CRS Conference 2025

Evolutionists claim that modern elephants evolved trunks and are descendants of much smaller basal Proboscideans such as Moeritherium, who presumably lived between 60 and 35 million years ago. However, modern elephants do not only have trunks and giant bodies, but also large brains, temporal glands, cushioned feet that can detect seismic vibrations and the ability to communicate with infrasound. This literature study looks at the claims made by secular science up to date regarding the evolution of the Proboscidean order and how these claims are implausible when considering the need for multiple complex structures to have evolved simultaneously. Currently, phylogenetic trees are awkwardly arranged and grouped to support the gradual evolution of features such as cranial capacity instead of using the parsimony principle, which would have revealed the significant gap between the presumed early, proboscidean ancestors and more modern elephants.
 I argue that the multiple, complex, design elements making up the Elelphantimorpha clade makes it irreducibly complex. This is not only due to elephants’ unique physical features but also due to the way in which these are interlinked to give rise to higher level functions such as a complex social stratification and structure (matriarchal and hierarchical). These findings provide a valuable foundation for future studies aimed at defining the elephant holobaramin.

At the Institute for Creation Research, we have constructed an original model to explain the early development and deployment of adaptive traits. By continuously tracking conditions within their environments, we predict that all animals will self-adjust through molecular, cellular and physiological mechanisms to optimize functional anatomy. We anticipate finding evidence to support our prediction through ICR’s innovative research program. The experimental model is A. mexicanus (Mexican Tetra), with laboratory stocks consisting of interfertile surface dwelling and blind cave dwelling morphotypes from northeastern Mexico. While cavefish are eyeless and minimally pigmented, trait optimizations include metabolic, sensory, respiratory, olfactory and gustatory adaptations specific to subterranean environments. Recent experiments have demonstrated that melanic pigmentation is reversible, DNA barcoding enables identification of conspecific A. mexicanus strains, and confocal microscopy is proving valuable for characterizing microanatomy. Additionally, breeding methods are providing access to embryonic and larval stages for comparative analysis and experimentation. Here, we will present the developmental distribution and cellular anatomy of neuromasts (hair cells) within lateral line organs (LLO) of larval cavefish as adaptive compensations for vision loss in eyeless fish. Going forward, we will initiate molecular protocols to investigate the expression patterns of genes that are known to regulate eye formation. Importantly, compensatory adaptations are not limited to fish. Eyeless, minimally pigmented salamanders, arthropods, molluscs, platyhelminthes and annelids also inhabit caves. Therefore, a diversity of dissimilar body plans are responding to similar environmental conditions in a similar way, supporting our inference that common organism-driven adaptations are divinely engineered by a common Designer.

Generally speaking, there are two different views within the creation community with respect to the taxonomic identify of “Lucy” and her kind, Au. afarensis. The first view posits Lucy and her species were an extinct quadrupedal ape. Adherents of this view (Quadrupedal Ape Hypothesis) tend to overlook key diagnostic features indicating human-like obligate bipedality, which would contradict their position. Meanwhile, there is a growing number of creationists who recognize bipedal morphologies in the partial skeleton of Lucy and the broader Australopithecus genus. Proponents of this second view (Bipedal Ape Hypothesis) argue Lucy’s kind had an ape-like cranium yet walked upright in a manner similar to modern humans. In this paper, several reputed  “Australopithecus-like” traits are examined. Features commonly interpreted as indicators of arboreal propensities are found in small-bodied adult humans, such as the Flores “Hobbit” and H. naledi. Since these same traits occur in humans, they cannot be considered diagnostic of Australopithecus taxa. This paper further identifies features in Lucy’s skeleton that are entirely consistent with H. sapiens. These findings call into question the taxonomic assignment of numerous human-looking fossils attributed to Australopithecus. Several lines of evidence support new hypothesis (Pygmy Human Hypothesis), that Lucy was a genetically isolated small-bodied human, drawn from a pygmy population that lived in the Hadar region of East Africa during the post-flood African Humid Period.

One of the techniques used by molecular baraminology is using a sequence similarity cutoff value to either join two species into the same baramin or separate them. After several studies, a specific cutoff value is still lacking.

This cutoff value can be determined by measuring the range of sequence similarity values among species of the same kind. The mitochondrial genome of 1,005 mammalian species from the NCBI database were cross-compared. The lowest sequence similarity value was taken as a possible cutoff value for any given kind. The distribution of all such minimum sequence similarity values was analyzed over various putative kinds, defined on the genus, family, or order level.

The minimum sequence similarity values were normally distributed without multimodality for all three taxonomic levels. The minimum sequence similarity and the number of species/genera in the genus/family were weakly negatively correlated (-0.374/-0.343). The correlation between the minimum sequence similarity and the number of species in the order was strong and negative (-0.634). Since the level of the kind rarely reaches that of the order, only genera and families were examined more closely. 

The lowest minimum sequence similarity values for genera and families were 83.2% and 75%, respectively. Since the level of the kind in this study was between the genus and the family, the similarity cutoff whereby two species can be classified into the same or different baramins is 75–83.2%.

