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A second revolution is underway in biology today. DNA isn't the whole story for the development of living things. The deeper scientists look into the cell, the more they find layers of coding, regulation, communication, and control. Where did all this additional information come from? On today's ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid continues his conversation with Dr. Tom Woodward, co-author with Dr. James Gills of a new book called Epigenetics and the Architect: Evidence of Design at the Frontier of Biology. This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation. Source
Many of us have heard about one of the biggest discoveries in modern biology: the discovery of the information code embedded in DNA. But perhaps an even bigger discovery than that would be that DNA isn't running the show by itself. A second revolution is underway centered around a hidden layer of information beyond DNA that helps direct the development of every living thing. On this episode of ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid welcomes Dr. Tom Woodward to the show to discuss his new book, co-authored with Dr. James Gills: Epigenetics and the Architect: Evidence of Design at the Frontier of Biology. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation. Source
New fossil discoveries from China are being hailed as evidence that could reshape our understanding of the origin of complex animal life. Does the new find solve the mystery of the Cambrian explosion? Are the headlines about these fossils justified? Are these in fact the long-lost ancestors of the Cambrian animals we've been looking for? On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid welcomes Dr. Casey Luskin to the show to to examine the evidence, ambiguity, and ongoing controversy surrounding newly reported Ediacaran bilaterian fossils. Source
On this classic ID The Future out of the vault, host Andrew McDiarmid welcomes comedian and author Evan Sayet to the podcast to discuss the failure of the atheist origin myth, his journey from liberalism to conservatism, and the role of humor in the scientific debate. His latest book, Magic Soup, Typing Monkeys, and Horny Aliens From Outer Space, takes a cuttingly humorous approach to dismantling the origin myths promoted by atheists to explain away the evidence for design in life and the universe. Philosopher of science Dr. Stephen Meyer calls Sayet's book “a rambunctious romp...With his trademark humor, Sayet exposes the absurdities of the materialist superstition of our age.” Source
Today on ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid concludes his conversation with Dr. Robert Waltzer about the amazing molecular machinery and systems that allow muscles to generate force and movement. How do microscopic structures help us move large objects in real time? In Part 2, Dr. Waltzer explores the remarkable molecular engineering required for nanometer-scale molecules to move massive bodies. He explains that muscle function actually involves constant microscopic damage as tiny proteins are strained far beyond their physical capacities. To prevent total failure, Waltzer says muscles operate like a plane being fixed while it's flying, utilizing specialized detection and signaling systems to replace large proteins at an astonishing rate: sometimes as frequently as every 25 seconds! Waltzer unpacks key structures in muscle, including the intricate Z-disk that functions like a biological shock absorber or mattress box spring. Waltzer argues that the extreme order and nested irreducible complexity found in these systems defy unguided evolutionary explanations. Instead, the sophistication, coordination, and complexity of muscle function points to intelligent design as a more adequate explanation. This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation. Source
Every movement you make—walking across a room, lifting a cup of coffee, even blinking your eyes—depends on trillions of microscopic molecular machines working in remarkable coordination. On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid begins exploring the hidden machinery of muscle with Dr. Robert Waltzer, professor of biology at Belhaven University and longtime researcher and lecturer on intelligent design. First, Dr. Waltzer takes us to right to the microscopic heart of muscle. Then he explains how muscle solves the formidable engineering challenge of repairing and replacing damaged muscle components in real time. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation. Source
Aliens are trending right now. At least the topic of alien life. It's in the news, it's in our movie theaters, and even the U.S. government is getting in on the action as it releases troves of documents related to unexplained phenomena and the search for extraterrestrial life. But here's a question that isn't getting explored as much as others: If we do find alien life, will that alien life support the case for intelligent design or an evolutionary origin of life? On this episode of ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid welcomes Dr. Casey Luskin to the show to discuss this intriguing topic and the implications for intelligent design and evolution. Source
