Science and Culture Today | Discovering Design in Nature

Today

My History with Information: Opening Pandora’s Box

_{William A. Dembski
September 25, 2026
5
Intelligent Design}

Naturalism is like a Pandora’s box in that all of scientific explanation must be kept inside it.

A Slapdash Take on “Catholic Evolutionism”

_{Michael Flannery
September 25, 2026
5
Faith & Science}

When Pope Pius IX awarded St. George Jackson Mivart a doctorate, he was not by implication casting his imprimatur or approval on evolution.

Ice with That? Latest Madness from Nature Rights

_{Wesley J. Smith
September 24, 2026
7
Human Exceptionalism}

Ice has no agency. It is frozen water. Water contains minerals and other elements. Do they have rights, too?

Information In Biology: A Mystery for Naturalism

_{William A. Dembski
September 26, 2026
4
Intelligent Design}

Biology was giving us computer programming and symbolic codes which, by mapping functional structures to functional structures, exhibited a tacit semantics.

Next Big Thing Is… Privacy Rights for Animals?

_{Denyse O’Leary
September 24, 2026
5
Ethics}

If we came across chimpanzee cave paintings, we would, of course, reconsider. But the thing is, we don’t.

Scientific American Starts Sober, Quickly Relapses

_{Brian Miller
September 24, 2026
6
Origin of Life}

A proposal by University of Washington planetary scientist David Catling addresses what origin-of-life researchers call the phosphate problem.

Casey Luskin: A Chasm Between Paradigms

_{David Klinghoffer
September 23, 2026
2
Intelligent Design}

To speak of a “paradigm shift” on Junk DNA is another way of saying that the debate is over and ID won.

ID the Future

with Andrew McDiarmid

Why Carbon is Finely Tuned for Life

_{2269
Jonathan McLatchie
September 25, 2026}

In his book Darwin’s Black Box, biochemist Michael Behe writes that in order to understand the barriers to evolution, we have to “bite the bullet of complexity.” On this classic episode of ID The Future out of the vault, Dr. Jonathan McLatchie is back to help us do just that! In the latest installment of an ongoing series, Dr. McLatchie talks with host Andrew McDiarmid about the remarkable properties of carbon and other non-metal atoms.

Scoring the Universe: A Rubric for Cosmological Design

_{2268
Bruce Gordon
September 23, 2026}

By now, you’re likely familiar with the multiverse hypothesis, which is actually just one of dozens of cosmological models proposed to explain away the significance of a beginning to the universe and the evidence for fine-tuning. But you may not know there’s a rigorous method to evaluate these models, which can prove helpful in understanding the flaws of each. On today’s ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid continues his conversation about evaluating cosmological models with philosopher of physics Bruce Gordon and physicist Brian Miller. This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation.

Inscrutable Dice and Bean Jars: Answering Objections to Fine-Tuning

_{2267
Bruce Gordon
September 21, 2026}

You’re likely familiar with the evidence for the fine-tuning of the universe, and you may be aware that there are several cosmological models attempting to explain away that fine-tuning, including the popular multiverse hypothesis. But did you know an ID scientist has developed a scientifically rigorous method for scoring those models? On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid begins a two-part conversation with philosopher of physics Bruce Gordon and physicist Brian Miller about Gordon’s scoring system and how it evaluates the many models on offer that might explain the origin and development of the universe. This is Part 1 of 2.

Latest Videos

Can the Mind Be Explained by the Brain?

_{The Center for Science and Culture
September 22, 2026
Intelligent Design
Secrets of the Human Body}

Is the human mind fully explained by the physical brain? Acclaimed neurosurgeon Michael Egnor explores why there may be a lot more going on with our minds than we think in this episode of Secrets of the Human Body.

…

Dr. Stephen Meyer Answers the Biggest Questions About God & Science

_{Stephen C. Meyer
August 7, 2026
Intelligent Design}

What happens when you follow the evidence wherever it leads? Dr. Kevin Klar sits down with Dr. Stephen Meyer to explore some of the biggest questions at the intersection of science, philosophy, Christianity, and the search for truth.