The data used in this analysis is available in the Mitogenome Analysis Tool at the Molecular Baraminology Analysis Tool Suite (https://molbar.shinyapps.io/molbar).

 In 1974, Dr. Henry M. Morris outlined the concept of biological design (Scientific Creationism). Yet, in 2025 a common question remains, “how does someone begin to think about biology and interpret observations within an engineering framework?” If engineered biology is in fact the most basic element of God’s general revelation of Himself to humanity, then the ability to understand that creatures are engineered, and to explain how they operate within an engineering framework, would seem to be a skill of utmost importance. Seeing engineered biology is intuitive, but explaining it requires that creationists develop something new—a theory of their own. ICR is leading some creationists and a pioneering branch of Intelligent Design (ID) advocates to develop a Theory of Biological Design (TOBD). This theory constrains researchers to think about, frame questions on, and approach biological research in a radically different way from Darwinism. To test and advance the TOBD, we are employing methods involving literature reviews and empirical studies on cavefish (Astyanax mexicanus). Based upon results of these studies, research-driven revisions to the TOBD (up to July, 2025) are presented that will address basic assumptions and premises, and how an engineering perspective better explains the evolutionist’s recent claims of “evolving evolvability” (Barnett, Science, 2025). Our conclusions emphasize ways to interpret common biological observations in both the literature and empirical studies within the parameters of engineering-based assumptions and premises, and to make specific predictions to guide a research program as is currently progressing with ICR’s cavefish project.

One of the main foci of paleoanthropological research is the supposed evolution of bipedality. Evolutionary naturalists face the tough task of explaining all the anatomical particulars that God created for humans to walk and run in the unique way that we do. Numerous studies have compared the human bipedal gait to that of extant apes, all under the assumption that humans and apes evolved from a common ancestor. A. afarensis is currently represented by the most complete skeletal remains among extinct apes and ape-like remains. This makes it the favorite for studying the supposed evolution of bipedalism. A few 3-dimensional muscle reconstruction models have been published in this regard. Some recent studies have acknowledged that A. afarensis would have walked with a gait different from humans but still assume obligate bipedality. In this study, we explain how the lower extremity muscle and ligament attachments work with the osseous (bony) morphology to produce the human gait. Then we contrast this with how the anatomy of extant apes affects the way they walk. Finally, we compare these extant models with available data for A. afarensis. We conclude that its gait resembled that of modern apes. This result confronts the assumption of human evolution that pervades this field and conforms to the biblical model of created kinds.

Cacti (Family Cactaceae) comprise a diverse group of armored plants adapted to arid environments. The absence of cacti in the fossil record and their restricted global distribution suggest most of this diversity has arisen post-Flood. The objective of this study is to use morphology, hybridization, and, especially, molecular data to determine whether Family Cactaceae represents exactly one, more than one, or less than one created kind.

Based on morphology, we proposed three putative holobaramins in Family Cactaceae and then performed pairwise comparisons between chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) to examine the genetic similarity within and between these holobaramins. This molecular approach predicted two holobaramins which differed from those predicted by morphology. The differences are due, in part, to substantial rearrangements in cpDNA which skew sequence similarity scores, leading to groupings that may not accurately reflect baraminic relationships. To address these challenges, we have developed new tools to compare large sequences for molecular baraminology. 

The usefulness of molecular data in clarifying baraminic relationships remains the subject of debate. This research demonstrates potential for molecular data in baraminology as long as several lines of evidence are used to establish discontinuities and precautions are taken to protect against artifacts which may arise in large-scale genetic analyses. This study also highlights the immense amount of genetic and morphological diversity that has apparently arisen in this prickly plant family since the Genesis flood. Understanding the driving forces behind this rapid diversification remains one of the great questions in Creation biology.

 Research at the University of Leeds, UK established the principle of how the bombardier beetle spray system uses a twin valve system of an inlet and exhaust valve, to eject a series of explosions about 400 - 500 times a second from its tiny 1mm explosion chamber. We are now looking to build a proof-of-concept experimental rig at Liberty University. This will demonstrate the bombardier beetle valve system using a small working model for showing to young people how the beetle makes an extraordinary series of blasts. Such a working model can then become a show-case example of Creation design in the natural world. 
 The rig would also be a research tool for testing different sized chambers, orifice sizes and valve timings with a view to testing the feasibility of this valve mechanism being used as a sprinkler water / vapour fire suppression system. This could be applied to vehicles where water weight is crucial and yet fire safety is vital, such as submarines and space vehicles, where a fire is usually catastrophic. To carry much fresh water for a traditional sprinkler system is impractical and prohibitive in cost (especially in space). The advantage of this novel system would be in spraying a water / vapour mist directed precisely at a potential hot spot, by using an infra-red camera to detect the heat source, and thus directing a moveable nozzle at the potential fire hazard.

