Posted on 09/16/2009 9:03:13 AM PDT by GodGunsGuts
Fresh Fossil Feather Nanostructures
by Brian Thomas, M.S.*
Bird feathers can contain pigmentation for a wide range of colors, with specific molecules reflecting certain hues when light touches them. They also can display “structural” colors, where the thicknesses of layers of cells and connective tissues are fine-tuned to refract certain colors.
Scientists recently described structural coloration that is still clearly discernible in well-preserved fossil feathers. Why do these fossil feathers have their original cell structures laid out in the original patterns if they are millions of years old?
In 1995, paleontologists Derek Briggs and Paul Davis provided an overview of fossil feathers from the 40 or so places on the globe where they were known to exist.1 Among their findings was that 69 percent of feather fossils are preserved not as impressions, but as carbon traces. This was verified by comparing the proportions of carbon in both the surrounding carbonaceous rock and the fossil within it, to the proportions of organically-derived carbon from the same items. They found that there was more organic carbon in the fossil than in the stone.
At that time, the researchers thought the carbon came from bacteria that had degraded the feather material and then remained placed in the feather’s outline. But 13 years later, Briggs and other colleagues showed clear evidence that these “bacterial cells” were actually melanosomes―the same microscopic, sausage-shaped, dark pigment-containing structures in today’s bird feathers―from the original feather.2
This means that the organic carbon in the melanosomes somehow avoided decay for millions of years, which contradicts “the well-known fact that the majority of organic molecules decay in thousands of years.”3
Briggs and his colleagues recently described fossil feathers from the German Messel Oil Shale deposits, which are famous for their remarkably well-preserved fossils. These not only contained organic carbon from melanosomes (not bacteria), but the melanosomes were still organized in their original spacing and layering. Thus, the “metallic greenish, bluish or coppery” colors that can be seen from different viewing angles, producing an iridescent sheen, may very well be similar to that of the original bird’s plumage.4
Biologists already know that “in order to produce a particular [structural] colour, the keratin thickness must be accurate to within about 0.05 μm (one twenty thousandth of one millimetre!).”5 Although the keratin had decayed from these fossil feathers, its layers of melanosomes remained laid out in similarly precise thicknesses. Thus, not only was the color preserved, but the melanosomes were still organized to within micrometers of their original positions.
Evolutionary geologists maintain that the Messel Shale was formed 47 million years ago. But with these colorful feather fossils—which retain not only the original molecules inside their original melanosomes, but also the architectural layout of these structures—evolutionists must invent some kind of magical preservation process that simply isn’t observed in the laboratory or in nature.
Without the assumption of millions of years, however, the fossil data begin to make much more sense. Fresh-looking fossil features point to a young world.
References
* Mr. Thomas is Science Writer at the Institute for Creation Research.
Article posted on September 16, 2009.
Hey, if one posts the amount of incoherent crap you do, you're bound to strike gold a few times a year!
I know it's a bit much to ask self-absorbed liberals to look one millimeter past their own noses, but #254 was merely what was right in your face at the moment you decided to swing so wildly and (further) bloody yourself.
I think you're the only one here that doesn't understand your assertion in post #258 that creationists rarely post to me, when in reality just a few minutes prior in post #254 someone did exactly that, on this very thread.
In fact, I'm convinced you still don't understand it, and worse yet, you still won't understand, even after reading this explanation.
Right. Really, really "rare".
And if that's not bad enough, there's post #267.
You're all done here; out of ideas and using the same lame attempts at insult twice in one post.
LOL....I would be desperate for me to be "all done here" too if I were in your shoes! LOL!
Ending your carnage works like it always has here, if you want your nose to stop bleeding, just stop swinging and it'll stop!
Eventually anyway.
Now go put your head back, apply a little pressure and ice and lay down already. And please understand one needs only be buried 8 feet deep, not the 48 feet you're putting yourself under.
Your verbal hits are like being lashed with a wet noodle.
I still stand by the accusation; if people do stand up for you, its to marginalize the damage that your verbal diarrhea does to the cause of "creation science".
And what gives, your genius wit can't work Chris Matthews into your insults anymore? Shame. That one more than any other gave you away as a stark raving lunatic.
