Beyond Evolution
Amos Diede writes:
I am a research engineer who has worked extensively with hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is an unstable substance that is very damaging to living tissue. Pouring 3% hydrogen peroxide on a simple cut demonstrates the point. Upon contact with living tissue/systems, the hydrogen peroxide immediately begins to decompose into water and oxygen. Mono atomic oxygen is formed for a fleeting moment during the decomposition process and this highly reactive form of oxygen immediately destroys bacteria present. Brief contact with 3% peroxide only destroys a thin layer of living cells–so the benefit of killing microbes outweighs the slight additional harm to the host.
However, 30% hydrogen peroxide is a different “beast”. There are documented cases of accidental ingestion of 0.5-1.5 ounces of 30% hydrogen peroxide. This amount of H2O2 is fatal to a human being in short order unless emergency medical procedures can be performed immediately. Hydrogen peroxide at the 30% level is extremely “corrosive” to living tissue and quickly destroys tissue in the upper digestive tract–or any living tissue that it comes in contact with. I have also worked extensively with 90-98% H2O2. Once I spilled a few drops of 98% H2O2 on my shoe and it quickly ignited the shoe leather. Chromium compounds in the leather catalytically decompose the hydrogen peroxide rapidly releasing heat and oxygen–resulting in rapid ignition. Contact with skin rapidly turns the skin white and produces painful burns–I have experienced this too! Contact with eyes will produce immediate blindness. Hydrogen peroxide is hardly compatible with living systems.
For a “lowly” beetle to produce fairly concentrated H2O2 and store it within its body is a most remarkable feat—not to mention body parts that can withstand 100 degrees C!! The more I work with concentrated hydrogen peroxide and witness its many hidden quirks, the more I am amazed that a beetle (who knows nothing of chemistry) can produce and store this material within it body—and then put it to good use!! Absolutely amazing!! To not be amazed is to be willfully ignorant or arrogant, or both. I am part of a technical team that has been struggling for years to harness hydrogen peroxide for various technical applications that I can not disclose publically. I know the many technical challenges and obstacles that one encounters when trying to use hydrogen peroxide. After spending years of effort and millions of dollars, this little beetle still has us beat–hands down! We are starting to look to the bombardier beetle and study its design for answers to some perplexing problems that we have been unable to solve. Is there an intelligent Master Designer–a Creator God. You bet!! It is self evident to anyone willing to take an honest look.
Now I’m sure 99+% of evolutionist readers will remain unconvinced no matter what anyone writes. Perhaps there is a more fundamental issue for evolutionists to ponder and answer. Answer these two questions about yourself, if you dare…..if you can!
Be honest with yourself now!!
1. Where was I 100 years ago???
2. Where will I be 100 years from now???
Chew on these two questions for awhile. Then use all your intelligence and see if you can design and build a “better” bettle. Work at it for a few million years if you like. Let me know when you reach the goal. I’d like to see the result.
Amos Diede
Research Propulsion Engineer
US Navy