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Are US Voters Informed Enough About Science?
Naturalist writes "For decades, educators and employers have worried that too few Americans are preparing for careers in science. But there's evidence to support a new, broader concern in this election year: Ordinary Americans may not know enough about science to make informed decisions on key questions."
a lot of things, see current administration....
Monstar L
No shit sherlock, plenty of movies with volcanoes and magma/lava in it. Fail to know this and you have a room temperature IQ.
No, there is lots around and of course radio-active materials are found in nature. We are exposed constantly to radiation but I suppose people might not know this OR mis-understand the question. You might have picked up that the sun is an exploding nuke or that uranium is mined or heard the term background radiation.
Father of course, basic biology, comes up often enough, but I suppose you might have forgotten. It ain't an issue most of the time and out of sight out of mind.
Seems pretty obvious to anyone who ever seen a laser LIGHT. I suppose the way the question is asked could confuse you. You might be swayed into thinking that by focussing sound you can create light. If anybody on slashdot fell for it, go kill yourself.
Duh, they are after all part of atoms, so they have to be smaller. If you know what an atom/electon is then you need to know this. If you do not, well there is nothing wrong with only having a swimming pre-school diploma.
Bacteria obviously but this is one of the questions people really might not know. Viruses and bacteria are often mixed up in the media.
Fact? We do not absolutely know this yet, yes there was a big bang, probably BUT was that the beginning. A loaded question. If you think it was created by god 6000 years ago, you are wrong.
Obviously, just ask anyone living near a fault. Millions of years might be debated by the insane but that the continents move can and has been measured.
True of course, the proof is getting stronger every year with more missing links being found. A deeply dividing question apparently in the US.
Oh come on. If you fail this one after 3rd rock from the Sun you don't need to go out and kill yourself, you are already legally braindead.
Tsk, giving the answer for the previous question in the next one? Sad to say, I know people that would fail this question and yes, they are indeed the type that you absolutely do NOT want to vote because they lack any capacity to make conclusions based on observations.
No, you have an average IQ. Welcome to the human race
You are retarded, you should have people taking care of you.
You are severely retarded
You are dead. Random guessing would have served you better.
That you are supposed to be a geek to know the answer to these questions says it all. Come on, they are general knowledge questions, but yet usatoday seems to think that knowing these makes you the top of the bill, a genius equall to Einstein.
No, not everyone needs to know everything but this is stuff like not knowing that we need air to breath, that water is wet and fire hot.
Our society has slipped into a state where is is considered normal to know every detail about Paris Hilton's life but not why a year is a year.
MMO Quests are like orgasms:
You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.
[Note: I recognize that religious fundamentalists are not necessarily the best representatives of their religions. Unfortunately, they are the most vocal.]
In the US, Christian fundamentalism has a great track record for dismissing science that it disagrees with. It started with evolution in the 19th century, and has now progressed to other topics.
Evolution?
"God sez the earth is less than 10,000 years old, so science is wrong!"
Biological basis of homosexuality?
"God sez that homosexuality is a sinful choice!"
Global warming?
"God sez he's coming soon, so we don't have to worry about that!"
Of course, when fundamentalists say "God sez..." they really mean "My personal interpretation is..." And don't even get me started on how un-literal "Biblical literalism" is.
Blanket statements and worn-out cliches sure are fun.
Stop projecting your personal issues on other people.
Its amazing how well your statements parallel many posters and their screen vomit here on /.
Mal: "So no more runnin'. I aim to misbehave."
Uh, because he was right about Iraq?
~ now you know
And you're not being a troll by projecting your personal issues on every single person on the planet? Just because you're a weak, corrupt asshole doesn't mean everyone is.