…

The Story Behind Darwin’s Black Box by Michael Behe

_{Michael J. Behe
August 3, 2026
Intelligent Design}

Thirty years ago, biochemist Michael Behe sparked a worldwide debate over Darwinian evolution by publishing his book Darwin’s Black Box: The Biochemical Challenge to Evolution. This video tells the story behind the writing of this landmark book, which fundamentally changed the debate over Darwin.

…

Michael Behe Was Right: Darwin’s Black Box at 30

_{John G. West
August 2, 2026
Intelligent Design}

August 2, 2026 marks the 30th anniversary of the publication of Darwin’s Black Box: The Biochemical Challenge to Evolution by biochemist Michael Behe. This landmark book posed a frontal challenge to Neo-Darwinian evolution from a mainstream scientist and helped change the course of scientific history. In this new conversation with Discovery Institute Vice President John West, Dr. Behe discusses how his ideas have stood the test of time.

…

Intelligent Design

Information In Biology: A Mystery for Naturalism

_{William A. Dembski
September 26, 2026
4
Intelligent Design}

Biology was giving us computer programming and symbolic codes which, by mapping functional structures to functional structures, exhibited a tacit semantics.

Casey Luskin: A Chasm Between Paradigms

_{David Klinghoffer
September 23, 2026
2
Intelligent Design}

To speak of a “paradigm shift” on Junk DNA is another way of saying that the debate is over and ID won.

Stairs on a Lake: Inference to Design?

_{Winston Ewert
September 23, 2026
3
Intelligent Design}

Why exactly was I immediately convinced that someone had deliberately created the staircase? The material for the staircase, after all, is unremarkable.

Casey Luskin: Fact-Checking Designer Science

_{Andrew McDiarmid
September 16, 2026
2
Intelligent Design}

I welcome Dr. Casey Luskin to a new and improved podcast studio for a sit-down, in-person conversation!

Historical Sciences

Origin of Life

From Life’s Origin to Cyanobacteria

_{Science & Culture
September 5, 2026
3
Origin of Life}

That’s now just 1 billion years for all the apparatus to hit on the lucky combination randomly, unless we start with design principles.

Illusion of Progress in Origin-of-Life Research

_{Brian Miller
September 3, 2026
5
Origin of Life}

This paper contains the imaginative storytelling, speculative leaps, and inflated claims that have become staples of the origin-of-life literature.

Nonsense with “Nanozymes”: Theory Fails to Impress

_{Brian Miller
September 1, 2026
4
Origin of Life}

Yongdong Jin proposes that microscopic particles, which he terms nanozymes, orchestrated many of the major steps in the synthesis of the first cell.

Evolution

Alfred Russel Wallace, Scientist and Working Man

_{Science & Culture
September 7, 2026
3
Evolution}

Unlike Darwin, Wallace grew up among the middle class and had to work for a living. This dictated the contours of his life and research.

The Problem of Robustness

_{Winston Ewert
September 4, 2026
3
Evolution}

It is surprising to me that the authors of these studies did not consider it more of a priority to understand the mechanics of robustness.

Evolution of New Genes: The Big “If”

_{Winston Ewert
September 3, 2026
3
Evolution}

If the theory can explain the evolution of new genes then evolution can be a successful explanation.

Paleontology

Fossil Explosions Persist, and Other Confirmations

_{Casey Luskin
August 12, 2026
10
Paleontology}

From 2016 until his tragic death in 2025, Bechly made many important contributions to ID literature on the topic of fossil explosions in the history of life.

“Weirdest Theory Yet” for the Cambrian Explosion

_{Casey Luskin
August 6, 2026
5
Paleontology}

First the Oxygen Theory, now the Feces Theory. But how much experience do we really have with feces creating new genetic information?

Neanderthal Babies Developed Like Modern Humans

_{Casey Luskin
July 6, 2026
2
Paleontology}

Don’t miss the words of Professor Uthmeier: “both human forms.” What he’s saying is that both Neanderthals and modern humans were “human forms.”

Cosmology

So, You Say No Cosmologists Ever Made This Claim?

_{Bruce Gordon
September 23, 2026
6
Cosmology}

Like mighty Samson of old, in a single-handed effort physicist Bruce Gordon responded to 1,870+ comments.

“God of the Gaps,” and Other Old Friends

_{Bruce Gordon
September 23, 2026
4
Cosmology}

There are a lot of commenters refuting arguments that Stephen Meyer never made. What he is offering is what philosophers of science call an abductive inference.