Designing an Olympic bicycle requires the very best materials and lubricants. And the smallest of engineering choices can make the difference between winning and losing the race. On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid speaks with award-winning British engineer and designer Stuart Burgess. This time, the topic is his engineering work as lead transmission designer on the Olympic bikes used by Team Great Britain in the last three summer Olympic Games. Burgess reveals that the human body boasts a level of engineering that far surpasses the best things humans have been able to engineer. This optimal design in living things points to intelligent design instead of an evolutionary origin for life. Source
Curiosity can lead to unexpected adventures. For self-taught scientist Forrest Mims, it inspired a successful career in science and technology that continues to this day. On this classic ID The Future out of the vault, host Andrew McDiarmid reads an exclusive excerpt from Mims's memoir Maverick Scientist: My Adventures as an Amateur Scientist. Source
If a friend, family member, or colleague lodges an objection to the fine-tuning argument for intelligent design, are you ready to respond? On this installment of ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid concludes his two-part conversation with philosopher and intelligent design scholar Peter S. Williams. Williams reviews the most common objections to the fine-tuning arguments for intelligent design and explains why each proposal falls short scientifically, logically, and philosophically. Who knew there were over 20 objections to fine-tuning? Even host McDiarmid admits he didn't know about all of them! The more well-versed you are in responding to objections, the better you'll be able to stand your ground and offer substantive arguments when you hear them pop up. In Part 1, Williams and McDiarmid reviewing two groups of objections: the "fine-tuning isn't real" set and the "fine-tuning is real but no big deal" group. Today, Williams unpacks several objections related to the multiverse and shows why each one fails to adequately explain the fine-tuning evidence. This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation. Source
By now, you may be familiar with the fine-tuning argument for intelligent design. Scientists have discovered a whole suite of parameters and initial conditions appear to be exquisitely tuned to allow for complex life to exist, and the argument is that intelligent design better explains that evidence than chance or necessity. But you may not know the most common objections to the fine-tuning argument, or how to respond to them. On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid welcomes philosopher and intelligent design scholar Peter S. Williams to the show to equip us to answer the most common objections to the fine-tuning argument. Objections to fine-tuning typically fall into three categories: the "fine-tuning isn't real" bunch, the "fine-tuning is no big deal" group, and objections that posit a type of multiverse proposal. Over two episodes, Peter teaches us how to respond to almost 20 objections! So buckle up! This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation! Source
Everywhere you turn, you're likely to see evidence of error in thinking, and the realm of science is no exception. On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid concludes his conversation with J. Budziszewski, a professor of government, philosophy, and civic leadership at the University of Texas at Austin and author of the new book Pandemic of Lunacy: How to Think Clearly When Everyone Around You Seems Crazy. In his book, Budziszewski identifies thirty irrational ideas that are prevalent in modern society. He argues that many people have abandoned common sense and objectivity, leading to a cloud of confusion regarding human nature, science, and morality. In Part 2, we jump into more lunacies relevant to the scientific debates around human beings, biological life, and design in nature. Source
The Big Bang theory changed how we understand our universe. But who do we have to thank for it? On this classic ID The Future out of our archive, host Andrew McDiarmid concludes his conversation with esteemed cosmologist Jean-Pierre Luminet, who sets the record straight on the real heroes of the Big Bang Theory with his book The Big Bang Revolutionaries, available from Discovery Institute Press. In Part 2, Dr. Luminet begins by shedding more light on Georges Lemaitre, the Big Bang theory's chief architect. Lemaitre demonstrated a rare humility, concerned more with pursuing an accurate understanding of the universe than with who got credit for the theory. Luminet explains why it took so long for scientists to accept Lemaitre's theory over other competing theories of universal origins. Luminet also shares insight into two other architects of the Big Bang theory - Russian physicist Alexander Friedmann and Russian-American physicist and cosmologist George Gamow. Source
