The laws of Physics and the Big The laws of Physics and the Big BangBang

Conservation of Energy (Where did Conservation of Energy (Where did all this come from?)all this come from?)

The Second Law of Thermodynamics The Second Law of Thermodynamics (What about entropy)(What about entropy)

Draw a Card ProbabilitiesDraw a Card Probabilities Pick a cardPick a card

10 decks with different backs each deck given to different student10 decks with different backs each deck given to different student

Each student picks a card randomly and independently Each student picks a card randomly and independently from their deckfrom their deck

Results Shown BelowResults Shown Below

The odds of the students picking this set of The odds of the students picking this set of cards each with a different back are:cards each with a different back are: 1:521:521010 or one in five hundred twenty billion or one in five hundred twenty billion How did they ever do it, MUST be rigged!How did they ever do it, MUST be rigged! NOT rigged all sets are equally amazing and boringNOT rigged all sets are equally amazing and boring

Design a Universe Design a Universe ProbabilityProbability

Infinite (or at least VERY large) Infinite (or at least VERY large) number of possible values for number of possible values for physical constantsphysical constants

All values have a very low probability All values have a very low probability of occurring for each constantof occurring for each constant

All combinations have an even lower All combinations have an even lower probablityprobablity

All values and combinations are All values and combinations are equally amazing and/or boringequally amazing and/or boring

Design a Universe Probability and Design a Universe Probability and SimplicitySimplicity

All values and combinations are equally All values and combinations are equally amazing and/or boringamazing and/or boring

OR are they?OR are they? Conservation LawsConservation Laws

Mass/EnergyMass/Energy Momentum (linear and angular)Momentum (linear and angular) ChargeCharge Lepton numberLepton number Baryon numberBaryon number

SymmetrySymmetry Simplest possible universe (AND most Simplest possible universe (AND most

likely)!likely)!

Stenger, V. J. (1997). Intelligent Design: Humans, Cockroaches, and the Laws Stenger, V. J. (1997). Intelligent Design: Humans, Cockroaches, and the Laws of Physics. Retrieved December 8, 2008, From of Physics. Retrieved December 8, 2008, From www.talkorigins.org/faqs/cosmo.htmlwww.talkorigins.org/faqs/cosmo.html

Physical Constants and tuning Physical Constants and tuning for life (Design a Universe for life (Design a Universe

Suitable for Life)Suitable for Life) Anthropic Principle and Circular Anthropic Principle and Circular

reasoningreasoning Physical constants compatible with lifePhysical constants compatible with life We are hereWe are here All measured values compatible with life All measured values compatible with life

. . .. . . Variation of Constants Vs. Stellar Variation of Constants Vs. Stellar

Lifetime (see next slide)Lifetime (see next slide)

Distribution of stellar lifetimes for 100 random universes in which Distribution of stellar lifetimes for 100 random universes in which four basic physics constants (the proton and electron masses and four basic physics constants (the proton and electron masses and the strengths of the electromagnetic and strong forces) are varied the strengths of the electromagnetic and strong forces) are varied by ten orders of magnitude around their existing values in our by ten orders of magnitude around their existing values in our universe. Otherwise, the laws of physics are unchanged. Note that universe. Otherwise, the laws of physics are unchanged. Note that in well over half the universes, stars live at least a billion years. in well over half the universes, stars live at least a billion years.

•Stenger, V. J. (1997). Intelligent Design: Humans, Cockroaches, and the Laws of Physics. Retrieved December 8, 2008, From www.talkorigins.org/faqs/cosmo.html

Testability: The Hallmark of Testability: The Hallmark of ScienceScience

Physical ability testPhysical ability test Testable means falsifiableTestable means falsifiable Realistic falsifiable experimentRealistic falsifiable experiment Irreducible complexityIrreducible complexity EvolutionEvolution Intelligent Vs natural (designed rock?)Intelligent Vs natural (designed rock?) ID is inherently NOT falsifiableID is inherently NOT falsifiable ID is NOT scienceID is NOT science

Failures of Science to Failures of Science to Explain?Explain?

Fossil intermediates (Johnathan Wells – ID Fossil intermediates (Johnathan Wells – ID advocate, Author of Icons of Evolution and HIV/AIDS advocate, Author of Icons of Evolution and HIV/AIDS denier)denier)

Evolution of Human immune system (Michael Behe Evolution of Human immune system (Michael Behe in Darwin’s Black Box)in Darwin’s Black Box)

Fish Tetrapod fossil intermediates (Phillip Johnson Fish Tetrapod fossil intermediates (Phillip Johnson Founder of Modern ID Movement and HIV/AIDS Founder of Modern ID Movement and HIV/AIDS denier)denier)

Will science be able to explain:Will science be able to explain: Origin of the Universe?Origin of the Universe? Origin of life?Origin of life? Evolution of RNA/DNA?Evolution of RNA/DNA? I Don’t know, but I wouldn’t bet against it!I Don’t know, but I wouldn’t bet against it!

Dangers of Intelligent Dangers of Intelligent DesignDesign

Doctors, Scientists, and Engineers that:Doctors, Scientists, and Engineers that: Diagnose and treat diseases based on knowledge of how the Diagnose and treat diseases based on knowledge of how the

natural world worksnatural world works Design planes, bridges, etc, based on the way in which the Design planes, bridges, etc, based on the way in which the

natural world worksnatural world works Understand the way in which the universe operatesUnderstand the way in which the universe operates Continue to search for natural ways to cure diseaseContinue to search for natural ways to cure disease Continue to Search for new answers to how the universe worksContinue to Search for new answers to how the universe works

OROR Attribute the way in which the natural world works to a designerAttribute the way in which the natural world works to a designer Stop looking for the answer since they already know it!Stop looking for the answer since they already know it!

The BIG QuestionThe BIG Question Do I believe in (an) Intelligent Design(er)Do I believe in (an) Intelligent Design(er) Yes! (Surprise)Yes! (Surprise) GODGOD (Bigger Surprise) (Bigger Surprise) But . . .But . . .

Religion is not Science! (neither is poetry, Religion is not Science! (neither is poetry, love, anatomy, or history. The first two are love, anatomy, or history. The first two are good, I’m not so sure about the last two.)good, I’m not so sure about the last two.)

I would never hang my belief in God on I would never hang my belief in God on science!science!

Intelligent Design is not science, but if used to Intelligent Design is not science, but if used to bolster Religion it is BAD theology!bolster Religion it is BAD theology!

Grateful AcknowledgementsGrateful Acknowledgements Ms. Cynthia Curtis – IB Biology Teacher GHSMs. Cynthia Curtis – IB Biology Teacher GHS Pia Vogel PhD – Associate Professor in Pia Vogel PhD – Associate Professor in

Biology SMUBiology SMU John Wise PhD - Lecturer in Biology SMUJohn Wise PhD - Lecturer in Biology SMU Randall Scalise PhD – Senior Lecturer in Randall Scalise PhD – Senior Lecturer in

Physics at SMUPhysics at SMU Mark Pallen PhD - Professor of Microbial Mark Pallen PhD - Professor of Microbial

Genomics, Centre for Systems Biology Genomics, Centre for Systems Biology Biosciences at the University of Biosciences at the University of BirminghamBirmingham

Kenneth Miller PhD – Professor of Biology, Kenneth Miller PhD – Professor of Biology, Royce Family Professor for Teaching Royce Family Professor for Teaching Excellence, Brown UniversityExcellence, Brown University