Ancient Oxygen-Rich Rocks Confound Evolutionary Timescale | The Institute for Creation Research

Ancient Oxygen-Rich Rocks Confound Evolutionary Timescale
BY *  | 
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 08, 2009

Many origin of life researchers have for decades argued that the early earth must have had a “reducing” atmosphere, meaning that it had very little oxygen. This argument has no direct evidence to support it other than the knowledge that oxygen destroys the delicate molecules that comprise cells today. If the first living cells evolved, they would have needed an atmosphere with little or no oxygen. But new research supports the idea that the earth’s surface was always oxygenated, as would be expected if biblical history is true.

Oxidized metals in rock chemicals often appear red, like oxidized iron (rust). Ancient rocks called “red beds” indicate that some of the lowermost sedimentary strata were deposited in the presence of oxygen.1 Now, red rocks buried in Australia are also challenging evolution’s accepted timescale for the development of life.2

Geologists at The Pennsylvania State University drilled into the deep rocks for pristine samples. They knew that if the rocks from that depth were red and crystallized as a whole unit, then they must have formed in the presence of oxygen.

That is exactly what they found.

So, these geologists have painstakingly ruled out the absence of oxygen from earth’s atmosphere at the time these ancient rocks were formed.

The creation-flood model predicts the presence of oxygen from the very beginning, which is supported by this research in Australia. Based on the worldwide water cataclysm recorded in Genesis, evidence might also be found in some locations of prior extreme heat, which would have resulted from the cataclysmic breaking up of the great deep,3 as well as from the accelerated nuclear decay that must have occurred.4 Consistent with this, Penn State researchers found that these particular rocks “could only happen if the deep ocean contained oxygen and the iron rich fluids came into contact at high temperatures.”2

The results from these rocks have even more implications: “To have this amount of oxygen, the Earth must have had oxygen producing organisms like cyanobacteria actively producing it, placing these organisms much earlier in Earth's history than previously thought.”2 Now, the evolutionary story must be amended yet again. This stands in stark contrast to the biblical record, which came from God Himself and remains changeless.

No rocks have yet been discovered—not even deep down—that have an oxygen-free composition. The earth’s crust apparently was always under an oxygenated atmosphere, which can only be maintained by living things. Perhaps life was specially placed on earth at its very beginning—like these rocks indicate and Genesis teaches.

References

  1. “The existence of early red beds, sea and groundwater sulphate, oxidized terrestrial and sea-floor weathering crusts, and the distribution of ferric iron in sedimentary rocks are geological observations and inferences compatible with the biological and planetary predictions. It is suggested that from the time of the earliest dated rocks at 3.7 [billion years] ago, Earth had an oxygenic atmosphere.” Clemney, H. and N. Badham. 1982. Oxygen in the Precambrian atmosphere: An evaluation of the geological evidence. Geology. 10 (3): 141.
  2. Deep sea rocks point to early oxygen on earth. The Pennsylvania State University press release, March 24, 2009, reporting research published in Hoashi, M. et al. 2009. Primary haematite formation in an oxygenated sea 3.46 billion years ago. Nature Geoscience. 2 (4): 301-306.
  3. Genesis 7:11. See Austin, S. A. et al. 1994. Catastrophic Plate Tectonics: A Global Flood Model of Earth History. Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Creationism. Pittsburgh, PA: Creation Science Fellowship, 609-621.
  4. Humphreys, D. R. et al. 2003. Helium Diffusion Rates Support Accelerated Nuclear Decay. Proceedings of the Fifth International Conference on Creationism. Pittsburgh, PA: Creation Science Fellowship, 175-195. 

Photo Credit: Hiroshi Ohmoto/Yumiko Watanabe

* Mr. Thomas is Science Writer at the Institute for Creation Research.

Article posted on April 8, 2009.

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	Recent marketing research conducted a 24-country survey about people’s belief in aliens. They released their results just before the next widely anticipated Star Wars installment. How do biblical truths and scientific facts impact humanity’s concept of aliens from outer space? 

    [abstract_edit] => 

	



	



	Recent marketing research conducted a 24-country survey about people’s belief in aliens. They released their results just before the next widely anticipated Star Wars installment. How do biblical truths and scientific facts impact humanity’s concept of aliens from outer space? 

