Holiday shopping is upon us! Please, consider using this link for all your Amazon.com purchases (not just books!). When you do so, though you'll pay no more for your purchases (and they'll ship just as fast), Think Atheist and Think Atheist Radio will get a small percentage of Amazon's profit. This will ensure we can keep the site up, make improvements, and afford research materials and recording equipment for the show. We'd really appreciate your help! Add it to your bookmarks so you don't forget!

Remember to follow Think Atheist Radio on Twitter, LIKE our Facebook page, and subscribe to the show on YouTube and iTunes!

This week on Think Atheist Radio we're featuring our chat with Dr. Peter M. Hoffmann. Dr. Hoffmann did his undergrad work in physics and mathematics at Technische Universität Clausthal in Germany before receiving an MS in physics at Southern Illinois University and a PhD in materials science and engineering at Johns Hopkins University. Previously a Research Fellow at Oxford University, he is a Professor of Physics and an Associate Dean at Michigan's Wayne State University. One of the founders of Wayne State's Biomedical Physics Program, he conducts research in the Nanomechanics Laboratory using Atomic Force Microscopy to peer into the internal machinery of cells. Dr. Hoffmann is the author of the just released book Life's Ratchet: How Molecular Machines Extract Order from Chaos. We asked Dr. Hoffmann to join us to discuss his new book. During the course of our discussion we discovered just how deeply the physical laws that govern the universe underlie life's processes. It's a fascinating topic and we're thrilled Dr. Hoffmann could join us. Give a listen!

Nearly a mile beneath an Italian mountain range, physicists are trying to isolate the particles they believe hold the universe together.

The Republican's epistemic problem.

Why the Big Bang singularity doesn't help the Kalam Cosmological Argument for theism.

Physicist Paul Davies argues that cancer can tell us about our own evolution. But. No. It can't. Or, since he's been told before that his theory is wrong, cancer STILL can't tell us about our own evolution.

What is happening when a medium claims to be communicating with the dead? A new study used brain scans of mediums in the process of doing what they do.

Astronomers snap picture of planet in orbit around another star. Don't miss the gallery, linked in that post, of all the other exoplanets we've managed to snap pictures of.

After Santa Monica, California city officials make the right decision to treat atheists fairly, Christians sue to get their special privileges back. A judge has ruled against them.

A presumed frontrunner for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination, Marco Rubio, was asked the age of the earth. His response: "I'm not a scientist, man... It's one of the great mysteries." He says that the age of the earth has nothing to do with the economy. Can he truly be that stupid? Today more than ever, science is a huge factor in the economy. And of course Rubio isn't unique among GOP contenders. And, listen, President Obama hasn't been much better.

Using just 10% of your brain? Popular neuro-myths are creating confusion in the classroom.

David Mabus/Dennis Markuze has been arrested again after violating conditions of his parole as he continued to harass and threaten atheists and scientists online. Here's your play by play of the events following his first arrest and what led to the second.

October was the 332nd consecutive globally warm month. In fact, if you're 27 years of age or younger you've never once experienced a month in which the temperature was lower than the 20th century average. CO2 levels hit a record high in 2011. The UN says that cuts to carbon that countries have committed to won't be enough to slow dangerous warming. The European Environment Agency is warning that climate change is already evident across Europe.

A group of scientists say chimps and orangutans may experience mid life crises just like we tend to do. Other scientists quoted in the article are skeptical.

Upon receiving feedback on a recent post of his Steven Novella took the opportunity to examine some of the fallacies committed by proponents of organic farming.

NASA scientists working on Curiosity say they're verifying something they've found they describe as "one for the history books." Rumors are centering on the possibility that Curiosity has found organic molecules, commonly taken as a key indicator of the presence of life. But it's not clear why organic molecules would be earth-shaking in the case of Mars. However, a former NASA researcher says that things are more complicated than that. Phil Plait urges patience.

Matt McCormick examines some ways to argue for atheism using the Problem of Divine Hiddenness.

Animal vision evolved 700 million years ago.

Is there a rising tide of irrationality?

The search for life under the Antarctic ice is heating up.

This week the Church of England voted to refuse to allow women bishops, making the church a "national embarrassment."

A mayor in Illinois is angry that a cross on public property will be taken down.

You can sign this petition to get the White House to respond to a demand that the IRS begin enforcing prohibitions against electioneering from the pulpit.

Do animals know right from wrong?

Lawsuits against prayers at public meetings continue around the country.

The Pope embarrasses the church again, says Catholics should accept the Virgin Birth.

Astronomers are finding dark energy hints in cosmic voids.

DNA has been around for billions of years. But that doesn't mean scientists can't make it better. Check out DNA's new alphabet.

What the world's youngest species can teach us about evolution.

31 arguments against gay marriage and why they're all wrong.

Here's why climate science deniers have no credibility.

Some of the popular press has wildly overblown a "gene for humanity."

A German reporter goes undercover at a fundamentalist Christian college. Findings are incredible.

This Florida woman was arrested for driving 100mph in a 30mph zone. When asked why she did so she told police that God told her to. See at the link a gallery of recent instances of people committing crimes while claiming to have done so at God's behest.