Scientists Search for a New Earth

In a major surprise to those looking for earth-like planets beyond our solar system, the first extrasolar planet examined-HD 189733b, for those keeping score-shows no signs of “common molecules like water, methane, or carbon dioxide,” announced Carl Grillmair and David Charbonneau of the Spitzer Science Center and Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, respectively.

Nothing in the Bible precludes the possibility that there are earth-like planets out there.

Astronomers can ascertain the molecules present on distant stellar bodies by analyzing the spectrum of light given (or reflected) by the body. Yet in this case, “The most fundamental thing we predicted [would exist] was wrong,” according to Grillmair.

The prospect of earth-like planets in the far-flung star systems of the galaxy excites those who believe life came about by chance, because any earth-like planets, they theorize, should cause the evolution of life. Conversely, indications that the earth is unique in its life-sustaining capacity shout against this evolutionary speculation. This article, from PhysOrg.com, does not hide its view on the issue, claiming that “planet formation works the same way everywhere.” This is in stark contrast to the Bible, which explains God’s three days of focus on creating and populating the earth (Days 3, 5 and 6) compared to only one day focused on planetary bodies (Day 4).

That said, nothing in the Bible precludes the possibility that there are earth-like planets out there; if it turns out that extrasolar planets are discovered that contain oxygen, water, carbon dioxide, etc., this will in no way contradict God’s Word or support the idea of evolution.