One thing that makes the new documentary film The Story of Everything so stunning is the inspired musical score written for it. On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid welcomes composer, producer, and arranger Hannah Parrott to discuss her experiencing of putting the cosmos to music, from the farthest galaxies to the inner recesses of the cell. The movie, showing in theaters for one week only (April 30 - May 6, 2026) is a cinematic exploration of the cosmos that unpacks three scientific discoveries of the last century that reveal mind and purpose behind the universe. In this conversation, Hannah explains why she loves the medium of film music and gives us a glimpse into her process of creating music for The Story of Everything. She says music can bypass analytical thinking to reach a viewer's emotional core. She also values that the music she writes is able to work together with the visuals to create a lasting impression: "And it's just this overload of experiencing the story on every visceral level you can," Hannah notes. "And I think music is a huge part of that and works in tandem as this choir of voices telling the same story." Source
The discovery that the universe had a beginning was one of the most remarkable scientific achievements of the last century, and that story is told cinematically in the new movie The Story of Everything. The developments sparked a cosmological paradigm shift and a radical new way to understand our world. But the three scientists most responsible for the big bang revolution are largely unknown to the public and underestimated by other scientists in their field. On this ID The Future out of the vault, host Andrew McDiarmid begins a conversation with esteemed cosmologist Jean-Pierre Luminet, who sets the record straight on the real heroes of the Big Bang Theory with his book The Big Bang Revolutionaries, published by Discovery Institute Press. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation. Source
On a hike, you stumble upon a seemingly abandoned cabin in the woods. When you walk in, you notice a steaming cup of tea sitting on the table. On the hypothesis that the cabin is deserted, the tea would be shockingly surprising. But on the hypothesis that the cabin is inhabited, not so much. How does this little story illuminate the case for intelligent design? On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid speaks with Dr. Timothy McGrew, one of the experts featured in the new movie The Story of Everything. The movie is a cinematic exploration of the scientific evidence for a mind behind the universe. Based on Dr. Stephen Meyer's 2021 book Return of the God Hypothesis, The Story of Everything brings the evidence for intelligent design to life through stunning footage, cutting-edge animation, and engaging interviews with over 20 scientists and scholars. Source
On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid welcomes astrophysicist Dr. Sarah Salviander, one of the experts featured in the new movie The Story of Everything. The movie, opening April 30, 2026 in theaters, is a cinematic exploration of the cosmos that traces the evidence for intelligent design from the precise laws that govern the stars to the intricate structures found in every living cell. Salviander recounts how her scientific research led her to question and eventually reject the atheism of her youth. She also details her experience being interviewed for the movie and reviews some of the evidence for intelligent design that she helps present in the film. Salviander was raised in a strictly secular home and had no Read More › Source
If life is built on complex molecular machines and information that is both complex AND specified, can unguided evolution actually get the credit? On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid concludes a two-part conversation with molecular biologist Dr. Douglas Axe and biochemist Dr. Michael Behe, two experts featured in the new movie The Story of Everything. Over two episodes Axe and Behe are discussing their participation in the movie and unpacking some of the insights they share in it. And you'll enjoy more exclusive clips from the movie too! Source
You might find this hard to believe, but back in Charles Darwin's day, the cell was thought of as little more than a piece of jelly. Thomas Henry Huxley called it a “simple, homogenous globule of undifferentiated protoplasm.” But today, thanks to discoveries in molecular biology, we've discovered the cell is something far more astonishing. And that begs a crucial question: if the cell is infinitely more than Darwin envisioned, can a Darwinian process really explain its origin, and how it came to produce the diversity we see in life? On today's ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid begins a two-part conversation with molecular biologist Dr. Douglas Axe and biochemist Dr. Michael Behe, two experts featured in the new movie The Story of Everything. Over two episodes they'll discuss their participation in the movie and unpack some of the insights they share in it. We're also sharing some exclusive clips from the movie! Source
