The Beetle Who Is a Chemist – Creation Moments
The Beetle Who Is a Chemist
Imagine a beetle that can move across the surface of water without any body movement. Some creatures have been given such ability and skill that it should be clear to even the most skeptical person that their Maker and Teacher is greater than any human being.
One such creature is the large-eyed rove beetle. Like many other insects, this beetle can walk on water. The surface tension of the water is enough to support the beetle on top of the water, given the special structure of his legs and feet. Should you see the large-eyed rove beetle, you will notice that he moves across the water, stops, turns, and starts up again without moving any part of his body. How does this work?
The large-eyed rove beetle has special glands that produce a chemical – something like detergent – that changes the surface tension of the water. When the surface tension of the water near his back feet is different from the surface tension of the water near his front feet, the beetle is pulled forward.
Such a unique method of movement requires sophisticated knowledge of both hydrodynamics and chemistry. Since the beetle is obviously not that smart, it is no wonder that evolutionists often speak of evolution as though it were intelligent and able to create such wonders. However, it makes a lot more sense to talk about a wise, personal Creator than it does to speak of the wisdom of a mindless force like evolution.
Dear Lord, help me and other Christians remember that as Creator of everything that science studies, You are able to see to it that Your Word is trustworthy in all matters it speaks about, even scientific matters. Amen.
Science Digest, Aug., 1983. p. 74. Photo courtesy of © Entomart.