Stars, Cells, and God

“I am a worm and not a man,” David writes in Psalm 22:6. But which worm did he have in mind?

In this episode of Stars, Cells, and God, Fazale “Fuz” Rana and Hugh Ross explore a discovery from a Judean Desert. Cave researchers discovered a wool fragment about two centimeters across, dyed with kermes—the scarlet dye the ancient world produced from a scale insect known as the crimson worm. The find provides physical evidence for a dye the Old Testament connects to the tabernacle, the priests’ garments, and rites of cleansing—long before David wrote his psalm.

Fuz and Hugh explain why biblical archaeology matters, how Psalm 22 foreshadows the crucifixion, why death and life are interwoven throughout creation, and how fulfilled prophecy points to the Bible’s reliability.

In this episode, they also discuss:

RESOURCES:

Read the paper discussed in the episode HERE

DIG DEEPER:

The young Sun may have hurled 1,000 to 10 million times more energetic particles at early Earth than it does today. So how did life survive?

In this episode of Stars, Cells, and God, Hugh Ross and Fazale “Fuz” Rana examine two new studies and what they reveal about the Moon’s surprising role in protecting early life. They also explore why Earth’s Moon is so unusual, how its formation and timing appear to align with the presence of the earliest life, and why proposed naturalistic workarounds still seem to require design.

In this episode:

RESOURCES:

The papers discussed in this episode

DIVE DEEPER:

Designed to the Core by Hugh Ross: https://support.reasons.org/category/featured-products/designed-to-the-core

Improbable Planet by Hugh Ross: https://a.co/d/0296qZMN

A small army of PhD scientists spent 17 years building a protein motor that limps 11 steps down a DNA strand. Your cells build billions of motors—perfectly, instantly, with no research budget. Coincidence, or design?

Astronomer Hugh Ross and biochemist Fazale “Fuz” Rana unpack a Nature Nanotechnology study from Lund University, where a synthetic protein “walking machine” called Tumbleweed was engineered from scratch to move along DNA. They break down how it works—and why it makes a compelling case for a Creator.

In this episode we discuss:

__________________________

📄 The paper discussed in this episode:

📖 The Cell’s Design: How Chemistry Reveals the Creator’s Artistry

📖 Creating Life in the Lab: How New Discoveries in Synthetic Biology Make a Case for the Creator

For a billion years, life on Earth survived without the one process it can no longer live without. The moment that changed might be the clearest evidence yet that we’re not here by accident.

In this episode, Hugh Ross and Fazale “Fuz” Rana explore a discovery published in Science Advances that raises a fascinating question: Was the emergence of biological nitrogen fixation simply the result of natural processes, or does its timing point to something more?

In this episode we discuss:

__________________________

📄 The Science Advances paper discussed in this episode:

🌐 Nitrogen Fixation Processes

Get Hugh & Fuz’s book Origins of Life HERE:

Join biochemist Fazale “Fuz” Rana and physician Steve Willing as they discuss discoveries with theological and philosophical implications that point to the reality of God’s existence.

Why do people fight so much? In a world fractured by political polarization, misinformation, and tribal conflict, this question demands answers. Scripture identifies pride as “the first sin” and the root of human moral failure. Contemporary research now provides extensive empirical validation for this biblical insight, demonstrating how pride operates as both a moral failing and cognitive distortion—and how Christians are uniquely positioned to address the divisions plaguing contemporary society.

Drawing on over 140 peer-reviewed studies from psychology, neuroscience, and social science, this presentation explores how research confirms biblical warnings about pride across multiple domains. Studies consistently show that humans systematically overestimate their abilities, inflate their moral qualities, and maintain illusions of control—thereby directly validating Proverbs 21:2: “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes.”

This science-faith synergy offers Christians a framework for serving a broken world. By recognizing the distinctive hallmarks of pride, believers can model humility in apologetics, discipleship, and public witness—reflecting Christ’s light through both rigorous truth-seeking and humble acknowledgment of our own personal limitations.