The famous petroglyph at Kachina Bridge in Natural Bridges National Monument, Utah—often called the 'sauropod petroglyph'—has been the subject of debate among archaeologists, historians, and proponents of biblical creation. Frequently cited as evidence that Native American cultures may have encountered living dinosaurs—either witnessing such creatures firsthand or preserving their likeness through oral tradition—the figure has been widely featured in literature, documentaries, and conference presentations. However, despite its prominence in these discussions, the petroglyph has rarely been examined firsthand by researchers and, to the author's knowledge, had not been formally studied in situ by any young-earth creationist with archaeological training or experience in Native American rock art—until now.

This study presents a comprehensive field investigation of the Kachina Bridge petroglyph using archaeological methods and indigenous rock art interpretation. Through direct documentation, comparative content analysis, and survey of related sites, this research establishes that the petroglyph is not a representation of a dinosaur but rather part of a large-scale geographical map. This map details a network of travel routes, rivers, geological features, and settlement locations spanning approximately 70,000 square miles across Utah and eastern Nevada, with some referenced sites extending as far as 350 miles away.

This paper presents and supports a new interpretation, identifying the Kachina Bridge sauropod petroglyph as part of a geospatial record rather than a depiction of an animal. These findings offer insight into Native American mapping traditions and call into question previous assumptions about the petroglyph’s meaning and purpose—striving for archaeological and contextual accuracy.

Viruses can demonstrate evolutionary processes that take “deep geological time” in higher organisms. During the past five years, SARS-CoV-2 has successfully adapted to the human host and established human reservoirs for long term coexistence with mankind. We have observed innovative synergistic mutations in the Spike protein to improve receptor binding. Adaptation to cells of the upper respiratory tract has shortened the incubation period and facilitated viral spread. Such improvements allowed for neutral and/or loss-of-function mutations to evade host immune response and to penetrate herd immunity. Adaptive mutations have resulted in intermittent selective sweeps by dominant variants. However, there are limitations to functional improvements. Receptor binding affinity of the Spike protein peaked in 2022-2023. Accumulation of fixed mutations plateaued after the advent of BA.2.86/JN.1 at the turn of 2023 and 2024. Purifying selection has been the main force working on nonsynonymous mutations in the Omicron group and overall fitness effects of missense mutations in major viral proteins have been declining. Moreover, because of weak selection on synonymous mutations, codon adaptation index in the human host has been decreasing among Omicron sublineages. Consequently, Omicron variants replicated less efficiently than the original virus, and recent Omicron variants showed signs of further attenuation in animal models. Viral attenuation in the human population manifested as declining COVID-19-related mortality even though viral prevalence remained high. Thus SARS-CoV-2 showcased “The Edge of Evolution” described by Michael Behe and “Genetic Entropy” championed by John Sanford.

Why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. (Matthew 6:28-29) flower petals exhibit remarkable aesthetic qualities through their vibrant colors and macroscopic petal arrangements; however they also possess meticulously engineered surface designs for self-cleaning function. In this study, the flower petals were characterized in its hierarchical micro- and nanostructures under scanning electron microscopy and quantified its hydrophobic properties by measuring contact angles to investigate its structure-properties relationships. SEM images revealed two distinct surface features: nanoscale groove in 100-200 nm ranges and microscale pillars in 10-30 µm ranges. Regarding the size of water vapors which is 0.1-10 µm, water vapors could easily be anchored on the nano groove surface to minimize surface energy, which is called water pinning effect. As the size of a water droplet gets bigger and reaches to a size of micron scale, nanopillar structures in 10-30 µm ranges induce water droplet rolling down. To measure this hydrophobicity, contact angle were measured on negative impressions of flower petals by dropping 5 µl deionized water droplet. The results shows that contact angles were measured 139-152 ° in six flower petals, indicating superhydrophobic property. These findings demonstrate that the combination of nanoscale hydrophilic grooves and microscale hydrophobic pillars enable flower petals to have efficient self cleaning capabilities.

The Glacial Lake Missoula Flood (GLMF) has been studied with the use of drone photography and was presented at the 2024 conference by the author. Hanging canyons are a diagnostic feature of massive flooding and the result of rapidly changing water flows leaving the lessor channel hanging, not eroded to the bottom of the main canyon. This presentation will discuss hanging canyons in which the top end of the canyon is cut off, leaving the bottom of the canyon hanging. The author will present his hypothesis of how rapidly changing water flow patterns result in these previously unidentified features. Drone videography, photography, along with Google Earth evaluations will aid the identification of these canyons. These were never identified with the GLMF. Four cases of bottom-end-hanging-canyons will be presented: Cascade Butte, Cascade, MT, the Little Missouri Badlands of N Dakota, cliffs above Moab, UT, and the convergence of the Little Colorado and Colorado Rivers. It is hypothesized that these unusual hanging canyons were formed by the rapidly changing current flows during the channelized flow phase of the Genesis Flood. A scenario for each case will be presented based on drone research discoveries. The last case will add to Oard’s hypothesis (QRSQ March 2011) for the origin of the Grand Canyon related to the convergence of the Little Colorado and Colorado Rivers adding the evidence of a massive kolk or eddy forming at the convergence.

