War having ‘catastrophic effect’ on global food supply: USAID administrator
Questions Remain on Meteors’ Impact…
Scientists Found the Building Blocks Of DNA And RNA In Meteorites.
Here’s What That Means Articles by Rahul Srinivas’s | Muck Rack
It’s been a long-held belief that many of the key ingredients needed for the creation of life on Earth came from outer space. The source behind these ingredients was thought to be meteorites that landed on the planet billions of years ago. Studies carried out on fallen space rocks over the course of the last century have confirmed the presence of several nucleobases — vital for storing genetic information in DNA and RNA — on these meteorites. Among the bases that have been detected on meteorites include adenine, guanine, and uracil. However, two key ingredients that are essential for confirming this theory — cytosine and thymine — have continued to elude scientists. Without establishing the presence of these compounds on these space rocks, it was nigh impossible for researchers to substantiate the long-held theory about life on Earth having a cosmic connection.
A recent development, however, is all set to change this. Advancements in detection and extraction techniques have finally led scientists to detect cytosine and thymine on four meteorites that fell to the Earth sometime in the late ’60s.
New Detection Techniques
Close up of a meteorite © abriendomundo/Shutterstock
The group of researchers that conducted the study included Daniel Glavin, an astrochemist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. He confirmed that the discovery marks the first time that all the bases found in DNA and RNA were isolated from a single meteorite. To ensure their detection was correct, tests were carried out on four different meteorites collected from different parts of the Earth. To their surprise, all four of them showed traces of these vital organic compounds.
For the purpose of this study, researchers used a new extraction technique developed by geochemist Yasuhiro Oba of Hokkaido University in Sapporo, Japan. This technique involves extraction using cold water — a much milder process compared to older techniques that involved using acids. According to Oba, the new method has “orders of magnitude higher sensitivity” than techniques applied in earlier studies. The new technique had proven itself in the past when three years ago, another group of researchers used it to discover another elusive organic compound — ribose — from three meteorites.
While the detection of these critical ingredients from multiple meteorites is an encouraging sign, questions are still being raised if these compounds got to the rocks after they fell to our planet’s surface. Scientists do not entirely dismiss the likelihood that these rocks could have been contaminated by elements already present on Earth. Conclusive results won’t likely be available until studies can be done on samples acquired outside Earth’s atmosphere.
And that is precisely what the scientists are up to next. In 2020, Japan’s Hayabusa space mission extracted a piece of rock from the surface of an asteroid called Ryugu and brought it back to the Earth for study. NASA is also on a similar mission, and in September 2023, the organization is expected to be in possession of a similar sample extracted from asteroid Bennu. Once conclusive studies on these chunks of uncontaminated rocks are out, we can conclusively prove that key ingredients that acted as catalysts for life on Earth did, in fact, come from space.
Read this next: The 12 Coolest Scientific Discoveries Of March 2022
When did modern man appear on earth – Search (bing.com)
Did humankind originate in Africa – Search (bing.com)
Extinct human species: how different were they from us?
Yes, that’s us: the modern human.
We avoided extinction and thrived. But this was not the case for any other archaic
human species. And if you think that we simply evolved in a direct line, you couldn’t
be more wrong. In fact, other species of humans cohabited our planet at the same.
And yes, we even inbred with some of them. Though in the end we were the only
ones who made it to this day. Well done Homo sapiens!
But how different were these early human species from us, really?
Australopithecus afarensis – Bing video
The Australophithecus species is one of the best-known ancestors of the modern human. The Australopithecus afarensis, in particular, is well known for a skeleton discovered in 1974, which was nicknamed Lucy (depicted). The Australopithecus afarensis lived between 3 to 3.7 million years ago in East Africa. They had a small frame and a small brain. Their height ranged from between 3.2 ft (96 cm) to 5.5 ft (165 cm), and they weighed between
55 to 141 lbs (25-64 kg). Fossils have been found in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Tanzania. Australopithecus afarensis ate mostly a vegetarian diet.
Homo habilis – Bing video
The Homo habilis is the first early human species (with the genus “homo”). They descended from the Australopithecus. The Homo habilis lived approximately 1.4 to 2.3 million years ago in South and East Africa. Their appearance was smoother and rounder when compared to Australopithecus, but they were still smaller than modern humans, weighing an average of 75 lbs (34 kg). Unlike their ancestors, the Homo habilis also ate meat. They are known for having developed a range of tools, hence their name, which means “handy man.”