    [stage] => 

	

    [stage_edit] => 

	

    [body] => 

	Marketing research group Glocalities conducted a 24-country survey about people’s belief in aliens. They released their results just before the next widely anticipated Star Wars installment. How do biblical truths and scientific facts impact humanity’s concept of aliens from outer space?



	Reuters news summarized some of the survey results.1 Sixty-one percent of 26,000 respondents said “yes” when asked if they believe in “some form of life on other planets.” That lifeform could mean bacteria or something more intelligent. Forty-seven percent believe “in the existence of intelligent alien civilizations” out there somewhere.



	We apparently live in alien-crazed societies. Where is the evidence that has convinced so many of space aliens?



	Scripture shows no direct support for E.T.s. In fact, the Bible poses a gospel challenge to the existence of intelligent alien civilizations. Tweet: Scripture shows no direct support for E.T.s. In fact, the Bible poses a gospel challenge to the existence of intelligent alien civilizations.

Poll: Half of Humanity Believes in Aliens -
 https://www.icr.org/article/10400/

@icrscience @icrbthomas



	First, Scripture shows no direct support for E.T.s. In fact, the Bible poses a gospel challenge to the existence of intelligent alien civilizations. ICR news wrote in 2011, “Extraterrestrial life would also contradict the Bible’s claim that ‘Christ died once for all’ to pay for the sins of humanity (Hebrews 10:10), since to be fair, He would have to die as many times as there are planets inhabited with intelligent life.”2



	Since the Lord Jesus died only once before His resurrection, He could not have gone to die again on alien planets. Therefore, intelligent redeemable E.T.s must not exist.



	What about support from science? Even secular researchers have refuted intelligent aliens on the basis of a complete lack of E.T. evidence. Nobody has ever detected a single intelligent signal that came from out there.



	What about support from science? Even secular researchers have refuted intelligent aliens on the basis of a complete lack of E.T. evidence. Tweet: What about support from science? Even secular researchers have refuted intelligent aliens on the basis of a complete lack of E.T. evidence.

Poll: Half of Humanity Believes in Aliens -
 https://www.icr.org/article/10400/

@icrscience @icrbthomas



	Plus, they long ago raised a logical argument against aliens called the “Fermi paradox.”3 So many stars and planets populate the universe that even if a tiny fraction were suitable for life, many should populate the universe today if stars and planets have been emerging for billions of years. Instead it’s as silent as sound in space.



	It looks like half the world believes in aliens for reasons other than tangible or logical evidence. So, what feature do E.T.s carry that compels so many to accept the concept?



	It does fit right in with evolution’s story of a universe where nature, not God, somehow does all the creating.



	The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) Institute is dedicated to the search for space aliens. ICR news quoted from a 2011 SETI website plea that said, “That’s why we’re appealing to you—someone who recognizes that the evolutionary drama that has taken place on our planet may have happened on other worlds”4 But after listening for years the SETI Institute has zero E.T. evidence.



	Cultural phenomena like the movie industry and popular evolutionary dramas may propagate widespread belief in space aliens, but so far it has no biblical or scientific legs to stand on.



	References


    
	
  1. 
		Deutsch, A. and L. King. Are Earthlings Alone? Half of humans believe in alien life. Reuters. Posted on reuters.com December 7, 2017, accessed December 8, 2017. 
    2. 
	
  2. 
		Thomas, B. Another ‘Goldilocks’ Planet Stirs ET Hopes. Creation Science Update. Posted on ICR.org December 16, 2011, accessed December 8, 2017.
    3. 
	
  3. 
		Lisle, J. Are ETs & UFOs Real? In The New Answers Book. Posted on answersingenesis.org December 6, 2007, accessed December 7, 2011. Also, the upcoming movie Alien Intrusion vividly illustrates the Fermi paradox.
    4. 
	
  4. 
		Thomas, B. 2011. SETI Funding Linked to Belief in Evolution. Creation Science Update. Posted on ICR.org May 9, 2011, accessed December 8, 2011.
    5. 




	*Brian Thomas is Science Writer at the Institute for Creation Research and earned his M.S. in biotechnology from Stephen F. Austin State University.