Dr. Joshua Swamidass has developed a unique model of human originals called the ‘Genealogical Adam and Eve Model’. In it, he postulates that God could have selected an Adam and Eve from an evolved human population and conferred on them ‘humanness’. Alternatively, God could have created an Adam and Eve de novo, but with no genetic distinction to the population in which they lived. Over many years, their children would have interbred with the non-humans, causing their genealogy to spread out among the population but not necessarily their DNA, which would have been lost over time. This model has been rigorously tested with a population modeling software I have recently developed. His assumptions about genetic and genealogical ancestry are wrong. That is, genealogical ancestry, even though it spreads faster than genetic ancestry, is not guaranteed to propagate though a population. Also, genetic ancestry is not guaranteed to disappear, even when the population is large and only a single individual is being tracked. Worse, geographic separation and uneven local mating patterns complicate the picture, to the point where one cannot say that all people are (genealogically) descended from Adam by the time of Christ, which raises massive theological problems.

The subclass/order Digenea is a group of flatworms within the phylum Platyhelminthes. The two-host life cycle is common in the class Trematoda (e.g. Schistosoma). During the life cycle the parasite transitions into very different morphological forms: the egg, miracidia, sporocyst, redia, cercariae, metacercaria, adult worms. As such, the parasite must immediately physiologically adapt to totally different environments as well as overcome two very dissimilar host immune system attacks whether gastropod molluscs or vertebrates. These sophisticated changes cannot be the result of time, chance and selection but instead reveals plan, purpose and special creation. The physiological adjustments and genetic basis for the transformation processes are extensive, but have been little investigated. The result of literature searches reveals limited references to these critical transitions in the trematodes. Once the parasite successfully enters the host (mollusc or vertebrate), it must immediately address the targeted host responses. Rapid changes of abiotic factors could also compromise the worm’s biology including temperature, pH, salinity, P02, PCO2, and the ambient osmotic pressure of fresh water. The environmental adjustments and immune evasion strategies are part of the worm’s innate tracking system via regulated gene expression. The trematode is designed with multiple types of sensory receptors working together to rapidly effect physiological changes. I hypothesize that schistosomes continuously and actively track abiotic and biotic variables and swiftly respond by self-adjusting to these radically changing environments and host immunological responses. The worms are designed to utilize planned engineering principles which results in adaptation and proliferation of the species.

The Zanclean Flood is a hypothesized megaflood event that reconnected the Atlantic Ocean with the Mediterranean basin, at the beginning of the Pliocene epoch. This event is credited for catastrophic erosion of the Camarinal Sill, erosion of canyons on the Mediterranean seafloor, submarine "mega-bar” deposits, and onshore contouric deposits and erosional remnants. From a secular perspective, the Zanclean Flood is alleged to be the largest megaflood in the geologic record, vastly exceeding Ice Age megafloods such as the Lake Missoula Flood in volume and flow rate. Growing acceptance of the Zanclean Flood theory illustrates the movement among conventional geologists away from strict uniformitarian interpretations and towards a recognition of catastrophic processes in explaining geologic features. The Zanclean Flood theory has several aspects of significance to creation geology. Proponents of the model have advanced lines of geologic and geomorphologic evidence that warrant careful review from a creationist perspective. Ongoing debate within the creation geology community over the chronostratigraphy of the Flood, especially the Flood/Post-Flood boundary, suggests that creationists need better defined and weighted criteria for distinguishing Flood and Post-Flood deposits. The Zanclean Flood theory provides a useful test case for such criteria. The key question that must be answered is whether the deposits and erosional features attributed to the Zanclean Flood can be explained in terms of Flood processes, or if they require a Post-Flood context in which to form. More research is needed, including original field work, to constrain this event within a Biblical creationist chronology.

The alleged end-to-end fusion of two small chimpanzee-like chromosomes to form human chromosome 2 (chr2) in a common ancestor of humans and chimps is a key argument for human evolution. However, the past ten years of research has revealed two paradigms refuting fusion: 1) the alleged 798-base fusion sequence is a transcription factor binding site inside the second promoter of a lncRNA gene (DDX11L2) that is involved in a variety of important gene networks, and 2) the alleged cryptic centromere is itself located in the middle of a large protein coding gene (ANKRD30BL) with the cryptic centromere sequence constituting/overlapping both exonic and intronic sequence. Despite these two discoveries and other pertinent data, there continues to be support for a fusion event amongst some creationists. Like evolutionists, they downplay the functional data and base their arguments solely on chromosomal synteny between humans and chimps. To resolve this debate, research has been initiated at ICR to analyze the human-chimp synteny surrounding these fusion-related features. Initial findings reveal that there is a significant collection of genes in the region near DDX11L2 and ANKRD30BL that are nowhere to be found on chimpanzee fusion-precursor chromosomes 12 (2A) or 13 (2b).  And further out from these regions, there are even more synteny-related discrepancies. Clearly, the structure of human chr2 in these regions is too complex and non-syntenic to be explained by a simple fusion event.