Fine-Tuning — for the Universe or for Life?

_{Eric Hedin
September 21, 2026
6
Cosmology}

Teetering on the brink of science fiction is the supposition that advanced civilizations would utilize black holes for energy sources.

Human Origins

Human Evolution Needs Subhumans, Needs Them Badly

_{Denyse O’Leary
August 15, 2026
6
Human Origins and Anthropology}

Excavation of Neanderthal and other sites is leveling even further the fabled Ascent of Man.

Biological Origins Is Entering a Surreal Stage

_{Science & Culture
August 14, 2026
2
Human Origins and Anthropology}

No biological history and no biological beginning: are you seeing the trend? Both seem to be responses to being battered by the evidence.

Neanderthals Progress from Brute to Beaut

_{Denyse O’Leary
July 23, 2026
2
Human Origins and Anthropology}

We must be ready to ask some questions about many of the evolution stories we have taken for granted.

Archaeology

More Discoveries Point to Neanderthal Intelligence

_{Denyse O’Leary
December 5, 2024
5
Archaeology}

This very ancient people we know the most about can’t be the missing link that many paleontologists are looking for.

The Joy of (Neanderthal) Cooking

_{Denyse O’Leary
July 30, 2024
5
Archaeology}

The Darwinian account of the human race would be much easier to believe in good faith if scientists could point to a clearly inferior and clearly human being.

Dallas Conference: Archaeology & the Life of Jesus

_{Titus Kennedy
January 19, 2024
1
Archaeology}

My presentation will explore archaeological discoveries illuminating a major event in the life of Jesus — his trial in Jerusalem.

History of Science

What C. W. Howell Left Out of His “History” of ID

_{Andrew McDiarmid
September 17, 2026
2
History of Science}

I conclude my conversation with Dr. Casey Luskin about his critique of a recent book from New York University Press, by C. W. Howell.

Lamarck’s Contribution to Evolutionary Thought

_{Michael Flannery
July 9, 2026
6
History of Science}

The rehabilitation of Lamarck and the important work of scholars of the past (i.e., Sinnott) and present (i.e., Turner) suggest an interesting conclusion.

Darwin’s Atheism and a Question of Terminology

_{Michael Flannery
May 26, 2026
8
History of Science}

Calling Gibberson, Miller, McGrath, and others theistic evolutionists is inaccurate because it fails to distinguish them from genuinely theistic evolutionists.

Geology

As an Idea, the “Anthropocene” Era Is Dead

_{Science & Culture
November 25, 2025
3
Geology}

In a world where pundits regularly accuse us all of being too anthropocentric, the naming of a new geological epoch would enshrine that view forever in science.

The Wonders of a Hard Mineral

_{David Coppedge
September 5, 2025
11
Geology}

Explore the features of a remarkable mineral erupted from volcanoes that is found in our teeth. How did it get there?

Plate Tectonics and Scientific Discovery

_{Guillermo Gonzalez
September 3, 2024
4
Geology}

Plate tectonics is important for advanced life in multiple ways and planets with plate tectonics are very rare.

Life Sciences

Plant Cognition Defies Evolutionary Hierarchy

_{Denyse O’Leary
August 25, 2026
5
Life Sciences}

It’s a familiar concept: the long, slow march from mud to mind meant that only toward the upper tier would we find such developments as cognition.

The Latest: Plants as “Non-Human Persons”

_{Denyse O’Leary
June 19, 2026
5
Life Sciences}

The need to see humans as equivalent to animals has now spread to the need to see us as equivalent to plants.

Fireweed: An Example of Intelligent Latent Design

_{Eric Hedin
February 5, 2025
7
Life Sciences}

The photo with fireweed in the foreground at the top of this article was taken by my father, Robert Hedin, at Mount Shuksan in Washington State.

Neuroscience

Dr. Egnor: Denying the Mystery of the Mind

_{David Klinghoffer
September 22, 2026
2
Neuroscience & Mind}

The mind, operating outside the body, can use reason to add 1 and 1 and reach a sum of 2. The brain cannot.

Toward Theism, but Cautiously

_{Tom Winkler
September 17, 2026
3
Neuroscience & Mind}

“As with the Big Bang before its widespread acceptance, we may find ourselves increasingly compelled to take such possibilities seriously — even if cautiously.”

