216 Million Americans Are Scientifically Illiterate

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: HamburgerBoy

Originally posted by: aidanjm

Originally posted by: kstu

Originally posted by: fisheerman

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: George P Burdell
http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/duncan/17535/

...
B]about 20 percent, when asked if the earth orbits the sun or vice versa, say it?s the sun that does the orbiting[/b]

Say it ain't so 🙁

slippery slopes were are on in these times.....................

the ignorant are going to rain supreme in the not to distant future.

-fish

😀 oh the ironing

wow, waaay too slow

You are all dumb, it is 'too', not 'to'.

lol u 2

you should all get a room :heart:

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
I'd like to think that this is just another one of those skewed polls...biased in order to capture headlines like this.

I'm extremely skeptical of polls. The more this country's citizens rely on the results of skewed polls the more we erode the basic principles upon which this country was founded.

Wake up and question the bullsh!t you read and hear in the media because the day you stop questioning what you read and hear everyday is the day you give up your rights.

:thumbsup:

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: Random Variable
If one doesn't understand quantum electrodynamics, is one scientifically illiterate?

While I agree with jules maximus (above) about the relevance of such polls, I think this is also valid, when you consider the intent of these polls. I would say I'm far from scientifically illterate (geneticist), and I don't know sh1t about quantum *dynamics. But that's the nature of the beast, anyway: Physicists aren't very literate towards Biology, and vice-versa.

I don't think it's necessary for John Q Farmer to even be aware of Adenine, Thymine, etc. How, in his life, will such information benefit him? I think there are a few basic scientific principles that the ave person should be aware of, but full exposure isn't going to benefit the general public. Besides, a farmer is probably not scientifically illiterate. Ag, soil science is a pretty big deal. I bet the average farmer can run circles around me on soil dynamics 😉

 

[acole1]

The poll said 20% of all people think the Sun orbits the Earth... not 20% of the 40% who do not believe in Evolution.

It would therefore be possible that 20% of people who believe the Sun orbits the Earth, could all believe in Evolution.

Bad logic FTL on the part of OP, and many others in this thread, who connected scientific illiteracy with belief in Creationism.

 

[Atlantean]

Originally posted by: foghorn67
Neither Evolution nor Creationism can technically proved into scientific laws. Theories at best.

Creationism is not even a theory. There is no scientific basis for it. There is evidence of evolution, most things discovered in science are "only" theories. A theory is something that must be both testable and falsifiable, and there must be some evidence to back the theory.

 

[Safeway]

Hmm, I have a thorough understanding of chemistry, physics, biology, astronomy, ... That means I am in the top 0.1% of science understanders 😛

 

[tk149]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: George P Burdell
http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/duncan/17535/

...
B]about 20 percent, when asked if the earth orbits the sun or vice versa, say it?s the sun that does the orbiting[/b]

Say it ain't so 🙁

Yep, these are the same 52% of America that voted Bush twice.

Why does everything have to be political with you? Can we get the mods to banish you to P&N?

 

[foghorn67]

Originally posted by: Atlantean

Originally posted by: foghorn67
Neither Evolution nor Creationism can technically proved into scientific laws. Theories at best.

Creationism is not even a theory. There is no scientific basis for it. There is evidence of evolution, most things discovered in science are "only" theories. A theory is something that must be both testable and falsifiable, and there must be some evidence to back the theory.

hey, there's another one.

 

[Gibsons]

Originally posted by: Safeway
Hmm, I have a thorough understanding of chemistry, physics, biology, astronomy, ... That means I am in the top 0.1% of science understanders 😛

I have a Ph.D. in biology and wouldn't claim to thoroughly understand it.

 

[GamingDaemon]

Originally posted by: Gibsons

Originally posted by: Safeway
Hmm, I have a thorough understanding of chemistry, physics, biology, astronomy, ... That means I am in the top 0.1% of science understanders 😛

I have a Ph.D. in biology and wouldn't claim to thoroughly understand it.

And probably only 12 people out of 6.5 billion people understand quantum theory.

Every time I am able (like this afternoon), I look up at the moon and am amazed by the beauty and the fact that if not for the moon, there would be no life on earth. No one seems to look up at the moon any more. They are too busy rushing to catch the metro, or discussing silly religions, or spilling blood in the name of something or someone.

Sorry, I digress. Back to our beloved but forgotten solar system. In the heart of the fusion reactor of our sun, a photon is created. It takes that photon on the order of a million years to make its way out to the surface of the sun. Our earth is a scant 93 million miles from this furnace. After a million years, that photon must travel another 8 minutes before lighting up the beautiful eyes of my daughter.

Oh, and until that moment, that photon is actually both a wave and a photon. When it hits my daughter's retinae, it is realized as a photon. And then, backwards though time, a million years and 8 minutes, that light is fixed as being only a photon.