Building on previous work which indicated that not only Earth but also other planets and moons experienced Accelerated Nuclear Decay (AND) and associated massive internal heating, this current work explores one possible cause of AND in depth, specifically high energy supernova neutrinos from the Vela Supernova Remnant. Dozens of studies investigating a connection between neutrinos and decay are analyzed and summarized to provide important background. In addition, the amount of expected beta decay based on our current understanding of neutrino induced charged current interactions from Vela Supernova Remnant neutrinos is calculated. Several proposals are advanced at how these effects might have been increased. An argument for how neutrino induced beta decay could also lead to other forms of decay such as alpha and spontaneous fission is discussed.

Derek Agar once described the conventional view of the rock record as consisting of long periods of boredom and short periods of terror, implying that geological events which we can see in the rocks today were infrequent and isolated in the vast eons of time. By contrast, the rocks laid down by the Genesis Flood imply extremely dynamic geological events which were adjacent to each other in time and space.

The megasequence concept has been a useful tool for understanding the Flood in global context. New, publicly available data and techniques allow us to refine identification and timing of megasequences and to keep the global picture while considering finer sequence divisions. In this study, I mapped unconformity-bound sediment packages across North America over time. The dynamic nature and movement of geologically significant events can be seen. By including paleocurrent data, this provides the first steps in constructing an event-based model of the Flood, which would consist of day-by-day sequences of events. This technique may be useful to discover regions of widespread upper flow regime deposits.

Additionally, based on the methodology of Peters (2008), I found megasequence subdivisions in addition to those found by Sloss (1963) and timing refinements for megasequence boundaries. I also explored the relationship between megasequences and biostratigraphy, finding good correspondence between sequences and Wise and Richardson's (2023) Number of Local Sequence Straddling Species metric.

Current creation models depend on rapid speciation to explain the biodiversity of life today. Darwinian mechanisms such as natural selection cannot account for so much speciation in the time between the worldwide flood and the present. But this does not mean rapid speciation is impossible. In fact, many observational studies have shown rapid morphological changes in species occurring on contemporary timescales (years to decades), suggesting that rapid speciation is a widespread process (Stockwell et al.). Such rapid phenotypic evolution is required in a young-earth model.
 
Despite the increase in attention given to rapid speciation, mechanisms for it remain largely unknown. Therefore, to better understand how rapid speciation occurs, this paper will survey examples of contemporary (short-term) evolution and summarize what these observations suggest about rapid speciation. Special consideration will be given to vertebrates whose ancestors survived the flood and dispersed across the globe in the post-flood period.

This research found that birds, reptiles, fish, and other major animal groups display evidence of contemporary evolution. Further, these cases reflect potentially widespread mechanisms for phenotypic change in short timescales. Sensory drive, land colonization, hybridization, migratory ecotypes, and other ecological processes drive speciation in a variety of species. Many mechanisms likely play a role in rapid speciation. This survey of examples of contemporary evolution is an important first step in understanding how rapid speciation occurred in the post-flood period. 
 

  My research is a comparative analysis of two inhomogeneous cosmological models: cosmic void, typified by the Lemaître–Tolman–Bondi (LTB) models, and cosmic wall, exemplified by the more recent Timescape Cosmology. Both frameworks aim to explain observed cosmic acceleration without invoking the problematic dark energy, but rather attributing large-scale inhomogeneities to variations in gravitational potential and clock rates. The cosmic void model posits that Earth resides near the center of a vast underdense region, leading to an apparent acceleration of the universe’s expansion. Though the details are different between this long-age, secular cosmology and Humphrey’s young-earth creation cosmology, both contain the same boundary condition that earth is near the center of a bounded universe. In contrast, the cosmic wall model proposes that Earth resides in a denser region (wall) where gravitational time dilation causes slower local clock rates relative to rapidly expanding voids. The concept that clocks are ticking at different rates in different parts of the universe is useful to creation cosmologies in accounting for the starlight travel time problem. I will evaluate these secular models against key observational datasets, including type 1a supernova luminosity distances and cosmic microwave background anisotropies. By separating objective observations from the false Big Bang interpretations, my findings will highlight how the data best undergird the most viable creation cosmologies. The aim is to chisel out a more precise young-earth creation model of the universe for future research to build upon.