Return of the Lizard Brain? Seems Not

_{Denyse O’Leary
September 10, 2026
3
Neuroscience & Mind}

It’s easy to see why people might latch onto the idea of a reptilian brain as an explainer, or an explainaway, for complex topics.

Medicine

Real Science, Medicine Behind Oppenheimer’s Demon

_{Andrew McDiarmid
September 3, 2026
2
Medicine}

Novelist Geoffrey Simmons explains how he drew on his background as an ER doctor and disaster preparedness expert to make his story real and plausible.

Great News! Scientists Used AI to Create Viruses

_{Wesley J. Smith
August 10, 2026
3
Medicine}

What about attempts to test their virulence in humans? The approach in the Stanford lab sure sounds like a new form of gain-of-function research to me.

Want the Public to Trust Science Again?

_{Denyse O’Leary
August 6, 2026
5
Medicine}

Ethan Siegel’s approach to public discussion of science is common enough: the exalted scientist reaches down to the ignorant masses.

Biology

Agency as the Emerging Naturalist Paradigm

_{Stephen J. Iacoboni
September 18, 2026
8
Biology}

Jaques Monod, along with other champions of 20th-century scientism, was entirely mistaken.

A Biologist’s Attempt to Escape Reality

_{Terrell Clemmons
September 1, 2026
10
Biology}

Most people understand that secondary sex characteristics can vary, but Ari Berkowitz leaps beyond this uncontroversial observation.

Plant Cognition Defies Evolutionary Hierarchy

_{Denyse O’Leary
August 25, 2026
5
Life Sciences}

It’s a familiar concept: the long, slow march from mud to mind meant that only toward the upper tier would we find such developments as cognition.

Physical Sciences

Physics

So, You Say No Cosmologists Ever Made This Claim?

_{Bruce Gordon
September 23, 2026
6
Cosmology}

Like mighty Samson of old, in a single-handed effort physicist Bruce Gordon responded to 1,870+ comments.

Fine-Tuning — for the Universe or for Life?

_{Eric Hedin
September 21, 2026
6
Cosmology}

Teetering on the brink of science fiction is the supposition that advanced civilizations would utilize black holes for energy sources.

The Wow! Signal and a Project in Design Detection

_{Winston Ewert
September 14, 2026
3
Intelligent Design}

The search for extraterrestrial intelligence searches through evidence from outer space in the hopes of finding something that indicates intelligent ET life.

Chemistry

Why Life’s Origin Can Only Be Explained by Design

_{Brian Miller
September 8, 2026
5
Origin of Life}

The reagents of the feedstock are never produced by processes as on the early Earth. Production requires substantial energy and controlled industrial procedures

Illusion of Progress in Origin-of-Life Research

_{Brian Miller
September 3, 2026
5
Origin of Life}

This paper contains the imaginative storytelling, speculative leaps, and inflated claims that have become staples of the origin-of-life literature.

High School Science with an ID Perspective? Yes!

_{Andrew McDiarmid
July 24, 2026
2
Science Education}

Kristin Marais and Summer Edwards explain why they’re so passionate about teaching their subject and how the courses are designed with maximum flexibility.

Astronomy

The Heavens Declare, and the Sky Tells

_{David Klinghoffer
September 17, 2026
2
Astronomy}

Our contributor Kirk Durston takes gorgeous astronomy and other nature photos. He graciously agreed to let me share these, with his captions.

New Light on Dark Energy

_{Eric Hedin
August 17, 2026
7
Cosmology}

Modern astronomy relies not only on bigger telescopes and more sophisticated instruments, but upon computational power.

“Cosmic Signposts” Pointing to Intelligent Design

_{Andrew McDiarmid
April 29, 2026
2
Physics}

Dr. Salviander was deeply influenced by science fiction and by the popular astronomer and science communicator Carl Sagan.

Fine-Tuning

New Light on Dark Energy

_{Eric Hedin
August 17, 2026
7
Cosmology}

Modern astronomy relies not only on bigger telescopes and more sophisticated instruments, but upon computational power.

Inscrutable Dice and Cosmological Fine-Tuning

_{Bruce Gordon
May 19, 2026
14
Physics}

Phil Halper has argued against a position that no one holds, and his argument as a whole lays claim to the very capacity his objection denies.

