Quartz
Of course I’m using “design” as a noun – a pattern or shape, sometimes repeated. Not as the verb – to make a detailed plan of the form or structure of something. We see patterns or shapes in almost everything but that does not imply that the patterns were created by intelligent agents. In fact, if we assume that to be the case we will never understand the underlying causes of patterns or design.
Forget about Mt Rushmore, or the watch Rev. Paley found on the ground. As a chemist I’m attracted to the design/pattern apparent in crystals. Consider mineralogy. There are some fascinating and beautiful examples of crystalline minerals. Have a look at the Mineral Image Index for for some great photos of minerals.
Soil mineralogy
I have always found microscopic investigation of soil fascinating. Most people just take soil for granted and are unaware of what it is composed of. Microscopes, particularly high resolution scanning and transmission electron microscopes, reveal design/pattern at the finest level. These images are of clay minerals, present as very small particles in soil.
Goethite needles wrapped like skeins of wool
Tubular halloysite
Imogolite
Kaolinite
Crystals provide us with much more than a beautiful form to be appreciated. They reveal information on the atoms, ions and molecules from which they are composed. Our understanding of chemistry has helped us understand how, and why, these crystals form. And the presence of different mineral forms in geological deposits and soils has helped us understand the geological and pedogenic processes that have occurred, and are occurring, on our planet.
Our understanding of these clay minerals, and the information they have given us about mineral formation and soil forming processes, would not have been possible if we “explained them away” as resulting from “intelligent design.” No, that explanation would have been a real science stopper. It would maybe have provided us with an emotionally satisfying story (if we find such stories emotionally satisfying).
But it would not have any way aided our understanding of reality.
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8 responses so far ↓
alison // August 28, 2008 at 6:07 pm
Stunning images, Ken – thank you for sharing them
Heraclides // August 28, 2008 at 6:16 pm
I love electron micrographs, especially SEMs for their three dimensional images. I’ve got one from a NZ calender many years ago, put out by some microscopy society. Love to know if they still do one.
Dale Campbell // August 29, 2008 at 11:28 am
Indeed,
You can be an atheist or a flaming creationist and still appreciate the beauty of this design.
Ken // August 29, 2008 at 5:12 pm
@ Heraclides:
I think there used to be a national competition for the most artistic electron micrograph. Maybe the results went into calendars.
Heraclides // August 29, 2008 at 11:03 pm
@Ken:
Sounds like what it was. Makes sense anyway.
Ken // August 31, 2008 at 12:55 pm
@ Dale Campbell:
Obviously I can’t really speak for the creationist.
However, I find it hard to imagine that a creationist would be capable of experiencing the emotions that come with appreciating the origins of design (pattern) in these images as arising from the electronic properties of the atoms involved. Or in appreciating how these minerals formed and how they will transform into other minerals. The beauty of seeing soils and other geological features in their development – formation of parent materials and the transformation into different mineral species under the action of climate and other soil forming processes. And the emotional satisfaction of appreciating how this information can be used for humanity to interact positively with our environment to provide food – and to enable wise management so that the environment is preserved (so soil is not treated like dirt).
As I say – I can’t speak for the creationist. However, it does seem to me that an outlook which insists on magical (supernatural) explanations for design – explanations which don’t enable seeing soil in its development – would provide a rather sterile and shallow appreciation of the beauty of this design.
Konstantin Kovler // May 21, 2009 at 3:59 am
Very nice high-resolution micrograph of kaolinite! Can I use it in the introduction of my paper about metakaolin? Of course, I add “Courtesy of …”
Ken // May 21, 2009 at 4:42 pm
Konstantin – I lifted the photo either from a book or from the American Soil Science Society collection. You would have to get permission from them.