LINKS AND RESOURCES: 

Superbia: The Perils of Pride, The Power of Humility

Join biochemist Fazale “Fuz” Rana and astrophysicist Hugh Ross as they discuss discoveries with theological and philosophical implications that point to the reality of God’s existence.

Junk DNA has long posed a strong challenge to the design argument. Why would a Creator fill genomes with seemingly useless sequences—especially when these sequences appear in the same locations across related organisms? For many, the clearest answer has been evolution, but that conclusion is weakening. Evidence continues to show that so-called junk DNA performs important functions, including a new study by Chinese researchers revealing a role for Alu sequences in organizing gene expression.

Biosignatures are physical or chemical evidence of life, whether from living organisms or their remains. Although markers like phosphine and disulfides were once considered indicators, they have proven inconclusive. Because life chemistry is complex and biological synthesis is governed by metabolism and functional demand—rather than by thermodynamics and reaction kinetics—researchers have identified a more reliable biosignature. This includes a distinctly higher number of amino and fatty acid species, plus a more uniform relative abundance of these acids. This biosignature also stands as proof that life did not evolve naturally.  

In this episode, biochemist Fuz Rana explores both studies and their implications for the case for a Creator.

LINKS AND RESOURCES: 

Alu Repeat-Containing RNAs Spatially Organize Actively Transcribed Genomic Regions Around Nuclear Speckles

Molecular Diversity as a Biosignature

Origins of Life

Join biochemist Fazale “Fuz” Rana and Ryan Pauly, founder and president of Think Well, as they discuss discoveries with theological and philosophical implications that point to the reality of God’s existence.

Artificial intelligence is transforming every area of human life. Whether we use it to help or harm, its very existence is shaping us physically, intellectually, spiritually, and relationally. Rather than avoiding technological advances or embracing them uncritically, Christians are called to approach them with biblical wisdom and faithful stewardship. That begins with stewarding the way we think and speak about AI, then applying biblical truth to develop a theology of technology. The central question is discerning how to engage AI in ways that honor God, reflect biblical truth, and promote genuine human flourishing. 

Join biochemist Fazale “Fuz” Rana as he moderates a discussion with philosopher-ethicist George Haraksin and OB/GYN Christina Cirucci on scientific discoveries and their theological and philosophical implications that point to the reality of God’s existence.

Gender-affirming care (GAC) has emerged as the primary model of treatment for adolescents and children with gender dysphoria. In GAC, the healthcare professional affirms the patient’s desired gender with minimal to no evaluation. Sometimes medical intervention is provided to a minor after just one visit.

Dr. Cirucci published a paper on the ethics of this care model observing it through the lens of the basic principles of medical ethics: beneficence, nonmaleficence, and autonomy. As part of autonomy, the paper delves into the topic of informed consent. The conclusion is that gender-affirming care violated the ethical principles of beneficence, nonmaleficence, and autonomy.

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

Join astrophysicist Hugh Ross and physicist Hugh Henry as they discuss discoveries with theological and philosophical implications that point to the reality of God’s existence.

The 2015 Nobel Prize in Chemistry overturned conventional wisdom that all radiation is harmful. In fact, radiation is often beneficial for our health—especially the cosmic radiation we receive every day. The existence and effects of cosmic rays remind us that God, in his providence, governs even the unseen forces of creation, using them in ways that contribute to the preservation and flourishing of life on Earth.

Join biochemist Fazale “Fuz” Rana and physicist Hugh Henry as they discuss discoveries with theological and philosophical implications that point to the reality of God’s existence.

In this episode, Fuz and Hugh discuss hypernaturalism, an intriguing concept that suggests God employs natural law from outside the visible universe to orchestrate creation and cause miracles, such as the parting of the Red Sea. They define hypernaturalism, explain how it differs from supernatural miracles (such as the virgin birth), and show how it helps unite nature and Scripture to point to the all-powerful Creator. 

LINKS AND RESOURCES: 

Hypernaturalism: Integrating the Bible and Science

Hypernaturalism and the Origin of Life