	Article posted on December 26, 2017.

    [body_edit] => 

	Marketing research group Glocalities conducted a 24-country survey about people’s belief in aliens. They released their results just before the next widely anticipated Star Wars installment. How do biblical truths and scientific facts impact humanity’s concept of aliens from outer space?



	Reuters news summarized some of the survey results.1 Sixty-one percent of 26,000 respondents said “yes” when asked if they believe in “some form of life on other planets.” That lifeform could mean bacteria or something more intelligent. Forty-seven percent believe “in the existence of intelligent alien civilizations” out there somewhere.



	We apparently live in alien-crazed societies. Where is the evidence that has convinced so many of space aliens?



	Scripture shows no direct support for E.T.s. In fact, the Bible poses a gospel challenge to the existence of intelligent alien civilizations. Tweet: Scripture shows no direct support for E.T.s. In fact, the Bible poses a gospel challenge to the existence of intelligent alien civilizations.

Poll: Half of Humanity Believes in Aliens -
 https://www.icr.org/article/10400/

@icrscience @icrbthomas



	First, Scripture shows no direct support for E.T.s. In fact, the Bible poses a gospel challenge to the existence of intelligent alien civilizations. ICR news wrote in 2011, “Extraterrestrial life would also contradict the Bible’s claim that ‘Christ died once for all’ to pay for the sins of humanity (Hebrews 10:10), since to be fair, He would have to die as many times as there are planets inhabited with intelligent life.”2



	Since the Lord Jesus died only once before His resurrection, He could not have gone to die again on alien planets. Therefore, intelligent redeemable E.T.s must not exist.



	What about support from science? Even secular researchers have refuted intelligent aliens on the basis of a complete lack of E.T. evidence. Nobody has ever detected a single intelligent signal that came from out there.



	What about support from science? Even secular researchers have refuted intelligent aliens on the basis of a complete lack of E.T. evidence. Tweet: What about support from science? Even secular researchers have refuted intelligent aliens on the basis of a complete lack of E.T. evidence.

Poll: Half of Humanity Believes in Aliens -
 https://www.icr.org/article/10400/

@icrscience @icrbthomas



	Plus, they long ago raised a logical argument against aliens called the “Fermi paradox.”3 So many stars and planets populate the universe that even if a tiny fraction were suitable for life, many should populate the universe today if stars and planets have been emerging for billions of years. Instead it’s as silent as sound in space.



	It looks like half the world believes in aliens for reasons other than tangible or logical evidence. So, what feature do E.T.s carry that compels so many to accept the concept?



	It does fit right in with evolution’s story of a universe where nature, not God, somehow does all the creating.



	The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) Institute is dedicated to the search for space aliens. ICR news quoted from a 2011 SETI website plea that said, “That’s why we’re appealing to you—someone who recognizes that the evolutionary drama that has taken place on our planet may have happened on other worlds”4 But after listening for years the SETI Institute has zero E.T. evidence.



	Cultural phenomena like the movie industry and popular evolutionary dramas may propagate widespread belief in space aliens, but so far it has no biblical or scientific legs to stand on.



	References


    
	
  1. 
		Deutsch, A. and L. King. Are Earthlings Alone? Half of humans believe in alien life. Reuters. Posted on reuters.com December 7, 2017, accessed December 8, 2017. 
    2. 
	
  2. 
		Thomas, B. Another ‘Goldilocks’ Planet Stirs ET Hopes. Creation Science Update. Posted on ICR.org December 16, 2011, accessed December 8, 2017.
    3. 
	
  3. 
		Lisle, J. Are ETs & UFOs Real? In The New Answers Book. Posted on answersingenesis.org December 6, 2007, accessed December 7, 2011. Also, the upcoming movie Alien Intrusion vividly illustrates the Fermi paradox.
    4. 
	
  4. 
		Thomas, B. 2011. SETI Funding Linked to Belief in Evolution. Creation Science Update. Posted on ICR.org May 9, 2011, accessed December 8, 2011.
    5. 




	*Brian Thomas is Science Writer at the Institute for Creation Research and earned his M.S. in biotechnology from Stephen F. Austin State University.



	Article posted on December 26, 2017.

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