NASA's recent Artemis II mission pushed the limits of human possibility with a record-breaking crewed trip to the moon. Movies like Project Hail Mary and Disclosure Day are exploring the intriguing idea of extraterrestrial life. The U.S. government promises to release a trove of UFO data in the near future. It’s a great time to be asking the big questions about the universe! On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid welcomes Eric Esau to the show to discuss his latest film, The Story of Everything, a cinematic exploration of the scientific evidence for a mind behind the universe. The film brings the arguments of Dr. Stephen Meyer's book Return of the God Hypothesis to life through stunning footage and Read More › Source
The Declaration of Independence is our nation's founding creed, reminding us time and again that “we are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights.” But for too long now, science has been misused to overturn the ideas found in our nation's founding principles. Is there hope for recovering these truths anew? On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid is joined again by Dr. John West to conclude a discussion about West's latest book Endowed By Our Creator: The Bible, Science, and the Battle for America's Soul. This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation. Source
For generations, the hallowed words of the Declaration of Independence that we are endowed by a Creator with certain unalienable rights has inspired not only Americans, but millions around the globe. Yet today, many Americans are skeptical or confused about the Declaration's key claims. On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid welcomes Dr. John West to the podcast to begin a discussion about his latest book Endowed By Our Creator: The Bible, Science, and the Battle for America's Soul. In Part 1, West reviews key words and phrases from the Declaration of Independence to reveal what the founders really meant by them and how they the words were shaped by the philosophical, theological, and scientific consensus of the day. Source
Do humans project mathematical order onto nature? Or was it there all along? On this classic ID The Future from the vault, host Andrew McDiarmid concludes his three-part conversation with Dr. Melissa Cain Travis about her book Thinking God's Thoughts: Johannes Kepler and the Miracle of Cosmic Comprehensibility. In Part 3, we look at how Kepler's ideas and work can inform the scientific enterprise today. This is Part 3 of a 3-part discussion. Source
Join us as Andrew McDiarmid and Janet discuss all things AI. Andrew will discuss why AI friends are not the answer to our loneliness problem. He will also discuss the difference between creation and amalgamation. Learn how to think biblically and critically this hour.Become a Parshall Partner: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/inthemarket/partnersSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Why has Darwin's theory of evolution succeeded so dramatically? The official story, of course, is that it provides a sweeping and complete explanation of the development of life on Earth, with the claim that it's rock solid because it's grounded in an abundance of evidence. But when we take a closer look at that official story, we see that it actually resembles more of a myth, a legendary origin story that has been championed and propped up successfully for over 160 years. On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid treats you to a reading from False Messiah, a book by Neil Thomas recently published by Discovery Institute Press. The book provides valuable insight around the mythology of Darwinism as well as the mythical figure of Charles Darwin himself. To help us understand why Darwinism has persisted for so long, it's helpful to take a closer look at the forces that moved it forward and upheld it, lest we be tempted to think it has succeed purely on the strength of its scientific arguments. Source
Why is the cosmos intellectually accessible to us? On this classic ID The Future from vault, host Andrew McDiarmid continues his conversation with Dr. Melissa Cain Travis about her book Thinking God's Thoughts: Johannes Kepler and the Miracle of Cosmic Comprehensibility. In Part 2, Travis illuminates Kepler's university years to show us how his study of mathematics and astronomy complemented his interest in theology. We learn about obstacles he overcame during his education and how an unexpected appointment to assist imperial mathematician Tycho Brahe jump-started his career as an astronomer and gave him the tools he needed to develop and advance his revolutionary ideas. Travis unpacks Kepler's major works, from Mysterium Cosmographicum to his magnum opus Harmonices Mundi. She also tracks for us the progression of Kepler's ideas to show us how he became a key figure in the transition from ancient astronomy to a true celestial physics. This is Part 2 of a 3-part discussion. Source
