The laws of Physics and the Big Bang Conservation of Energy (Where did all this come from?) Conservation of Energy (Where did all this come from?) The Second Law of Thermodynamics (What about entropy) The Second Law of Thermodynamics (What about entropy)

Draw a Card Probabilities Pick a card Pick a card 10 decks with different backs each deck given to different student 10 decks with different backs each deck given to different student Each student picks a card randomly and independently from their deck Each student picks a card randomly and independently from their deck

Results Shown Below The odds of the students picking this set of cards each with a different back are: The odds of the students picking this set of cards each with a different back are: 1:52 10 or one in five hundred twenty billion How did they ever do it, MUST be rigged! NOT rigged all sets are equally amazing and boring

Design a Universe Probability Infinite (or at least VERY large) number of possible values for physical constants Infinite (or at least VERY large) number of possible values for physical constants All values have a very low probability of occurring for each constant All values have a very low probability of occurring for each constant All combinations have an even lower probablity All combinations have an even lower probablity All values and combinations are equally amazing and/or boring All values and combinations are equally amazing and/or boring

Design a Universe Probability and Simplicity All values and combinations are equally amazing and/or boring All values and combinations are equally amazing and/or boring OR are they? OR are they? Conservation Laws Conservation Laws Mass/Energy Mass/Energy Momentum (linear and angular) Momentum (linear and angular) Charge Charge Lepton number Lepton number Baryon number Baryon number Symmetry Symmetry Simplest possible universe (AND most likely)! Simplest possible universe (AND most likely)! Stenger, V. J. (1997). Intelligent Design: Humans, Cockroaches, and the Laws of Physics. Retrieved December 8, 2008, From Stenger, V. J. (1997). Intelligent Design: Humans, Cockroaches, and the Laws of Physics. Retrieved December 8, 2008, From

Physical Constants and tuning for life (Design a Universe Suitable for Life) Anthropic Principle and Circular reasoning Anthropic Principle and Circular reasoning Physical constants compatible with life Physical constants compatible with life We are here We are here All measured values compatible with life... All measured values compatible with life... Variation of Constants Vs. Stellar Lifetime (see next slide) Variation of Constants Vs. Stellar Lifetime (see next slide)

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

Testability: The Hallmark of Science Physical ability test Physical ability test Testable means falsifiable Testable means falsifiable Realistic falsifiable experiment Realistic falsifiable experiment Irreducible complexity Irreducible complexity Evolution Evolution Intelligent Vs natural (designed rock?) Intelligent Vs natural (designed rock?) ID is inherently NOT falsifiable ID is inherently NOT falsifiable ID is NOT science ID is NOT science

Failures of Science to Explain? Fossil intermediates (Johnathan Wells – ID advocate, Author of Icons of Evolution and HIV/AIDS denier) Fossil intermediates (Johnathan Wells – ID advocate, Author of Icons of Evolution and HIV/AIDS denier) Evolution of Human immune system (Michael Behe in Darwin’s Black Box) Evolution of Human immune system (Michael Behe in Darwin’s Black Box) Fish Tetrapod fossil intermediates (Phillip Johnson Founder of Modern ID Movement and HIV/AIDS denier) Fish Tetrapod fossil intermediates (Phillip Johnson Founder of Modern ID Movement and HIV/AIDS 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 Design Doctors, Scientists, and Engineers that: Doctors, Scientists, and Engineers that: Diagnose and treat diseases based on knowledge of how the natural world works Design planes, bridges, etc, based on the way in which the natural world works Understand the way in which the universe operates Continue to search for natural ways to cure disease Continue to Search for new answers to how the universe works OR Attribute the way in which the natural world works to a designer Stop looking for the answer since they already know it!

The BIG Question Do I believe in (an) Intelligent Design(er) Do I believe in (an) Intelligent Design(er) Yes! (Surprise) Yes! (Surprise) GOD (Bigger Surprise) GOD (Bigger Surprise) But... But... Religion is not Science! (neither is poetry, love, anatomy, or history. The first two are good, I’m not so sure about the last two.) Religion is not Science! (neither is poetry, love, anatomy, or history. The first two are good, I’m not so sure about the last two.) I would never hang my belief in God on science! I would never hang my belief in God on science! Intelligent Design is not science, but if used to bolster Religion it is BAD theology! Intelligent Design is not science, but if used to bolster Religion it is BAD theology!

Grateful Acknowledgements Ms. Cynthia Curtis – IB Biology Teacher GHS Ms. Cynthia Curtis – IB Biology Teacher GHS Pia Vogel PhD – Associate Professor in Biology SMU Pia Vogel PhD – Associate Professor in Biology SMU John Wise PhD - Lecturer in Biology SMU John Wise PhD - Lecturer in Biology SMU Randall Scalise PhD – Senior Lecturer in Physics at SMU Randall Scalise PhD – Senior Lecturer in Physics at SMU Mark Pallen PhD - Professor of Microbial Genomics, Centre for Systems Biology Biosciences at the University of Birmingham Mark Pallen PhD - Professor of Microbial Genomics, Centre for Systems Biology Biosciences at the University of Birmingham Kenneth Miller PhD – Professor of Biology, Royce Family Professor for Teaching Excellence, Brown University Kenneth Miller PhD – Professor of Biology, Royce Family Professor for Teaching Excellence, Brown University