So let me get this straight:
You think that my posts are "pedestrian and petty", but calling everyone who disagrees with a liberal, making up silly accusations, non-stop name calling, and endless pejoratives are sophisticated points of inquiry?
Have you even read this guy's posts, or did you just ignore what I said?
Like I said, I don't go trolling the CrEvo threads looking for him. He always seeks me out to post more insults; I'm simply responding.
If you want to defend TP, go ahead. It says more about you than it does me.
That is a question I should put to you since I defended no ones comments (other than my own) and as to “ I don't go trolling the CrEvo threads looking for him”, you've already explained the purpose of your trolling so I don't see any need to discuss that further.
“I think the other creationists are embarrassed by him, and I have every intention of trying to make him the poster child creationist on this forum by taunting him into making some other asinine statement.”
Seems straight forward enough.
But I've other, better things to attend to, so.......
It's the arrogant godless turds that heap ridicule and abuse for sport and operate a mutual admiration society together while getting their jollies that are the abusive pricks.
LOL...not 54 feet, not 63 feet...
“Settled science” Matthews...???
That’s your boy...and his is the same argument other evos make right here on FR...and yes, it really is stark raving lunacy, and one day after you consult the services of an extractionist tootles, you’ll reflect back on this and understand just what you raving lunatic libs sound like!
Until then, it’s obvious you’re going to go until you’re a puddle on the floor I see...or until someone loses count in the depth of your hole.
You be sure to keep flingin’ your poo now...
“It’s the arrogant godless turds that heap ridicule and abuse for sport and operate a mutual admiration society together while getting their jollies that are the abusive pricks.”
Now we’re talking!
See, I knew all you needed was a little encouragement.
“Liberals project-alot. You learn alot about a liberal through their projections.”
And you’re back too! You “creation science” guys got your insult on tonight!
I was beginning to think you were discouraged.
Let me know how that works out...
“and of a certainty separates you from the “scientifically-minded people” you say the”“creation science” advocates” are scared to address with an anathema.
Added to all is that your ridicule is really crashingly, mind crushingly boring. Boring, not “intellectual superiority”, just pedestrian and petty.”
Actually, this really isn’t much different from what goes on in labs and research institutions all over the country. We like to put on our labcoats and mock “creation scientists”. Usually we squint and project our eyebrows out and make caveman sounds. Really, it’s pretty funny, but maybe you have to be there.
You guys just don’t understand real scientist humor - and that’s to be understood, not being real scientists and all.
Let us know how that works out...
You are one insane dude; literally certifiable.
I hope everybody reads this post; keep it up. Let everyone take a look at your cognitive, grammar, and vocabulary skills in all their glory; it's like God froze your brain at 8 years old and never allowed it to mature past that point.
I love it; behold the model creationist!
I think it’s safe to say everyone is relieved you stopped at 63 feet, tootles.
I was beginning to think you were discouraged.
between the Ga. tech/Miami game, raining cats and dogs, flood watches here in Atlanta and a wireless card in this weather, oh and about 6-7 nursing charts to finish...I’m afraid things will be a little slow...
(not in terms of tootles’ uptake...but response time) ;)
and of a certainty separates you from the “scientifically-minded people” you say the”“creation science” advocates” are scared to address with an anathema.
Added to all is that your ridicule is really crashingly, mind crushingly boring. Boring, not “intellectual superiority”, just pedestrian and petty.”
Actually, this really isn’t much different from what goes on in labs and research institutions all over the country. We like to put on our labcoats and mock “creation scientists”. Usually we squint and project our eyebrows out and make caveman sounds. Really, it’s pretty funny, but maybe you have to be there.
You guys just don’t understand real scientist humor - and that’s to be understood, not being real scientists and all.
and to think some evo mentioned earlier this week about a janitor in some place!
That would explain the "tootles" comment.
Nope, never been to Miami...I’m from NC.
Never heard of that before...
I was just funnin’ ya with a clown name.
‘Canes look tough here though up 17-3 over the yellow jackets, and already out-lasted the ‘noles last week.
My fiance calls me a clown all the time. I tell her that makes her look bad not me. I'm not the one marrying a clown.
When’s the big day?
Good Christian girl; even non-believers know they're the best.
Wish me luck. I'll be incognito for a couple of weeks so our clashes will have to pick up in mid-October.
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