Previous geological studies across five continents (North and South America, Africa, Asia, and Europe) have shown that the global Flood was progressive, peaking in the Zuni Megasequence and receding in the Tejas. Recently, a geological analysis of Australia and surrounding islands, including New Guinea and New Zealand (Australasia), was completed. Seven sedimentary megasequences were correlated and mapped using 486 columns compiled from oil wells, cores, seismic profiles and outcrops. RockWorks software was used to create isopach and basal lithology maps for each of the megasequences. Results show a chapter-by-chapter progression of the Flood across Australasia, similar to other continents with one exception. Australasia has a higher percentage of Pre-Sauk Megasequence sediment compared to any other continent. However, the earliest generally accepted Flood sediments, starting in the Cambrian, and corresponding to the Sauk, Tippecanoe and Kaskaskia Megasequences, exhibit minimal surface coverage and volume, similar to the other five continents. Later megasequences increase dramatically in surface coverage and volume. The Zuni Megasequence has the most sedimentary volume (after the Pre-Sauk) and the second most surface extent, confirming that it corresponds to the peak of the Flood (Day 150). The final megasequence (Tejas) has the most surface coverage, both on and offshore, of any megasequence, suggesting it was the receding phase of the Flood (Days 151-314). Extensive offshore coal seams in Tejas sediments support this interpretation.

The Allen Ancient DNA Resource (AADR) contains radiocarbon, genetic, and geographic data for ancient human remains, allowing the Babel dispersion to be investigated with radiocarbon dating using a biblical timescale. The genetic data from ancient DNA allows absolute time stamps to be applied to deep branch points in the Y chromosome tree as it grew before and after the dispersion. With metadata from the AADR, world maps were made in 100-year increments and marked with sample locations dated from the Flood (2500 BC) to Abraham (2000 BC). These maps show a time-lapse geographic dispersion from Babel. Although the AADR database is a poor proxy for ancient human population sizes, the dates of the earliest human remains on each continent may reflect the arrival of the first humans fleeing the Babel event. This analysis suggests that the Babel event caused rapid dispersion into Europe, Asia, and the Americas within 200 years of the Flood. Furthermore, biblical radiocarbon dates assigned to the deep branches of the Y chromosome tree suggest that the major haplogroup marker mutations to Noah’s sequence existed by the time of the Babel dispersion, and these characterize the first male lineages to arrive in Europe, Asia, and the Americas after Babel. While Noah and his sons were still alive, and before the birth of Abraham, the world was repopulated. God used the Babel dispersion to accomplish his purpose rapidly so that Noah and his three sons would “be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth” (Genesis 9:1).

We apply multiscale engineering methods from material science to the analysis of cosmic voids using the Cosmic Fabric Model and identify structures of the ether that are relatable to those of crystallographic grains. Whereas distant astronomical objects cannot be studied in a laboratory as earthly materials can, the relatable structures between cosmic voids and material grains illustrate the optimization of the universe for human examination so that the heavens might “declare the glory of God” (Psalms 19:1). Our analysis employs multiscale modeling of the ether that leverages bridging structures between length scales which characterize the structure-property relationships between galaxies, cosmic voids, and the large-scale structure of the universe. By applying the Cosmic Fabric Model and considering cosmic voids as large-scale granular structures in the ether, we postulate a model for cosmic structure that accounts for phenomena such as galactic morphology and orientation, “dark matter” distribution, void morphology and orientation, and possible indications of cosmic-scale kinematics. While this model renders astrophysical structures, its design and methods were derived from an engineering perspective of material science. The validity of applying a material model to cosmic structures is not only a case in favor of an ether, but it also suggests that the universe was designed by God for human research by making structures at unattainable distances relatable to earthly materials which are readily studied. This comparison offers perspective into astrophysical observation that suggests the universe is optimal for humanity to behold the greatness of an infinite God.

  Creation scientists have two models for the origin of the most iconic canyon in the world, the Grand Canyon. One is the dam-breach model and the other is the late Flood channelized erosion model. 
 Two seemingly fatal problems for the dam-breach model are the lack of shorelines and bottom sediments for the putative lakes. However, possible shorelines terraces capped by thin, patchy tufa have recently been found. The Bidahochi Formation continues to be presented as bottom sediments of “Lake Hopi.” The breaching of the Grand Canyon is currently seen as a rapid top-down process, starting with the breaching of a lake that formed the Black Canyon in western Colorado and ending with the erosion of the Grand Canyon 
 Evidence from the field will be presented that the terraces have been misinterpreted. The terraces seem to be developed only on the Kaibab Limestone and not on other lithologies. This suggests some kind of bedding plane feature. Tufa also has been reported from the Kaibab Limestone at altitudes well above the height of “Lake Hopi.” This tufa could be a seepage feature from the limestone, as suggested by Carol Hill for the tufa at Cape solitude. Evidence will be presented that the Bidahochi Formation is not related to “Lake Hopi.” 
 This research is important not only for the origin of Grand Canyon, but also for the location of the upper Flood boundary, needed in a sophisticated Flood model

Collagen, the most abundant protein in vertebrates, possesses exceptional stability due to its triple helical structure, yet is still subject to degradation over time. The discovery of collagen in dinosaur fossils dated over 65 million years old, was surprising in light of theoretical limits to its persistence. Despite this mystery, few studies have attempted to empirically quantify the decay rate of bone collagen. Our lab uses Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy to analyze collagen content in powderized bone. By artificially treating modern mammalian, reptilian, and avian bones with heat, we accelerated decay and determined empirical thermal decay curves for bone collagen. Our studies found the half-life of bone collagen at 25 °C in a neutral aqueous environment to be 1175, 885, and 296 years for mammalian, reptilian, and avian samples, respectively. Under these conditions bone collagen levels will drop below <1% in less than 10,000 years. Even at lower temperatures (10 oC) the life expectancy of collagen falls far short of the conventional ages assigned to the dinosaur bones in which it is found. While several factors impact collagen decay besides thermal properties, such as the presence of microorganisms which would accelerate decay and the presence of crosslinking which may prolong decay, our data establish a baseline with which to compare ongoing experiments aimed at testing proposed models of preservation. If plausible preservation methods cannot be identified which significantly extend the decay rate of collagen, then the assigned ages of these fossils should be re-examined.