Homo rudolfensis – Bing video
There are not many fossils of this archaic human species. Only one cranium was discovered in the Turkana Basin in Kenya, and then a mandible in Malawi.
The skull indicates that their brains were larger than those of Homo habilis. Scientists still debate whether the Homo rudolfensis had indeed the homo genus or if it was just an Australopithecus with a larger brain. They lived approximately 1.7 million years ago,
which means that they would have coexisted with Homo habilis and Homo erectus.
Homo erectus – Bing video
Unlike the previous example, there are numerous fossils of Homo erectus, dating
back from between 110,000 to 1.89 million years ago. The Homo erectus was the longest existing species of human ever to have walked on Earth. They had larger bodies and smaller teeth than Homo habilis and were more similar to modern humans.
Though they had shorter arms and longer legs than us. They had a similar size to us, at about 4.9 ft (150 cm) to just over 6 ft (180 cm), and weighed an average of 150 lbs (68 kg).
The Homo erectus was the first human species to travel outside of Africa.
Homo ergaster – Bing video
The Homo ergaster lived in Eastern and Southern Africa between 1.4 and 1.9 million
years ago. Like with Homo rudolfensis, scientists still debate whether the Homo ergaster is indeed a species on its own or a subspecies of Homo erectus. The Homo ergaster cohabited our planet at the same time as the Homo erectus.
They were, however, generally more slender than Homo erectus. Though they too had a similar diet and lifestyle, and also used tools.
Homo floresiensis – Bing video
Scientists discovered the Homo floresiensis in 2003, in the Liang Bua cave on the island of Flores in Indonesia. It is estimated that this early human species lived 50,000 to 100,000 years ago.
Homo heidelbergensis – Bing video
The Homo heidelbergensis lived between 200,000 to 600,000 years ago in various regions. Fossils indicate they roamed eastern and southern Africa, as well as Europe,
and possibly China. They were the first human species to be adapted to the cold.
This means that they were pretty good at mastering fire, finding and building shelter,
as-well-as developing tools and weapons, such as spears.
Homo antecessor – Bing video
The first fossils of the Homo antecessor were discovered between 1994 and 1996
in Atapuerca, Spain. Scientists dated them back to 800,000 to 1.2 million years ago.
Though unlike other ancestors, the Homo antecessor had similar features to those
of modern humans, including their faces and hunting lifestyle.
Homo naledi – Bing video
In 2015, over 1,550 fossils were found in the Rising Star Cave System in South Africa.
The species found was dubbed Homo naledi. It’s estimated that this species lived from approximately 236,000 to 335,000 years ago. They shared features with both Austra- lopithecus and humans. They had small heads, but their brains were built like ours.
Homo neanderthalensis – Bing video
Possibly the most famous archaic human species, the Neanderthals lived from about 24,000 to 200,000 years ago. These quintessential “cavemen” are likely the closest extinct relative to our species. They also had larger brains and were more intelligent than other species. Neanderthals also displayed signs of culture and spiritual beliefs, including ritualistic burials, art, and even musical instruments. Neanderthals might have gone extinct, but they interbred with modern non-African humans, so their genomes are still present among us.
Denisovans – Bing video
Remains of this species of human were found in a cave in Siberia in 2010. It’s estimated that they lived about 400,000 years ago. It is believed that the Denisovans branched off the Neanderthals and headed to Asia instead of Europe. They too interbred with modern humans and might have been the last archaic human species to become extinct.
Homo longi – Bing video
In 1933, a skull was found in Harbin, northeastern China. It was larger than modern humans, but it featured almost square eye sockets and thick brow ridges. It was nicknamed “Dragon Man.” It was not until 2021 that scientists considered it a unique human species. The fossil dates back to around 146,000 years ago. The Homo longi as a species, however, is still up for debate, as some scientists claim that it is a Denisovan. Sources: (Grunge)
See also: History of the hunter-gatherers
What is sin in nature?
The sin nature is that aspect in man that makes him rebellious against God. When we speak of the sin nature, we refer to the fact that we have a natural inclination to sin; given the choice to do God’s will or our own, we will naturally choose to do our own thing.
