Average Joe's Corner

Sea Otters as Global Warming Fighters

September 13, 2012

Prized for their fur and once hunted to near-extinction, sea otters’ comeback may herald not only a boon for conservationists but also a partial...

Design

by Joe Aguirre Read

Skeptical Challenge

June 11, 2012

As a Christian ministry RTB’s larger (thus, different) goal is “to spread the Christian Gospel by demonstrating that sound reason and scientific research—including the...

Worldviews

by Joe Aguirre Read

Nothing–Actually “Something”–to Ponder from Lawrence Krauss

May 31, 2012

Theoretical physicist, popular speaker, and best-selling author Lawrence Krauss has garnered recognition for his latest book, A Universe from Nothing. RTB astronomer Hugh Ross...

Worldviews

by Joe Aguirre Read

Do Religious People Test Their Ideas the Way Scientists Do?

April 18, 2012

How would you respond to this statement from Sean Carroll, Caltech physicist and one of the authors of Discover Magazine’s Cosmic Variance blog? “If believers...

Theology

by Joe Aguirre Read

Reason Rally Reminiscent of RTB?

March 28, 2012

According to Dr. Michael Shermer, popular author, speaker, and founding publisher of Skeptic magazine, the recent Reason Rally (March 24, 2012) in Washington DC...

Worldviews

by Joe Aguirre Read

Make Room for the Red Deer Cave People

March 22, 2012

Skull, rib, and leg fragments from two caves in southern China that date from 11,500–14,500 years add confusion and controversy to the hominid-to-human evolutionary...

Human Origins & Anthropology

by Joe Aguirre Read

Are Gorillas Closer Human Relatives than Chimps?

March 15, 2012

One might invoke the last line from King Kong after hearing about a recent discovery asserting a closer connection between gorillas and humans. Does...

Human Origins & Anthropology

by Joe Aguirre Read

Is God Unnecessary to Explain the Universe?

March 7, 2012

Such was the focus of an episode of a History Channel program called God and the Universe: A Scientific Search for God, in which...

Astronomy

by Joe Aguirre Read

Do “Very Religious” People Score Higher in Well-Being?

February 29, 2012

What do you think of this survey? Given that Gallup took two years to make the phone calls and that the number of people...

Worldviews

by Joe Aguirre Read

You Might Soon Say “I Heart Snakes”

November 4, 2011

“Snakes. Why’d it have to be snakes?” Indiana Jones’ lament in Raiders of the Lost Ark resonates with all fearers of the slithery, scaly,...

Biochemistry

by Joe Aguirre Read

Is TV Bad, Good, or Neither?

October 4, 2011

A ninety-plus degree day, an inadequate ladder, shorts instead of jeans, and a non-English or even Spanish-speaking person to spot me on the ladder...

Education

by Joe Aguirre Read

Does Autism Preclude Belief in God?

September 23, 2011

Hugh Ross addressed that question on a recent Science News Flash podcast. Researchers surveyed the discussions of 192 people who posted on an autism...

Worldviews

by Joe Aguirre Read