Evolutionary proclamations of the universe assume a non-intelligent Big Bang with a 13.8 billion year requirement for all of the evolutionary changes to occur. We counter the evolutionary argument from a creationeering paradigm related to the astrosphere. Astronomists and astrophysicists who are creation scientists have asserted that God designed and made the heavens but have not clearly described the process by means of an engineering method. This multi-objective optimization creationeering approach employs the design objectives, constraints, and variables at different length scales related to the universe, super cluster galaxies, local galactic group, the interstellar neighborhood of stars, and the sun/moon/earth system. A Pareto frontier is discussed in the multi-objective solution space showing that multiple objectives at each length scale demand an intelligent engineer outside of the designed system. As such, this presentation lays a foundation for future astronomical and astrophysical studies to start from the Creationeering paradigm and not the evolutionary Big Bang paradigm where no intelligent engineer was present at the beginning. Finally, this paradigm can inform future cosmological studies from a biblical perspective and that from a Young Earth Creationism perspective.

This research applies a 1D version of the shallow water equations, combined with treatments of erosion and turbulent sediment transport and deposition, to simulate the actions of large tsunamis as they move from regions of deep ocean onto the continents during the Genesis Flood. Previous work (Baumgardner and Navarro, 2023) modeled the full global domain using the 2D shallow water equations but with spatial resolution insufficient to capture many important details, especially those relating to sediment deposition. By restricting the number of horizontal dimensions from two to one, it becomes possible to achieve dramatically better resolution of sediment transport and deposition processes. This work utilizes the same open channel flow equations as before to model the suspension, transport, and deposition of sediment in the turbulent boundary layers that occur as giant tsunamis repeatedly invade and recede from the continent surface. The scheme resolves the strongly sheared layer of turbulent water into ten sublayers and also resolves the sediment particles into four distinct size classes. A significant advance this new treatment provides is resolution of the deposited sediment into individual layers, each with its own particle size distribution. This work brings into much better focus how giant tsunamis during the Flood produced the notable sequence of horizontally extensive sediment layers with flat boundaries between them so conspicuous in the record.
 

Collagen-rich regions of fresh bone matrix show birefringence under cross-polarized light microscopy (XPoL). In bone nanostructure, collagen fibrils hold hydroxyapatite crystallites in a regular pattern that interacts with polarized light. Decaying collagen releases crystallites. This decreases birefringence. Our recent work found collagen sequence in partly birefringent Edmontosaurus bone. This suggest that XPoL indeed reveals collagen. However, we observe that various bone fossils possess a spectrum of apparent collagen content that ranges from abundant to none. What causes such differences? To explore this question, we examined two disparate Camarasaurus specimens, both from the Brushy Basin Member of the Morrison Formation. One sample (CEM 0001) was excavated from a private ranch near Dinosaur, CO, and another (ICR 10002) from private property near Devils Tower, WY. CEM 0001 revealed pervasive birefringence, whereas ICR 10002 revealed none. We hypothesize thermal history as a primary driver of collagen loss. To evaluate this, we surveyed depositional settings and compared qualitative microscopic patterns between fossil and artificially (i.e., thermally) decayed bone collagen. A taphonomy wherein sustained, elevated temperatures accelerated collagen decay in the WY sample but not the CO sample explain the results. However, given the relatively short half-life of collagen at any reasonable temperature, this option applies only if these dinosaurs were deposited thousands of years ago—for example during Noah’s Flood.

  A survey done in 2019 by Faulkner evaluated 48 age determination methods used by creationists to indicate a young age for the universe. We categorize these young-age indicators surveyed by Faulkner into four basic lines of argument:
 
 - Arguments based on accumulation of an effect over time. 
 - Arguments against the story of naturalistic evolution.
 - Arguments based on transience of physical features or entities.
 - Arguments based on inherent instability.
 
The latter two of these categories impose the concept of an expiration date on either the universe as a whole, or certain features within it. While this works as a convenient way of disproving evolutionary models of the universe and solar system, these young-age indicators need to be considered within the context of a creationist model as well. Do creationists believe that the universe was created by God with an expiration date? Or are these winding-down processes as a result of the Fall? Faulkner’s survey noted that the primary motivation for determining a young age for the universe is to disprove evolutionary models. Because these determinations of a young age for the universe are motivated by an effort to disprove evolutionary models, they are often divorced from any positive creation model building context. Creationist astronomers need to ensure that arguments for a young universe fit within the confines of their models of creation astronomy.