The Story of Everything…or of Nothing?

_{George Montañez
April 21, 2026
9
Faith & Science}

The movie is respectful in how it addresses questions. It doesn’t preach. But it challenges perspectives at the heart of who we are.

Earth Sciences

Geophysics

Aurora Borealis: Scientific and Aesthetic Design

_{Casey Luskin
May 12, 2024
9
Astronomy}

You appreciate the aurora borealis or aurora australis because you were not created by strictly material evolutionary processes.

Geoengineering on an Intelligently Designed Planet

_{Tova Levengood
August 30, 2023
4
Intelligent Design}

Scientists are still discovering how many systems, controls, and other aspects of planetary fine-tuning are in place to ensure that we have abundant life.

No Iron, No Life: Design in Iron Availability

_{Science & Culture
January 25, 2022
9
Biology}

As an exercise, count the number of lucky breaks that had to occur for the evolutionary story to work.

Environment

Journal Trumpets Glaciers’ “Right to Exist”

_{Wesley J. Smith
June 2, 2026
4
Environment & Climate}

Glaciers are made up of snow that over millennia compacted into ice. They grow or shrink based on climate. They are geological features.

Great Science Cancellation Continues

_{David Klinghoffer
September 18, 2025
3
Scientific Freedom}

In the domination of science by ideology, by the myth of “settled science,” the stakes couldn’t be more profound.

COSM Will Feature Nobel Laureate John F. Clauser

_{Science & Culture
September 12, 2025
5
Physics}

Discovery Institute’s upcoming COSM 2025 tech conference will feature something a little different.

Rare Earth

Stephen Meyer on the Meaning of Artemis II Mission

_{David Klinghoffer
April 8, 2026
3
Rare Earth}

Aboard the lunar spacecraft, astronaut Victor Glover spoke movingly about what some have called our Privileged Planet.

Study: Geological Habitability Parameters

_{Casey Luskin
August 14, 2024
8
Rare Earth}

One thing that is likely to get some pushback is the study’s claim that modern-style plate tectonics on Earth did not commence until the Neoproterozoic.

Earth and Mars — A Rare Gem and a Sharp Contrast

_{Eric Hedin
August 5, 2024
9
Rare Earth}

Apparently, simple living organisms must exist for eons on a planet before more advanced life can thrive.

Planetology

The Search for ETs: Keeping Hope Alive

_{Denyse O’Leary
October 15, 2025
5
Planetology}

The question looms: How much can science avoid facts while retaining the character of science?

Rights for Planets, Moons, and Space Microbes?

_{Wesley J. Smith
September 29, 2025
3
Planetology}

The ultimate purpose in granting such rights would be to disincentivize investments in space exploration and keep us Gaia-bound.

Hope for Mars Life Is Dashed Again

_{David Coppedge
March 4, 2025
1
Planetology}

Subsequent landers discovered a high concentration of perchlorates in the soil. Perchlorates are chlorinated salts, often used in fireworks.

Culture

Human Exceptionalism

Tree Rights Advocacy Is Based on Irrationality

_{Wesley J. Smith
March 17, 2026
5
Human Exceptionalism}

We protect trees and woodlands with laws and regulations without resorting to irrational ideological justifications and materially impeding human thriving.

Why AI Won’t Replace Us Spiritually

_{George Montañez
March 12, 2026
6
Human Exceptionalism}

AI systems increasingly resemble human intelligence. But resemblance alone does not make them image bearers. It cannot. AI systems do not represent God.

Are We Just Animals? A Tempting Delusion

_{J. Budziszewski
February 5, 2026
5
Human Exceptionalism}

Some of my students argue that humans should be wiped off the face of the earth to make room for the other species.

Arts

Learning about Technology from Wendell Berry

_{Andrew McDiarmid
September 20, 2026
10
Technology}

Berry describes the beautiful working relationship he had with his wife, Tanya. She typed his work on a Royal standard typewriter.

How Best to Appreciate Paleolithic Cave Art

_{Science & Culture
September 19, 2026
3
Cultural Anthropology}

Of course, the experience wouldn’t be really complete without simulating the threat of a cave bear trapping the artists.

Kirkus Reviews Loves Oppenheimer’s Demon

_{David Klinghoffer
September 16, 2026
1
Arts}

From Discovery Institute Press, it’s “high-stakes action that should satisfy the most demanding of political thrill seekers.”