Proof of the sin nature abounds. No one has to teach a child to lie or be selfish; rather, we go to great lengths to teach children to tell the truth and put others first. Sinful behavior comes naturally. The news is filled with tragic examples of mankind acting badly. Wherever people are, there is trouble. Charles Spurgeon said, “As the salt flavors every drop in the Atlantic, so does sin affect every atom of our nature. It is so sadly there, so abundantly there, that if you cannot detect it, you are deceived.”
The Bible explains the reason for the trouble. Humanity is sinful, not just in theory or in practice but by nature. Sin is part of the very fiber of our being. The Bible speaks of “sinful flesh” in Romans 8:3. It’s our “earthly nature” that produces the list of sins in Colossians 3:5. And Romans 6:6 speaks of “the body ruled by sin.” The flesh-and-blood existence we lead on this earth is shaped by our sinful, corrupt nature.
The sin of nature is universal in humanity. All of us have a sinful nature, and it affects every part of us. This is the doctrine of total depravity, and it is biblical.
All of us have gone astray (Isaiah 53:6). Paul admits that “the trouble is with me,
for I am all too human, a slave to sin” (Romans 7:14). Paul was in his “sinful nature a slave to the law of sin” (Romans 7:25). Solomon concurs: “Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, / no one who does what is right and never sins” (Ecclesiastes 7:20).
The apostle John perhaps puts it most bluntly: “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8). Even children have a sin nature.
David rues the fact that he was born with sin already at work within him: “Surely I was sinful at birth, / sinful from the time my mother conceived me” (Psalm 51:5). Elsewhere, David states, “Even from birth the wicked go astray; / from the womb they are wayward, spreading lies” (Psalm 58:3).
Where did the sin nature come from?
Scripture says that God created humans good and without a sinful nature: “God created man in His own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27). However, Genesis 3 records the disobedience of Adam and Eve.
By that one action, sin entered into their nature. They were immediately stricken with a sense of shame and unfitness, and they hid from God’s presence (Genesis 3:8). When they had children, Adam’s image and likeness was passed along to his offspring (Genesis 5:3).
The sin nature manifested itself early in the genealogy: the very first child born to Adam and Eve, Cain, became the very first murderer (Genesis 4:8).
From generation to generation, the sin nature was passed down to all of humanity: “Sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12). This verse also presents the unsettling truth that the sin nature leads inexorably to death (see also Romans 6:23 and Ephesians 2:1).
Other consequences of the sin nature are hostility toward God and ignorance of His truth. Paul says, “The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:7–8). Also, “the person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit” (1 Corinthians 2:14).
There is only one Person in the history of the world who did not have a sin nature: Jesus Christ. His virgin birth allowed Him to enter our world while bypassing the curse passed down from Adam. Jesus then lived a sinless life of absolute perfection. He was “the Holy and Righteous One” (Acts 3:14) who “had no sin” (2 Corinthians 5:21). This allowed Jesus to be sacrificed on the cross as our perfect substitute, “a lamb without blemish or defect”
(1 Peter 1:19). John Calvin puts it in perspective: “For certainly, Christ is much more powerful to save than Adam was to ruin.”
It is through Christ that we are born again. “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:6). When we are born of Adam, we inherit his sin nature; but when we are born again in Christ, we inherit a new nature: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
(2 Corinthians 5:17).
We don’t lose our sin nature once we receive Christ. The Bible says that sin remains in us and that a struggle with that old nature will continue as long as we are in this world. Paul bemoaned his own personal struggle in Romans 7:15–25. But we have help in the battle—divine help. The Spirit of God takes up residence in each believer and supplies the power we need to overcome the pull of the sin nature within us. “No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God” (1 John 3:9). God’s ultimate plan for us is total sanctification when we see Christ (1 Thessalonians 3:13; 1 John 3:2).
Through His finished work on the cross, Jesus satisfied God’s wrath against sin and provided believers with victory over their sin nature: “‘He himself bore our sins’ in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness” (1 Peter 2:24).
In His resurrection, Jesus offers life to everyone bound by corrupted flesh. Those who are born again now have this command: “Count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:11).
DNA Doesn’t Look Like What You Think! – Bing video
Question: Did God know all about us before we were born?
And did He give our souls to us at some specific time?