In 1993 Larry Vardiman proposed an analytical young-Earth ice sheet model (horizontal layering and no basal melting). Hebert later used the more-sophisticated Mahaffy model to simulate the rapid formation of thick, post-Flood ice sheets. The apparent frequencies of volcanic tephra layers in the deep Antarctic ice cores provide strong evidence that the uniformitarian ice core ages are greatly inflated, as does the apparent fallout time of one particular tephra deposit in Antarctica’s Dome Fuji ice core. Here we strengthen the argument for inflated apparent tephra fallout times. Because little melting is thought to have occurred at the EPICA Dome C core, and because of the horizontal layering at the core site, the EPICA Dome C core is a good choice to compare creation and uniformitarian expectations. We use Vardiman’s model to find apparent tephra fallout times and compare them with those obtained from the uniformitarian age model. The uniformitarian model implies unrealistically-long fallout times, usually measured in months and even years. However, Vardiman’s model provides more realistic fallout times, measured in just days, as one would expect from short, explosive volcanic eruptions. The young-Earth model also implies that most of the tephra layers were deposited during the post-Flood Ice Age, as one might expect due to intense residual post-Flood volcanism. We discuss efforts to do the same with the Mahaffy model, and we discuss efforts to apply the much more sophisticated Blatter-Pattyn ice sheet model to the problem of modeling rapid post-Flood formation of ice sheets.

Exploration of Tyrannosaurus rex fossils show signs of cells, tissues, and proteins. Unsuccessful attempts have been made to isolate deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) due to environmental contamination or inadequate amounts of DNA; however, we believe that advances in DNA technology may make it possible to extract and analyze ancient DNA (aDNA) from dinosaur fossils. In this study, we compare several methods of demineralization and DNA extraction to successfully isolate DNA that can be utilized for downstream applications like PCR or sequencing. Schweitzer’s demineralization technique was used as the starting point, then modifications were added to balance the need for decontamination while minimizing DNA loss. These were followed by comparisons of extraction between salting out and the QIAamp DNA Investigator Kit (Qiagen) used on Triceratops fossils, sheep bone, and fresh mice bone. NanoDrop technology measured DNA purity and concentration which showed equivalent results not correlated with bone age. The data from the extractions indicates the presence of DNA. Further testing with qPCR and gel electrophoresis suggests that the reference gene, β-actin, may be present in very low concentrations. Our next steps are to sequence the isolated DNA to compare its identity to known organisms and generate a genome assembly for the fossils. Successful isolation and sequencing of dinosaur fossils would force evolutionists to reevaluate the timeline of when dinosaurs lived as well as provide sequences to compare to modern evolutionary phylogenetic trees, potentially causing major revisions to evolutionary thinking.

  Angular momentum is a recognized problem for star formation models. Stars have less angular momentum than the nebula that supposedly produced them. How did stars lose their angular momentum. The talk “Bipolar Flows and Angular Momentum Transfer” from the 2024 CRS Conference presented observational evidence that a T Tauri star can lose enough angular momentum by bipolar flows to turn into a main sequence star in a few thousand years. 

 Star formation theories claim that most of the angular momentum of the system occurred before the T Tauri stage of a star. This presentation will examine proposed magnetocentrifugal mechanisms for angular momentum loss before the T Tauri star stage. Magnetocentrifugal mechanisms are thought to account for much of the angular momentum loss of the system. The theory of magnetocentrifugal mechanisms will be explored. The proposed evidences for magnetocentrifugal mechanisms will be examined. Suggestions for creationist research involving angular momentum transfer will be discussed

We apply the commercial software package Ansys Fluent, a state-of-the-art program for simulating unsteady fluid flow, heat transport, and chemical reactions in complex geometries, to model a steam jet that emerges from a spot of molten rock on the ocean bottom during the Genesis Flood. To simulate this problem that includes both liquid and vapor phases of water in Fluent, we choose an Eulerian VOF (volume of fluid) method with an interface capturing technique, together with a standard K-e turbulence scheme. For simplicity, we assume a bottom boundary condition of steam at 1500 K flowing through a circular aperture 100 m in diameter at 850 m/s. To avoid the complication of supercritical water, we limit the oceanic water depth to 2200 m. We include an atmosphere extending to 9.8 km above the ocean surface and allow for outflow above the atmospheric layer. We obtain a strongly time-varying solution that displays vigorous entrainment of ocean water by the turbulent jet as it traverses the ocean layer. A significant volume rate of ocean water is lofted several kilometers into the atmosphere. This liquid water then falls back to the surface as rain. The record of seafloor spreading preserved in today’s ocean bottom igneous rocks indicates that more than 50,000 km of midocean ridges were active during the Flood. This suggests that hundreds of thousands of jets similar to the one we modeled were in operation during the prevailing phase of the Flood cataclysm.