On this classic ID The Future out of the vault, host Andrew McDiarmid kicks off a three-episode discussion with Dr. Melissa Cain Travis about her recent book Thinking God's Thoughts: Johannes Kepler and the Miracle of Cosmic Comprehensibility. A fellow at Discovery Institute's Center for Science and Culture, Dr. Travis serves as Affiliate Faculty at Colorado Christian University's Lee Strobel Center for Evangelism and Applied Apologetics, where she teaches courses in the history and philosophy of science. In Part 1, learn why Kepler was instrumental in transforming classical astronomy into a true celestial physics. Like others before him, Kepler perceived a remarkable resonance between the rational order of the material world, mathematics, and the human mind. In response, he developed a three-part cosmic harmony of archetype, copy, and image to explain this unity. Travis unpacks his tripartite harmony for us. This is Part 1 of a 3-part discussion. Source
The relationship between Christianity and science is much older and richer than you might think. What can we learn about today's scientific debates by studying that history? On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid concludes a two-part conversation with software engineer and intelligent design researcher Winston Ewert about his new book The Heavens, The Waters, and the Partridge, an exploration of the interaction between Christianity and science before modern science. This half of the conversation dives into the rich history of how early Christian thinkers engaged with the scientific consensus of their time. By exploring historical case studies such as the supposed immutability of the heavens and the ancient belief that matter is eternally conserved, Ewert shows us how early Christian thinkers often pushed back against prevailing Greek philosophies to uphold biblical doctrines like creatio ex nihilo. The examples highlight that the dialogue between faith and science is a centuries-old tradition centered on understanding order, purpose, and the inherent limits of scientific inquiry. This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation. Source
What can we learn about science and faith from those who lived before the rise of modern science? On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid welcomes software engineer and intelligent design researcher Winston Ewert to the podcast to discuss his new book The Heavens, The Waters, and the Partridge, a closer look at the interaction between Christianity and science in the thousand years before modern science. Why pay attention to ancient scientific debates and specifically how early Christian thinkers responded to them? What could possibly be gained from going that far back? As Ewert points out, quite a lot. Tune in to learn more! Source
On this episode of ID the Future, host Andrew McDiarmid sits down with freelance science reporter David Coppedge to explore the fascinating and emerging field of interoception. Unlike our five external senses or proprioception (the awareness of our limbs in space), interoception involves the constant internal communication between our organs and the brain. While much of this signaling happens unconsciously, it's vital in maintaining homeostasis, that dynamic equilibrium that allows our bodies to function under varying conditions. In this discussion, Coppedge delves into the intricate mechanics behind this internal dialogue, highlighting the role of Piezo proteins—receptors that translate physical pressure into electrical signals via calcium ions. As an example of interoception in action, Coppedge explains how the gut functions effectively as a "second brain," utilizing a massive network of neurons to decide between "attack mode" against pathogens and "repair mode" for healing. By viewing the body as a system of systems, says Coppedge, rather than a collection of isolated organs, researchers are able to uncover new details of the stunning layers of engineering in the human body. Source
How did the giraffe get its long neck? It sounds like the beginning of a children's bedtime story, and it certainly has been that. But it's also a matter of serious scientific debate, and the debate continues today. On this installment of ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid concludes his two-part discussion correcting claims of giraffe evolution with retired geneticist Dr. Wolf-Ekkehard Lönnig. In Part 2, Dr. Lönnig challenges the prevailing narrative that the fossil Samotherium major serves as a transitional "missing link" in giraffe evolution. Lönnig argues that this evolutionary interpretation is contradicted by the facts. Instead, he identifies Samotherium as a "mosaic form," an organism possessing a combination of fully developed and basic traits that do not unequivocally connect it to the modern long-necked giraffe. This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation. Source
Is life the result of purposeful design or unintended evolutionary accidents? It's an ongoing debate that's about to be impacted by new scientific evidence that suggests living things are full of optimal engineering. On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid concludes his conversation with award-winning British engineer and designer Stuart Burgess about his new book Ultimate Engineering. In it Burgess gathers together compelling examples of advanced structures and systems in the human body and other vertebrates that go far beyond what humans have produced and point to intelligent design, not the cobbled-together results of a blind, purposeless process. In Part 2, Burgess compares his professional work on European Space Agency satellites to the far more sophisticated systems found in biology. This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation. Look for Part 1 in a separate conversation. Source
