One in four Americans unaware that Earth circles Sun

j0x said:
One in three respondents said science should get more funding from the government.

Nearly 90 percent said the benefits of science outweigh any dangers,

j0x said:
The survey included more than 2,200 people in the United States and was conducted by the National Science Foundation.

Ten questions about physical and biological science were on the quiz, and the average score—6.5 correct—was barely a passing grade.

Just 74 percent of respondents knew that the Earth revolved around the Sun, according to the results released at the American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting in Chicago.

Fewer than half (48 percent) knew that human beings evolved from earlier species of animals.

The result of the survey, which is conducted every two years, will be included in a National Science Foundation report to President Barack Obama and US lawmakers.

One in three respondents said science should get more funding from the government.

Nearly 90 percent said the benefits of science outweigh any dangers, and about the same number expressed interest in learning about medical discoveries.

Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2014-02-americans-unaware-earth-circles-sun.html#jCp

j0x said:

Fewer than half (48 percent) knew that human beings evolved from earlier species of animals.

Hoppy said:
All planets in the milky way revolve around the Sun, Earth included, learn Science America.

JonyJC said:

...

Confucius said:
Now tell me how many still think the Earth is flat?

j0x said:
Just 74 percent of respondents knew that the Earth revolved around the Sun, according to the results released at the American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting in Chicago.

j0x said:
Fewer than half (48 percent) knew that human beings evolved from earlier species of animals.

Valaskjalf said:
Now tell me how many still think Pluto is a planet.

Valaskjalf said:
Now tell me how many still think Pluto is a planet.

StonerWithABoner said:

Never forget...

Reverb_Shock said:
So 2,200 people were surveyed and that proves that 1 in 4 people in a nation of 300 million don't know that the Earth revolves around the Sun?

Bullshit.

Heredity said:
Sample sizing and surveys go hand-in-hand. That's how we get every statistic in the modern day.

Reverb_Shock said:
A sample size of 2,200 is way too small imo. It also depends where they did the survey, the education of the people they interviewed, what jobs they had.

I'm just saying this in no way proves that America is stupid. There are much better surveys that prove that lol

Heredity said:
Where are those surveys, and what were their sample sizes? You just sound angry that a survey has stated 1/4 Americans to be stupid.

Ckan said:
Pluto will always remain in planetary orbit around our hearts.

JonyJC said:

...still waiting.

layfonkun said:
High five for the Ptolemaic system. Gone but not forgotten.

Reverb_Shock said:
I was just kidding about the better surveys. I was just trying to say that Americans are probably mostly stupid, but this survey doesn't prove it.

animeoppai said:
rip planet pluto. Never even got to do 1 orbit around the sun while being a planet

Bro-K201 said:
Do people really believe this "survey." What a load of horse shit. The article makes no mention about how the survey was conducted, who they surveyed, what the sampling error was, what kind of sample they surveyed, not even what the actual survey question was. They only give a single vague statistic and automatically claim it representative of all of america. It very easy to misconstrue information or alter a question to serve an different purpose. In politics they conduct polls all the time to sway public opinion. They don't even have to publish the results. Just ask a question that will get the public to think negatively about the opposing candidate. Here, the purpose of the survey is very clear. They want money. The information provided does nothing to explain why americans might be less educated, nor does it provide any type of solution. It can however be used to convince the higher ups that "Hey Americans suck at science but they want more science, give us money," A claim that, again, is complete horse shit.

Moog- said:
That is messed up. The U.S is one of the most technological and advanced nations in the world, and yet a portion of its population seem to be so... backwards. Stop that.

Kinda relevant

Seravander said:


So what was Pluto doing before 1930?

azzuRe said:

Pluto was guarding the space time door on the outer ring, and one day when earth needs help, she and her two other comrades will revive Saturn to save the universe.

Ckan said:
BUT WHAT ABOUT JUPITER?! Jupiter is always important.

Document said:
Does the Earth go around the Sun, or does the Sun go around the Earth? (Earth around Sun) ..........................
United States (2012): 74
China (2010): NA
EU (2005): 66
India (2004): 70
Japan (2011): NA
Malaysia (2008): 72
Russia (2003): NA
South Korea (2004): 86

...Two additional
questions used a multiple choice format. These asked about
(21) whether the sun moves around the Earth, whether the
Earth moves around the sun (correct), or neither the sun nor
the Earth moves (Europe correct: 80%, United States correct:
82%);...

Viviaan said:
So should i be surprised that my country is retarded...
im not really surprised seeing that teens are more interested in sex and relationships rather than school

-Linus- said:

I honestly don't know what to think of the data it has. It references another document in its notes with quite different results:

In general that document isn't very reassuring.