Copyright © 2003 by the Creation Research Society. All rights reserved.

Volume 39, Number 4
March, 2003
Abstracts

Whales Still Have No Ancestor 

Patrick H. Young 

Recent scientific publications have reported the excavation of fossilized anklebones from the perceived whale ancestors, Pakicetus and Rodhocetus. While previous evolutionary opinions have erroneously concluded that mesonychids are the terrestrial whale ancestor, these new discoveries along with past molecular data, are being used to claim a different ancestral origin for cetaceans. Information about the dental and auditory morphology as well as molecular biology was presented to justify the theory that artiodactyls are the newest terrestrial relative of whales. It is evident from evaluating the available details that there is no convincing argument to conclude that artiodactyls and cetaceans are related via anklebones. Therefore, the scientific data supports the conclusion that cetaceans are not related through evolution to extinct terrestrial creatures such as artiodactyls or mesonychids. 

Natural Tunnel, Virginia: Origin Speculations 

Emmett L. Williams 

A model for the development of Natural Tunnel, Virginia within a young-earth framework is presented. A brief review of conjectures offered to date on the origin of the tunnel is given. The creationist model employs the action of retreating Floodwater on carbonate strata to form the tunnel. 

The Galileo Myth and the Facts of History 

Jerry Bergman 

A review of Galileo and the heliocentric theory controversy reveals that a major reason for his difficulties was opposition from scientific colleagues. The church became involved primarily as a result of pressure from the academic community. This paper also concludes that the claim that scientists are more receptive to empirical evidence and research than people of faith is questionable. Reactions of today’s scientists to innovative ideas and unorthodox views in the area of origins indicate that not much has changed in this area in the past three centuries. 

Dust Storms From the Sub-Saharan African Continent: 

Implications For Plant and Insect Dispersion in The Post-Flood World 

Carl R. Froede Jr.  

Modern large-scale dust storm events provide an excellent analogy for understanding the global dispersion and repopulation of floras and insects in a post-Flood world. Through recent studies of dust storm outbreaks in western China and the sub-Saharan African continent, scientists have discovered that considerable amounts of soil and organic materials can be transported across vast regions in short periods of time. Some of the latest studies addressing massive dust storm events and their impact on the Western Hemisphere have come from the African continent. 

Many dust storms today originate from the sub-Saharan African continent. The magnitude of these events is dependent upon several factors, including; storm intensity, prevailing wind patterns, and the size of the desert across which the winds blow. Tremendous volumes of dust and organic materials can be incorporated into individual dust storm events. This material can be transported across the Atlantic Ocean in a matter of days. Today, there is ongoing research into the effects that African dust storms have on the Western Hemisphere. 

The Bible speaks of wind as a transport for insects and animals (accomplishing the will of God) in the books of Exodus and Numbers, so the idea of windborne transport of plants and animals should not seem foreign to the Jew or Christian. Large-scale dust storms can help the young-Earth creationist understand how the planet could be rapidly transformed from a relatively barren place to one covered by vegetation and insects. In order to do this there must be fertilized seed, a means of transport, and insects to work the new plants. All three of these factors can be supplied by a single large-scale dust storm. Modern African dust storm events provide possible insight into how the post-Flood world could have been rapidly vegetated in a manner that does not require the transportation of seed-bearing plants only via post-Flood ice age land bridges or water transport.

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