With a massive ark and museum, he spreads creationism a century after Scopes trial. He's not alone
WILLIAMSTOWN, Ky. — As the colossal replica of the biblical Noah's Ark rises incongruously from the countryside of northern Kentucky, Ken Ham gives the presentation he's often repeated.
The ark stretches one and a half football fields long — 'the biggest freestanding timber-frame structure in the world,' Ham says. It holds three massive decks with wooden cages, food-storage urns, life-size animal models and other exhibits.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
What the Trump-Musk Feud Means for SpaceX and NASA
The U.S. government relies on SpaceX to support NASA and other agencies, and the company has received more $20 billion in federal contracts for it. As Musk and Trump threaten to cut ties, here's what that would mean for the U.S.'s space ambitions.
Health Line
an hour ago
- Health Line
Ask the Expert: Should I have Biomarker Testing – and Would it Help?
Biomarker testing in colorectal cancer can help assess inherited risk and identify characteristics that may influence the disease's growth, spread, and response to treatment. Colorectal cancer (CRC) starts in the colon or rectum of the large intestine. Your doctor may refer to it as 'colon cancer' or 'rectal cancer,' depending on where the cancer develops first, but both of these diagnoses are included under the banner of CRC. CRC is treatable, and biomarker testing is a part of precision medicine in your comprehensive treatment plan. Biomarker testing in CRC can help detect cancer in its earliest, most treatable stages. It can also provide important details about cancer after a diagnosis that influence treatment and outcomes. Dr. Smitha Krishnamurthi, a gastrointestinal oncology specialist with the Cleveland Clinic, talks with Healthline about biomarker testing and who it's recommended for. What is biomarker testing? Biomarker testing refers to testing of the colorectal cancer to find out if there are certain changes in the cancer's genes and proteins that could impact prognosis [outlook] and treatment. What are the most common biomarkers, and what do they show? Biomarkers in CRC measure a variety of different biological processes and states. Each biomarker provides important details about the cancer's growth, spread, or treatment response. DNA mismatch repair Hospital pathology labs now commonly test all initial biopsies or surgical specimens of colorectal cancer for the presence of DNA mismatch repair proteins. This is done via immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining of the slides to look for [the] expression of four mismatch repair proteins: MLH1, PMS2, MSH2, and MSH6. If one or two of these proteins are missing, then the cancer has deficient DNA mismatch repair. Microsatellite instability (MSI) This is a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or next-generation sequencing (NGS) test [that looks] for abnormalities in microsatellite regions of the cancer DNA. The test can be done on a tumor specimen or blood (liquid biopsy). Microsatellites are short, repeated sequences of DNA. If the cancer has [atypical] DNA mismatch repair, errors will appear in microsatellite regions of DNA in the form of missing bases or extra bases added to the DNA sequence. RAS gene mutations (mutations in KRAS and NRAS genes) This testing can be performed by PCR or NGS testing of the tumor or NGS testing of blood (liquid biopsy). RAS is a very important oncogene, meaning that it is a gene that, when mutated, drives cancer cell proliferation and survival. Mutations in RAS genes are found in up to 50% of colorectal cancers. BRAF V600E gene mutation This testing can be performed by PCR or NGS testing of the tumor or NGS testing of blood (liquid biopsy). The BRAF V600E protein can also be detected by IHC. BRAF is another oncogene, so when it is mutated, it leads to cancer cell proliferation and survival. BRAF V600E mutations occur in about 8% to 10% of colorectal cancers and are more common in right-sided cancers. HER2 protein overexpression by IHC or gene amplification by NGS HER2 is another oncogene — gene amplification leads to [the] overexpression of the HER2 protein. Overexpression of HER2 leads to increased signaling via the epidermal growth factor receptor pathway, leading to cancer cell proliferation and survival. PIK3CA PIK3CA is another oncogene. Mutations in PIK3CA and a related gene, PIK3R1, lead to cancer cell proliferation and survival. Mutations in PIK3CA and PIK3R1 are typically found via NGS. PTEN PTEN is a tumor suppressor gene, [which typically] suppresses cancer growth. When the PTEN gene is mutated, the protein is not expressed, and that leads to [the] proliferation of cancer. PTEN gene mutations are typically found via NGS. Who should have biomarker testing done? All patients with colorectal cancer should have testing of their cancer for DNA mismatch repair (or microsatellite instability) soon after diagnosis. This is important for patients with cancers of all stages. Patients with early stage colorectal cancer should have testing of their cancers for mutations in PIK3CA, PTEN, and PIK3R1 by the time they finish adjuvant treatment or after surgery if [they're] not having adjuvant treatment. Patients with metastatic colorectal cancer should have next-generation sequencing of the cancer soon after diagnosis, as the results may impact the initial systemic treatment. The NGS results are also useful for identifying clinical trial eligibility. Comorbidities will not affect the results of these biomarkers, so they should not affect the timing and decision making about ordering these tests. How does biomarker testing help the treatment and outcome of a diagnosis? Biomarkers can impact your treatment choices and outcomes. They can help doctors decide which medications will be the most