TEAM 1 SAMPLE
Teal color indicates presence of collagen
CTF hadrosaurid dinosaur specimen 20262506_sample 1
Team Members: Moxy, Lilli, Abby, Jenna, Kathleen, Robin
Research for His Glory
Matt Miles and Ryan Cox • August 17, 2026
Research for His Glory
In July of 2024, we reported the discovery of collagenous material inside one of CTF’s hadrosaur fossils [see our July 2024 article “Fossil Research Update”]. Since then, additional scientific research and providential events have transpired, resulting in significant worldview-impacting moments to the glory of God.
#1. January 2025 – Dr. Brian Thomas and colleagues publish a landmark paper
After our 2024 laboratory work was completed, Dr. Brian Thomas of the Institute of Creation Research (ICR: Dallas, TX) informed us it would not be appropriate at that time to say we had discovered collagen, but rather remnants or potential collagen. Part of the scientific process is attempting to falsify test results. If the results withstand those efforts, then the results are confirmed. Some tests confirming or falsifying the biomaterial as (1) collagen and (2) not contamination had been conducted, but others had not. Until then, it would not be proper to say “collagen” when showing our test results.
This all changed on January 17, 2025. Dr. Thomas and four colleagues from the University of Liverpool (Dr. Thomas earned his PhD in Paleobiochemistry from Liverpool) along with two scientists from UCLA published a paper in the scientific journal
Analytical Chemistry, entitled “Evidence of Endogenous Collagen in
Edmontosaurus
Fossil Bone.”¹ The scientists used a process² on the dinosaur fossil to identify, quantify, and sequence Hydroxyproline, an amino acid found in collagen. Their results confirmed the presence of “ancient and decayed, not modern [contaminated], collagen.”
This paper rocked the evolutionary community, as seen in their posts and articles. However, most of the public never heard about it; the media ignored it and scientists or professors rarely mention it. Why do evolutionists want people to be ignorant of this breakthrough? Because until then, they could conveniently say that perhaps the “collagenous material” was contamination. Perhaps someone working on the fossil clumsily dropped their bologna sandwich on it. Most likely it is not collagen, they proclaimed, the most prevalent protein comprising over 90% of organic bone matrix and 80% of total proteins in bones.³
Why were they so opposed to there being original [endogenous] collagen in dinosaur fossils? Because ALL studies thus far have shown that collagen decays too quickly for the evolution mythos, lasting only thousands of years, not millions! The confirmation of original collagen still present in dinosaur fossils utterly destroys the evolutionary paradigm of millions of years – the fossils can only be thousands of years old according to laboratory results. Such results, as all true science does, confirm once again the perfect historical and scientific accuracy of the Bible.
Now we can call our 2024 lab discovery “collagen”!
#2. June 2026 – Students visit CTF and conduct laboratory research
On June 22, 2026, students from Beecher Island Sunday School (Wray, CO) and Lake Mount Church of Christ (New Waterford, OH) arrived in Noble, OK for teaching sessions with Matt and Ryan. After concluding those on Tuesday morning, we proceeded to view Flood geology in the Arbuckle Mountains on our way to ICR in Dallas. On Wednesday, not only did the students explore ICR’s Discovery Center, they also met ICR President Dr. Randy Guliuzza and had a special session with Dr. Brian Thomas, who shared his latest research, some of which hasn’t even been published yet. Spoiler alert: the newest test results reinforce all previous discoveries of original collagenous proteins in dinosaur bones. Dr. Thomas then shocked us by gifting CTF a microscope slide containing a
T. rex blood vessel. His desire for the gift is that we share it with everyone we can, which we will do in upcoming presentations.
Following our time at ICR, we proceeded to Glen Rose, TX where students walked in the dinosaur tracks of Dinosaur Valley State Park. On Thursday, we visited Dr. Carl Baugh’s Creation Evidence Museum. It was in their Dinosaur Discovery Lab we extracted in 2024 the dinosaur fossil sample containing collagen. Since then, we have desired to do repeat this with another fossil in order to have a collagen display in both of our fossil collections, allowing Matt and Ryan to show audiences the same research simultaneously in two separate locations.
So on that Thursday, thanks to Dr. Baugh's generous spirit and his long-time relationship with Dr. Sharp and CTF, students were allowed for the first time to enter their lab, receive instructions, and operate certain lab equipment. Under the direction of lab director Julie Hastings and lab technician Clay Turner, students in three groups took turns using cross polarization light microscopy to detect the presence of collagen in samples from another one of CTF’s hadrosaur fossils. As our Biblical worldview predicted, every sample contained collagen.
While in the lab, we also took time to examine the
T. rex slide under Clay Turner's direction. To our surprise, we potentially found a nerve fragment as well! Though the shape and structure appeared identical to a nerve fragment with collagen, further testing is needed for confirmation of our potential discovery.
It was a spectacular day of discovery and praise for the trustworthiness of God’s Word and the eternal impact on students' and sponsors' lives!
TEAM 2 SAMPLE
Teal color indicates presence of collagen
CTF hadrosaurid dinosaur specimen 20262506_sample 2
Team Members: Ryan, Jordan, Izzy, Haidyn, Kyle
TEAM 3 SAMPLE
Teal color indicates presence of collagen
CTF hadrosaurid dinosaur specimen 20262506_sample 3
Team Members: Trey, Jonathan, Micah, Caleb, Tina, Matt
T. REX SAMPLE
Potential nerve fragment with collagen
CTF T. rex specimen BT20262406
Team Members: Clay Turner, Matt Miles, Ryan Cox
#3. July/August 2026 – Students share with and teach others about their discoveries
The incredible opportunity afforded these students by the generosity of Dr. Baugh and his staff seemed almost life-changing for many of the students. It certainly impacted each of their worldviews.
They could now tell friends and family that they personally have been involved in laboratory research that yielded results confirming the Biblical record.
During the week of July 26, 2026, Ryan was at a camp in Hillsboro, OH with several of the Ohio students. Throughout the week, Ryan witnessed those students bring their friends to the CTF booth where the fossil and lab results were on display. Ryan never had to say a word as they explained to their friends what they did and the significance of the research. Additionally, on August 5th, two of them (Micah Cole and Jonathan Postle) traveled to a VBS in Ohio and shared with the adults and students their experience.
What a testimony to the legacy of Dr. and Mrs. Sharp, the work of Creation Truth Foundation, and the faithful supporters of this ministry to see young people ecstatic about their faith, proclaiming God’s Word is true, Jesus is our Creator, and He can be your Savior.
Our challenge to you is to never take for granted the power of faith in the Word and to also research the many avenues of support to its veracity. Our team here at CTF continues to impact worldviews of young and old for eternity. Please share our mission and this article with everyone you know, and may His magnificent name be praised. Blessings.
- Lucien Tuinstra, Brian Thomas, et al, “Evidence for Endogenous Collagen in Edmontosaurus Fossil Bone,” Analytical Chemistry 97, 17 January 2025: 2618-2628.
- Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)
- Morten Karsdal, Biochemistry of Collagens, Laminins and Elastin: Structure, Function and Biomarkers, 2nd ed., (Academic Press: London, 2019), 1.
- For example: M. Buckley and M.J. Collins MJ, “Collagen survival and its use for species identification in Holocene-lower Pleistocene bone fragments from British archaeological and paleontological sites,” Antiqua, 2011;1:1:e1.
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EACH OF THESE ARTICLES ARE EXCERPTS FROM AMERICA’S EPIC ADVENTURE TM - CTF'S NEWEST VBS CURRICULUM From Lesson 3: The Patriots , Jesus covers our sin – Romans 4:7