Evolutionary theory predicts a living world crowded with substandard designs. But as today's guest reveals, the latest science has discovered just the opposite—designs so advanced they are at the limit of the possible, precisely as proponents of the theory of intelligent design have anticipated. On this episode of ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid welcomes to the show award-winning British engineer and designer Stuart Burgess to begin a two-part conversation with me about the extraordinary engineering feats of the human body: ingenious systems and devices that demonstrate what Burgess calls Ultimate Engineering. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation. Look for Part 2 in a separate episode! Source
Does the brain explain the mind completely? And what can phenomena like terminal lucidity and near-death experiences reveal about the relationship between mind and brain? On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid concludes his two-part conversation exploring those questions with neurosurgeon Dr. Michael Egnor, co-author with Denyse O'Leary of the recent book The Immortal Mind: A Neurosurgeon's Case for the Existence of the Soul, and Alexander Batthyany, a leading researcher on terminal lucidity and author of Threshold: Terminal Lucidity and the Border Between Life and Death. In the first half of the conversation, we defined terminal lucidity and explored why it's so puzzling. Today, we look at how it relates to near-death experiences, and we ask a deeper question: what does this phenomenon suggest about the nature of the human mind? This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation. Source
Why would the human mind sometimes appear strongest when the brain is weakest? On today's ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid welcomes to the show neurosurgeon Dr. Michael Egnor, co-author with Denyse O'Leary of the recent book The Immortal Mind: A Neurosurgeon's Case for the Existence of the Soul, and Alexander Batthyany, a leading researcher on terminal lucidity and author of Threshold: Terminal Lucidity and the Border Between Life and Death. The trio begins a two-part conversation discussing the phenomenon of terminal lucidity: what it is, what the evidence shows, and how it relates to debates about consciousness, mind, and human identity. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation. Source
What is the ultimate origin of the information that powers life and the universe? For materialists, matter and energy are the fundamental stuff of life, but an even more crucial element is missing from that equation: information. And as our parents likely reminded us, you don't get anything in this life for free. On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid concludes his four-part conversation with mathematician and philosopher Dr. William Dembski about his work on the law of conservation of information and how it can help us critically evaluate scientific theories of origins. In this final segment, Dembski explains the ultimate origin of information: what he calls irreducible intelligence. Don't miss other segments of this conversation in separate episodes! Source
Nothing's free in life. It's a sobering reality we all come to realize in life. And this cold, hard truth also applies to the realm of biology. On today's ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid continues his four-part discussion with mathematician and philosopher Dr. William Dembski. The topic is Dembski's work on the law of conservation of information, a principle asserting that information within a search process is redistributed from pre-existing sources rather than materializing from nothing. In addition to being used in computer science and physics, the law can also be applied to theories of biological origins to evaluate which theory best comports with the reality that all information comes with a cost, and that cost must be adequately explained. This is Part 3 of a four-part conversation. Source
We already have a well-established law that shows us how order can decrease in a physical system. But is there a law that explains an increase in order? Scientists have been looking for "nature's missing law" for a while, and while they might be asking the right questions, their training in a bottom-up reductionist framework is leading them to the wrong answers. On this ID The Future, mathematician and philosopher Dr. William Dembski continues a four-part conversation with host Andrew McDiarmid about his work on the law of conservation of information and its implications for theories that attempt to explain the origin of life and the universe. This is Part 2 of a four-part conversation. Source
