The National Science Foundation recently surveyed a bunch of Americans to see what they knew about science as part of a report to be sent to Congress and the Prez. I know this because a British daily paper – The Independent – wrote a story about it in today’s edition. To be fair I also saw it on the USA Today website – along with a link to a “related” item about “How giant rats could someday rule the Earth.” Hint: Phase One was to take over both houses of the US Congress.
Anyhow, according to the survey, if you’re in a car pool with three other people (hah! Trick premise. This is America we’re talking about), one of them will not know that the Earth orbits the sun. Yes, only 74% of Americans know that. They didn’t list the other responses, but I assume they ranged from something like “the Sun goes around the Earth – duh!”, to “whut’s uh oar-bit?” and “because Jesus.”
Also, 61% of Americans do not believe that the universe began with the “big bang.” This one is quite distressing to me. I mean, it’s, like, the #1 sitcom on teevee people – all you have to do is listen to the theme song!
And 52% of Americans don’t believe in evolution, which means half the people in our fictional car pool are godless heathens who hate Jesus.
42% of Americans apparently think that astrology is either “very scientific” or “sort of scientific” (‘cuz, like, it ends in “ogy” so it’s gotta be kinda sorta sciency, right?).
On the bright side, over half of us (51%) realize that antibiotics don’t kill viruses (the other 49% of course run to the doctor demanding – and getting, damnit! – an antibiotic every time they feel “the flu” coming on). And only a little more than 10% of Americans believe the dangers of science outweigh any potential benefits (this is the same percentage of people who, when questioned about it, responded “FIRE BAD!“.
Yesterday it finally quit snowing for a while and the sun even came out late in the day. But it looks like it snowed some more overnight (how unusual), but the temperature has edged it’s way up into double digits (just barely). I guess I need to determine whether or not I need to plow the driveway. Or maybe just go back to bed.
I hear California is having a tough time water-wise due to lack of snow pack.
So I thought I’d send you some of ours.
Since we got to the northern Cali border, all it it seems to do rain. No water shortage up here. I woke up to blue sky this morning but it will be gone soon.
It would be interesting to know where the science illiterates reside. I suspect there may be a geographic disparity. Perhaps teaching creationism as science has an affect.
Hey, we made the front page of the NY Times (sadly, not for hoops but for our crumbling water mains).
Ike’s tree suffered severe ice damage, and had to be euthanized. 🙁 :gate:
Ah, a late entry for the Darwin awards.
Quite the romantic. I guess now if anything of mine turns black and falls off, I’ll have to put it in a jar and give it to my wife, too.