News to Note, August 11, 2012

1. Enigmatic Skull Confirmed to Have Flat Face

Enigmatic KNM-ER 1470’s flat face finally confirmed.

2. Curiosity Landing Starts New Phase

Curiosity’s landing inaugurates a new phase in the quest for alien life.

3. Another Variety of Archaic Humans

Genetic evidence found for another variety of “archaic” human.

4. Visual Forming of a Baby's Face

Face to philtrum: the ballet behind your beautiful smile

5. How Did We Get So Smart?

How did we get so smart?

And Don’t Miss . . .

• A full-size replica of Noah’s Ark is now open to the public in the Netherlands. Unable to make it to the Olympics due to the time required to meet all fire safety codes on the wooden ship, this Noah’s Ark nevertheless impresses those able to visit it with its enormity. Stocked with animal models, the Ark would have accommodated up to 3,000 people had it been able to make the trip to the Thames River. The 450-foot long replica was constructed by Dutch creationist and millionaire building contractor Johan Huibers. Docked at Dordrecht in the southern Netherlands, its enormity is a reminder of the global Flood and of Noah’s faithfulness to obey God by building the Ark and preaching God’s warning of the coming judgment.

• Spectacular spiders dominate the scene now at New York’s American Museum of Natural History, beginning with the new inflatable spider over the door. As you enjoy the close-up photos at arstechnica.com remember that despite evolutionary claims to the contrary, spiders did not evolve 300 million years ago. God created them along with all things about 6,000 years ago, and fossilized spiders resemble modern ones of the same kind. We cannot know for certain how many kinds of spiders God originally created, but the 43,000 species of spiders known today are all varieties descended from them. Read more about the development of defense and attack structures, such as spiders’ paralyzing venom, at Fossilized Spiders Found in China, News to Note, January 21, 2012, Tropical Huntsman, News to Note, April 30, 2011