Chances are you're already familiar with specified complexity, one of the mathematical pillars of the theory of intelligent design. There's another pillar that is much less well known but equally vital: the law of conservation of information. On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid begins a four-part conversation with mathematician and philosopher Dr. William Dembski. The conversation unpacks Dembski’s work on the law of conservation of information and its implications for scientific theories like Darwinian evolution. In Part 1, Dr. Dembski begins by defining information fundamentally as the narrowing of possibilities, where specifying one outcome excludes others. Using his a simple analogy of location, he explains that identifying a specific place, like the town of Aubrey, Texas, provides more Read More › Source
Sexual reproduction depends on an irreducibly complex core of components for its success. But can we really credit a gradual evolutionary process for this remarkable system? On this classic ID The Future from the archive, host Andrew McDiarmid continues his discussion with Dr. Jonathan McLatchie on why sex is the queen of problems for evolutionary theory and why instead it bears the hallmarks of a system governed by forethought and engineering. Dr. McLatchie covers two more components and explains why they are beyond the reach of a Darwinian process. This is Part 2 of a three-part conversation. Source
Honesty, humility, respect. Just a few of the essential qualities scientists need to do good science. Today, host Andrew McDiarmid concludes a conversation with engineer, inventor, writer, and self-taught scientist Forrest Mims about the role of integrity and humility in science, as well as the importance of solid data and good old-fashioned persistence. Should scientists be required to hide their personal values or religious convictions or check them at the door before conducting research? Mims says no and explains. What about humility? McDiarmid quotes from an older edition of On Being a Scientist, an educational booklet for young researchers published by the National Academies of Science. Highlighting the importance of scientific humility, the publication acknowledges that "science offers only one window on human experience. While upholding the honor of their profession, scientists must seek to avoid putting scientific knowledge on a pedestal above knowledge obtained through other means.” Thirty years later, is the scientific enterprise still as humble? Mims shares his thoughts. This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation. Source
Science is a very human enterprise, so it can fall prey to very human problems. How a scientist conducts himself or herself professionally matters. On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid begins a two-part conversation on the importance of skepticism and integrity in science with engineer, inventor, writer, and self-taught scientist Forrest Mims. How important is skepticism to scientific research? How can scientists collaborate respectfully? In what ways can scientists honor their profession while interacting honrably with the public? Forrest shares stories and examples from his decades-long career in science as he answers these and other questions. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation. Look for Part 2 in a separate episode. Source
Bugs. Some of them we enjoy more than others! But there's no denying they're a part of life. And though they're small, they're examples of big engineering and design. Today, host Andrew McDiarmid welcomes Discovery Institute staffer Kate Kavanaugh to discuss ID Education Days, whole-day experiences hosted by the Center for Science and Culture and geared specifically for middle and high school students in home or private school settings. Lately, the theme of these events has focused on the creepy crawly complexity found within the world of insects and invertebrates. Far from being mere nuisances, these creatures function as tiny engineers that elegantly solve complex problems to sustain global ecosystems. Kavanaugh highlights insights from recent ID Education Day events and explains the importance of studying even tiny examples of intelligent design in nature. Source
Today's ID the Future out of our archive spotlights the book The Toxic War on Masculinity, by author and scholar Nancy Pearcey, professor and scholar in residence at Houston Christian University. In her conversation with host Andrew McDiarmid, Pearcey argues against the current fashion of seeing masculinity as inherently toxic. She traces the tendency back to Darwinism and explains how the industrial revolution, working hand in glove with secularism, fueled toxic masculinity at the expense of virtuous masculinity. Source
Was the modern intelligent design (ID) movement "over after Dover," as many ID critics hoped it would be? Quite the opposite. In the last two decades ID has flourished as a scientific research program and continues to gain momentum in both academia and the public square. On today's ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid concludes his conversation with geologist, legal scholar, and Dover trial expert Dr. Casey Luskin. In this segment, marking the 20th anniversary of the Kitzmiller vs. Dover trial of 2005, the pair examine the outcome of the Dover trial, in which a judge ruled that intelligent design was a religious viewpoint, not science, and therefore unconstitutional to teach in public schools. Luskin explains why the Dover ruling was highly flawed and unreliable and how it misrepresented the definition of science and the arguments of ID proponents. Luskin also reveals how the ID movement has flourished in the twenty years since Dover. This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation. Source
