historical accounts with archaeological evidence that appeared to contradict the biblical narratives. This episode examines recent archaeological and historical evidence showing that this pessimism is unfounded, and Christians can indeed have confidence in the Bible’s history. LINKS AND RESOURCES: Talbot School of Theology, Biola University, Master of Arts–Science and Religion Gezer’s Carbon Finally Speaks: Solomonic City After All Dating Ancient Manuscripts Using Radiocarbon and AI-Based Writing Style Analysis Xenophon’s Cyaxares: Uncle of Cyrus, Friend of Daniel The Chronology of Gezer from the End of the Late Bronze Age to Iron Age II: A Meeting Point for Radiocarbon, Archaeology, Egyptology, and the Bible City of David Drawing of David’s Jerusalem St John Fragment–Greek P 457 image The Natural Sciences: A Student’s Guide

    54 min
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4.7
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Discussions of new discoveries taking place at the frontiers of science that have theological and philosophical implications, as well as new discoveries that point to the reality of God’s existence.

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