creation
The Bacterial Flagellum
A biological rotary motor spinning at 100,000 RPM.
The Evidence
The bacterial flagellum is a microscopic outboard motor used by bacteria for propulsion. It consists of 40 different protein parts, including a rotor, stator, drive shaft, bushing, and universal joint. It can spin at up to 100,000 RPM and reverse direction in a quarter of a turn.
Historical Context
This is the textbook definition of 'Irreducible Complexity.' If any one of the 40 parts is missing, the motor doesn't work at all. It cannot be built by adding one part at a time over millions of years, because the intermediate stages (a motor with no rotor, or no drive shaft) would be useless. The motor had to be assembled instantly and completely to function at all.