A Designed Universe Or chance
Since Darwin's Origin of Species (1859), many have felt "survival of the fittest'' is the source of apparent design in nature rather than God. Yet recently serious objections have been raised against the ability of evolution to explain either the origin of life or its diversity.1 Consequently, the force of design as evidence for a supernatural alternative is strengthened.
In any case, biological evolution can hardly explain design in the nonliving part of nature. And it is just here that recent advances in science have uncovered far more evidence of design than was known in Darwin's time or even in the 1970s. Let us consider some of this evidence.
The Right Chemistry
All life on earth depends on the cooperation of many complex biochemicals, each containing thousands or even millions of atoms. These include DNA and RNA, which store and transmit information by which living cells operate; and proteins, which provide structural material and speed up chemical reactions so that plants and animals can respond quickly to external changes. These molecules are enormously complex and detailed structures carrying on particular, specialized tasks. Such organization presents a serious challenge to the idea that life arose by chance rather than design, but that is not our subject here.
On a much simpler level, such chemicals as carbon, phosphorus and water suggest that life didn't just happen. Carbon is the only element in existence which forms chains of almost unlimited length, needed for DNA, RNA and protein. All the carbon in our universe apparently formed inside stars and was scattered over space as stars exploded. Yet by two coordinated "quirks" carbon is a common element rather than a very rare one. Carbon is formed by combining three helium nuclei; the element beryllium (two heliums) is so unstable inside stars that one almost needs a triple helium collision to get carbon.. It happens that the temperature inside stars is right at a "resonance" for carbon, an energy level at which these nuclei stick together unusually well. If this resonance energy were only 4% lower, carbon would be very rare. On the other hand, carbon easily combines with another helium nucleus to form oxygen. But it just so happens that the energy of the combination is just above an oxygen resonance, which is thus out of reach. If this resonance were only 1/2% higher, nearly all carbon would convert to oxygen. In either case, carbon would be very rare and life itself rare or nonexistent.
Phosphorus is unique among the elements in forming compounds (ATP, ADP) which can store large amounts of energy. Without these compounds, there would be no higher animal life, since such an efficient method of energy storage is needed for mobility. Yet only phosphorus, of all the elements, has this capability. It looks like phosphorus was designed for this purpose.
Water is at least as unusual as carbon or phosphorus. Its molecule (two hydrogens and one oxygen) is lighter than molecules of nitrogen or oxygen, and thus should be a gas at temperatures suitable for life. However, water forms combinations of two or three water molecules loosely joined together, so that actually it is a liquid at these temperatures. As a liquid it is the basic fluid of animal blood, tree sap and cell plasma. Yet when water evaporates, it no longer forms combinations. This allows it to diffuse in the atmosphere so it doesn't stifle life by lying on the earth's surface as an unbreathable gas.
Water is also a universal solvent, dissolving the necessary solid chemicals so they can circulate in the bloodstream, plant sap, and living cells. All other liquids which can dissolve a comparable number of chemicals are highly corrosive and deadly to living things.
Water is unusual in being able to absorb a large amount of heat for a given change in temperature. As a result it moderates the climate of the earth and helps stabilize the body temperature of animals. Like few other substances, it expands rather than contracting on freezing. This prevents oceans and lakes from freezing to the bottom (killing marine life), and it aids in the formation of soil by splitting up rocks. Truly water is a most amazing substance. Together with the thirsty traveler on a hot day, the chemist can say, "There's nothing like it!"