News to Note, November 29, 2008

1.Living Fossil Found In Grape-Sized Cell

A grape-sized cell inching along the ocean floor may be one of the world’s “oldest” living fossils.

2. Celebrating an Unsung Hero of Science

2009 marks the anniversary of the birth of one of the greatest scientists of all time.

3. Christian Today: “Most Britons Unaware of Darwin Anniversaries, Poll Finds”

The anniversary of Darwin’s birth and the publication of On the Origin of Species is coming up soon—did you know? Should you care?

The multi-denominational Christian Today reports on the results of a survey commissioned by theology think tank Theos: 80 percent of Britons are unaware that 2009 marks two high holidays of Darwinism. In this case, it’s the 200th birthday of Darwin and the 150th anniversary of his revolutionary book On the Origin of Species.

No doubt this is to the chagrin of Darwin’s most fanatical fans, who have organized a slew of “celebrations” of Darwin for next year in Britain and around the world. Disappointingly, this includes Theos, who is issuing a “major new report on the compatibility of Christianity and Darwinian evolution.” Theos director Paul Woolley explained, “Our project aims to ‘rescue’ [Darwin] and ensure that next year Darwin is recognised as a supremely gifted scientist rather than a theologian or anti-theologian.”

Of course, Darwin became agnostic, so he was only as “anti-theologian” as any, presumably. And Darwinism is fully compatible with numerous god or gods—just not the God of the Bible!

In a few weeks, expect the world’s media to cover Darwin intensively—as his February 12 birthday approaches. As for our coverage (we wouldn’t call it celebration!) of these Darwinian anniversaries, see Year of Darwin.

4. Superglue From A Sea Worm May Mend Bones

Fracture a bone? Let us put it back together with our worm glue.

5. Bringing Neanderthals Back

If we’re bringing back mammoths, should we let Neanderthals join the party? And what would they think of our auto insurance TV commercials?

6. Extraterrestrials and Ghosts More Believeable Than God?

More people believe in aliens and ghosts than in God—according to a perhaps-unreliable survey.

7. LiveScience: “Scientists Team Up with Hollywood”

If you thought Hollywood was already as evolutionized as it could get, think again.

The Science and Entertainment Exchange, a new initiative of the National Academy of Sciences, is designed to “connect the entertainment industry with scientists and engineers to work on everything from movies, television, and even video games,” LiveScience reports. The initiative was kicked off in Los Angeles’s Creative Artists Agency last week with presentations to Hollywood directors, producers, and writers.

Among the topics was one on “our place in the universe” by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, director of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History. Other topics included infectious diseases, the future of genomics, and artificial intelligence.

Perhaps this initiative will never amount to anything; perhaps it will. Either way, our guess is that Hollywood will continue to generate entertainment that weaves not just potentially entertaining, operational, cutting-edge science, but Darwinian “science” and philosophy together—and insidiously “evolutionizes” the culture. Every Christian needs to be aware of such hidden indoctrination, and the power Hollywood has in shaping young minds. A great place to learn more is Carl Kerby’s Remote Control: The Power of Hollywood on Today’s Culture.

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