Over After Dover. That was the hopeful mantra of many critics of intelligent design (ID) after the Kitzmiller vs. Dover trial in 2005. They were hoping a federal judge could issue a decree from on high that would stop the ID movement cold in its tracks and neo-Darwinism could go back to being unquestioned, unchallenged orthodoxy. But was it over after Dover? Not even close. On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid marks the 20th anniversary of the Dover trial by beginning a two-part conversation with geologist, legal scholar, and Dover trial expert Dr. Casey Luskin. Luskin takes us back to 2005 to give us his unique perspective on the events that led to the Dover trial, his own personal experiences of the case, and the position the Discovery Institute's Center for Science & Culture held on the issues at stake. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation. Source
Are we responsible for our choices? What can the laws of nature teach us about morality? On this classic episode of ID The Future from the archive, host Andrew McDiarmid welcomes back Dr. Eric Hedin, Professor Emeritus of Physics and Astronomy at Ball State University, to conclude a discussion about his two recent articles on suffering, free will, and morality in a designed world. Some scientists continue to argue that human free will is an illusion and that we have no more control over our choices than the decision to breathe. But this idea, known as determinism, flies in the face of our human experience. Dr. Hedin explains that far from being slaves to external forces, humans have a great latitude of freedom in the universe. In other words, the ball is in our court. This is Part 2 of a two-part discussion. Source
It's easy to be blown away by the examples of engineering prowess in the human body. But it can be challenging to turn that evidence into a robust argument for intelligent design you can share with skeptical friends and colleagues. To help you learn to do that, host Andrew McDiarmid begins a roundtable discussion with not one, not two, not three, but four guests to the podcast, all part of our team of resident scientists at Discovery Institute's Center for Science and Culture: geologist and lawyer Casey Luskin, biochemist and metabolic nutritionist Emily Reeves, biologist Jonathan McLatchie, and physicist Brian Miller. The first half of the discussion kicks off with a review of the basics of design detection, including various methods for empirically detecting the hallmarks of design in nature. After that, these four experts take turns diving into examples of extraordinary design in the human body. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation. Source
Is natural evil an argument against intelligent design? And is human evil more consistent with naturalism or theism? On this classic ID The Future episode, host Andrew McDiarmid speaks with Dr. Eric Hedin about his article "Thoughts of Evil in a Designed World." First, Dr. Hedin discusses the problem of natural evils like earthquakes, hurricanes, droughts, and other natural disasters. He reports that in the last century, the human death toll from such tragedies has dropped as we have learned to mitigate the effects of these natural forces in our lives. Hedin also discusses the impact of sickness on our bodies. "Any complex system can break down," Hedin reminds us, "because we do live in a world where the second law of thermodynamics applies not just to stars and mountainsides and physical systems but also to our own bodies." But suffering, tragic as it can be for all of us to endure, is not inconsistent with design. Then there's the other major cause of suffering in life: human evil. If humans are products of an evolutionary process, we'd expect human evil to more or less match what we see in the animal world. But as recent attacks on the people of Israel starkly demonstrate, that is not the case. We are capable of much worse, as well as much better. Dr. Hedin explains that humans have the gift of rational override, something determinists tend to forget. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation. Source
Progress is an appealing idea, but what happens when we do not all desire the same things? On this ID The Future, we mark the 60th anniversary of the death of British writer C. S. Lewis as host Andrew McDiarmid concludes a conversation with Dr. John West about Lewis's prophetic warnings to us about science and scientism. Dr. West explains how scientism harms real scientific progress and leads to moral relativism. And he discusses how we can bring science back into alignment with older, deeper human truths. This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation. Source