Or are they just part of our natural birth?
Answer: Yes, God knew all about us even before we were born. In fact, He gave our lives to us, and we are here because He created us and allowed us to be born. The Bible says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you” (Jeremiah 1:5).
Furthermore, it’s important to remember that God not only made our body and our mind (through the natural processes He created), but He also gave us our soul or spirit, which is the part of us that is able to know God. We aren’t just bodies or minds; if we were, we would be like every other animal (although unique because of our abilities). We also were created in the image of God.
The Bible certainly implies that we are given our souls right from the first. When the Virgin Mary, the mother of our Lord, visited her cousin Elizabeth, the baby growing in Elizabeth’s womb responded: “As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy” (Luke 1:44).
Why is this important?
First, it tells us that all human life–including that of the unborn–is sacred in God’s eyes and must not be wantonly destroyed. Second, it tells us that God wants us to know Him! God loves us and He wants to come into our lives and begin to change us from within. Is this happening in your life? It can, by opening your heart and life to God’s Son, Jesus Christ.
Question: I was told that all the people who died prior to Jesus
(including Moses and Abraham) went to hell. Is this true?
Answer: The Bible says all human life is sacred and has dignity—and the reason is because God has implanted His image (i.e., a soul) within every one of us. Furthermore, the Bible says He did this long before we were born—not afterward, nor at birth. God told Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart” (Jeremiah 1:5). The psalmist declared, “For you created my inner being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb” (Psalm 139:13).
There is much we don’t know about how God works in these matters—but we must never forget that God gave life to us, and only He has the right to take it away.
But the larger question is this: What has happened to the soul God gave you? Have you nurtured it—or have you ignored it and starved it? Don’t let this happen, but open your heart to Christ and discover the joy of His presence every day.
By his death and Resurrection, Jesus opened heaven (CCC 1026). Prior to that time all who died went to “hell”; however, the just went to a place in hell referred to as “the Bosom of Abraham,” where they would be comforted. The parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) seems to indicate that there were two parts of hell. Both Lazarus and the rich man died and went to hell, but Lazarus was comforted in the bosom of Abraham while the rich man was in a place of torment. A great chasm separated the two parts.
The Catechism explains, Scripture calls the abode of the dead, to which the dead Christ went down, “hell”— Sheol in Hebrew or Hades in Greek—because those who are there are deprived of the vision of God. Such is the case for all the dead, whether evil or righteous, while they await the redeemer: which does not mean that their lot is identical, as Jesus shows through the parable of the poor man Lazarus who was received into “Abraham’s bosom”: “It is precisely these holy souls, who awaited their Savior in Abraham’s bosom, whom Christ the Lord delivered when he descended into hell.” Jesus did not descend into hell to deliver the damned, nor to destroy the hell of damnation, but to free the just who had gone before him. (CCC 633)
Question: I was told that all the people who died prior to Jesus (including Moses and Abraham) went to hell. Is this true?
Answer: The Bible says all human life is sacred and has dignity—and the reason is because God has implanted His image (i.e., a soul) within every one of us. Furthermore, the Bible says He did this long before we were born—not afterward, nor at birth. God told Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart” (Jeremiah 1:5). The psalmist declared, “For you created my inner being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb” (Psalm 139:13).
There is much we don’t know about how God works in these matters—but we must never forget that God gave life to us, and only He has the right to take it away.
But the larger question is this:
What has happened to the soul God gave you?
Have you nurtured it—or have you ignored it and starved it?
Don’t let this happen but open your heart to Christ and discover the joy of His presence every day. By his death and Resurrection, Jesus opened heaven (CCC 1026).
Prior to that time all who died went to “hell”; however, they just went to a place in hell referred to as “the Bosom of Abraham,” — where they would be comforted. The parable
of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) seems to indicate that there were two parts of hell. Both Lazarus and the rich man died and went to hell, but Lazarus was comforted
in the bosom of Abraham while the rich man was in a place of torment.
A great chasm separated the two parts.
Question: Did God put souls in people born – Search (bing.com)
Answer: Did God put a soul in all of us – Search (bing.com)
Question: Why do nice people finish last or you can kill other people with kindness?
Answer: People are sinful by nature – Search (bing.com)
BONUS: It’s Okay to be Smart PBS Video – Search (bing.com)