Ketson Likonde and Ruth Likonde of Lilongwe and their two kids are reading an article on how a dog’s sense of smell is thousands of times more refined than a human’s sniffing skills. They also are surprised to find out how a dog’s nose can possibly help scientists detect so much more than scent!

“This is so cool!” said 12-year-old Lemona. “I didn’t know Baster’s nose could do all that.”

The article is part of a captivating series titled “Was It Designed?” The free content can be accessed through one of the most visited Bible education websites in the world, jw.org.

The articles, with audio recordings and videos, provide easy-to-understand descriptions of some of the most awe-inspiring elements of earth’s creatures and vegetation. It also makes connections to the modern world with surprising answers to many questions.

These include: what does a wandering albatross have to do with aerial vehicles? How can a seahorse’s tail help perform successful surgeries? And how can a brilliant blue Pollia berry prevent production of counterfeit money?

“This series will not only appeal to anyone interested in nature and animals but also to anyone who is concerned about the preservation of our planet’s biodiversity,” said Gift Thakwalakwa, Central Region Spokesperson for Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Recognizing many people’s interest and concern for nature, the United Nations has even established an annual World Wildlife Day. On March 3, 2024, many will celebrate the earth’s variety of wild fauna and flora and raise awareness for their conservation.

Each day, more than 2,100,000 visitors use jw.org, the official website of Jehovah’s Witnesses, to access free information that addresses today’s concerns. Care for the environment is among the many topics they can investigate on the site.

The series, dubbed “Was it Designed?”, also explains how nature can even inspire innovations in engineering, robotics and product design.

By the way, do you know that the wandering albatross’s flight capabilities may help engineers design more fuel-efficient aerial vehicles, perhaps even with engineless propulsion and that a seahorse’s tail design can be applied to search and rescue robots and surgical equipment that need to be capable of bending and twisting in tight places?

Well, further to that, you may be interested to know that some scientists say that the Pollia berry’s iridescent pigment-free color could possibly help develop fade-resistant dyes and counterfeit-resistant paper.

As for Baster’s nose? The Likondes also learn from the article how scientists are using a dog’s superior smelling capabilities as a model to develop electronic “noses” to detect explosives, contraband and disease, including cancer.

“This series is amazing!” said mom Ruth. “It definitely has given our family more appreciation for earth’s plants and animals, but most of all, it also gives us hope for our planet’s future.”