effective, identify inherited features in cancer, and determine if adjuvant or additional therapies would improve outcomes. Immunotherapy responsiveness It is critical to know if a cancer has deficient DNA mismatch repair (dMMR) or high microsatellite instability (MSI-H) because these cancers can respond dramatically to immunotherapy in the early stage and metastatic settings. For example, patients with rectal cancer that is dMMR or MSI-H may have a complete clinical response with immunotherapy and may be able to avoid radiation and surgery. Thus, this testing needs to be done early, before treatment starts. Identifying Lynch syndrome Another important reason for testing for dMMR or MSI-H is to identify cancers caused by Lynch syndrome. Lynch syndrome is the most common type of inherited colorectal cancer and is caused by germline mutations in the genes that code for the DNA mismatch repair proteins or in another related gene called EPCAM. Most cancers with deficient mismatch repair or MSI-H are not caused by Lynch syndrome and occur sporadically. We don't want to miss patients with Lynch syndrome, however, because they can benefit from counseling about [the] prevention of Lynch syndrome-related cancers such as uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, and gastric cancer, in addition to colorectal cancer. When a patient is diagnosed with Lynch syndrome, family members can then be tested to see if they have Lynch syndrome. Recommendations for cancer screening at early stages are made for individuals with Lynch syndrome, and early screening can be lifesaving. Identifying treatment resistance Mutations in KRAS and NRAS make cancers resistant to anti-epidermal growth factor receptor therapy. Cancers with KRAS G12C mutations can be treated with a regimen that targets this mutation (adagrasib plus cetuximab or sotorasib plus panitumumab). There are also many clinical trials now studying RAS gene inhibitors in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer that have been previously treated. Cancers with BRAF V600E tend to be aggressive and less sensitive to chemotherapy. There is a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved regimen targeting BRAF V600E (encorafenib plus cetuximab) in metastatic colorectal cancer that improves survival when added to first-line FOLFOX chemotherapy. It also improves survival as a second-line treatment after chemotherapy. Greater response to targeted and adjuvant therapy Metastatic colorectal cancers that demonstrate [the] overexpression or gene amplification of HER2 can be treated with a targeted regimen of tucatinib plus trastuzumab after initial chemotherapy. Another targeted treatment available for metastatic colorectal cancers that overexpress HER2 by IHC is trastuzumab deruxtecan. Patients with early stage colorectal cancer with mutations in the PIK3CA, PIK3R1, or PTEN genes should be treated with aspirin 160 milligrams daily for 3 years after adjuvant therapy or after surgery if [they're] not having adjuvant therapy. The ALASCCA trial, presented at ASCO GI [American Society of Clinical Oncology – Gastrointestinal Cancer] in 2025, compared a placebo to aspirin in this patient population and found that aspirin significantly lowered the rate of cancer recurrence at 3 years. This is rather new data. Oncologists are starting to order NGS testing for patients with early stage cancers in order to obtain this biomarker information. What should you ask your doctor? It's always OK to ask your doctor about biomarker testing and what it means for you. Important questions to consider include: Is my cancer dMMR/MSI-H? Am I a candidate for immunotherapy? Patients with early stage colorectal cancer should ask if aspirin therapy will be recommended based on biomarker testing. Patients with metastatic colorectal cancer should ask for the results of RAS/BRAF/HER2 testing and overall NGS testing results.
Screen Geek
an hour ago
- Screen Geek
2025 Box Office Bomb Dominates HBO Max
Subscribers on HBO Max are flocking to one of 2025's box office bombs as the film unexpectedly tops the streaming service's charts. Of course, it's not surprising that this 2025 effort is doing so well on HBO Max following its theatrical release, especially when one considers that it comes from an acclaimed director. As noted via FlixPatrol, at the time of this writing, this film is the #2 title on the streaming platform. It's quite a feat for a movie that struggled at the box office, having earned just barely more than its budget at the box office, grossing $132 million against a $118 million production cost. Impressively, the title stars Robert Pattinson as the lead, with Naomi Ackie, Steven Yeun, Toni Collette, and Mark Ruffalo. Bong Joon Ho both wrote and directed the film which was based on a novel by Edward Ashton. It seems as though the talent from everyone involved has given this title legs beyond its theatrical release. This 2025 film now streaming on HBO Max is none other than Mickey 17 , a sci-fi film set in the year 2054. It revolves around Pattinson's character who joins a space colony. His official title is that of an 'Expendable,' which is an individual that happens to be cloned upon death. While a majority of their memories are retained, they quickly become diluted with each additional copy. It's an interesting endeavor from Bong Joon Ho, and one that probably should have fared better at the box office. Fortunately, it looks like it has been earning viewers with its newfound availability on HBO Max and home video. Stay tuned to ScreenGeek for any additional updates regarding the latest trending titles on HBO Max as we have them. For now, subscribers are able to see Mickey 17 for themselves, and see whether or not the title was deserving of a better box office performance. Especially now that it appears to be doing quite well on streaming.