Ethics

Next Big Thing Is… Privacy Rights for Animals?

_{Denyse O’Leary
September 24, 2026
5
Ethics}

If we came across chimpanzee cave paintings, we would, of course, reconsider. But the thing is, we don’t.

Learning about Technology from Wendell Berry

_{Andrew McDiarmid
September 20, 2026
10
Technology}

Berry describes the beautiful working relationship he had with his wife, Tanya. She typed his work on a Royal standard typewriter.

Grappling with Our Promethean Past … and Future

_{John Zmirak
August 31, 2026
5
Arts}

As with film, we’d also be wise to support works in other genres that skillfully depict fictional worlds infused with a truthful worldview.

Social Sciences

How Best to Appreciate Paleolithic Cave Art

_{Science & Culture
September 19, 2026
3
Cultural Anthropology}

Of course, the experience wouldn’t be really complete without simulating the threat of a cave bear trapping the artists.

Empower Scientists to Rule on Income and Wealth?

_{Wesley J. Smith
September 15, 2026
4
Scientific Reasoning}

Reframing subjective policy issues as questions of objective “science” makes it easier to justify relying on “experts” for policy answers.

Human Evolution Needs Subhumans, Needs Them Badly

_{Denyse O’Leary
August 15, 2026
6
Human Origins and Anthropology}

Excavation of Neanderthal and other sites is leveling even further the fabled Ascent of Man.

Faith and Science

Two Decades Later, “New Atheists” Debate Is Over

_{David Klinghoffer
September 22, 2026
3
Faith & Science}

In the Philippine jungles after World War II, a few lonely Japanese soldiers carried on fighting for decades, not realizing the war was over.

The Darwinian Revolution: A Historical Perspective

_{Neil Thomas
September 16, 2026
21
Faith & Science}

It is well enough known that our remote ancestors, the Anglo-Saxons, were originally polytheists who had voyaged over the English Channel.

Haunted by God: Remembering Sir Anthony Kenny

_{Bethel McGrew
August 7, 2026
5
Faith & Science}

Kenny still appreciated a good church service and even did readings from the breviary. Unusually, he argued there was no reason why an agnostic shouldn’t pray.

Science Education

A Hub of Intelligent Design in Africa

_{Tova Levengood
September 3, 2026
3
Science Education}

Not only does the space enable regular study, but also it hosts ID discussion forums, faculty or departmental workshops, and club training.

Moving ID Forward: A Seminar to Remember

_{Terrell Clemmons
August 11, 2026
8
Science Education}

Graduates won’t be alone. A bonus for Seminar grads is the opportunity to be connected with a mentor who will help them navigate the hostile environment ahead.

High School Science with an ID Perspective? Yes!

_{Andrew McDiarmid
July 24, 2026
2
Science Education}

Kristin Marais and Summer Edwards explain why they’re so passionate about teaching their subject and how the courses are designed with maximum flexibility.

Scientific Freedom

The Wrong Tool to Fix Woke Science Journals

_{Wesley J. Smith
May 3, 2025
2}

The government has no business pressuring medical journals about their content — no matter how biased.

Hysteria in the Science Sector Over DOGE

_{Wesley J. Smith
March 30, 2025
4}

Whatever problems now exist for the public medical research funding sector, the disappointing Francis Collins helped create them.

Stand Up for Science or… for Naked Ideology?

_{Wesley J. Smith
March 12, 2025
4}

“Stand Up for Science 2025” protests were clearly aimed at reaffirming control by the now discredited science establishment.

Science Reporting

Wall Street Journal Welcomes Story of Everything

_{David Klinghoffer
April 17, 2026
4
Science Reporting}

My colleague asked, “Has that happened before?” Not that I recall. Is something changing? Perhaps.

On the Origin of Our New Name

_{Andrew McDiarmid
September 27, 2025
3
Science Reporting}

First, the conversation delves into the site’s launch in December 2004, when the modern intelligent design movement and the Internet were both relatively new.

On Genetic (Dis)Similarity, Give Credit Where Due

_{David Klinghoffer
September 10, 2025
4
Science Reporting}

Would anyone know that the 1 percent icon has finally fallen, if we hadn’t broken the story? It seems not.