talkpolitics | Science month : American adults flunk basic science

In one of Carl Sagan's last interviews on May 27, 1996, Charlie Rose asked Dr. Sagan's opinion about a frightening scientific survey with the results published in the New York Times, which showed Americans lack of knowledge regarding the most fundamental scientific facts: e.g. the worst showing came when those surveyed were asked to define scientific terms. Only about 9 percent knew what a molecule was, and only 21 percent could define D.N.A., the genetic material. But even more fundamental questions stumped many: less than half knew that the Earth orbits the Sun annually. [lol whut!?] Nevertheless, there is enthusiasm for research, except in some fields like genetic engineering and nuclear power that are viewed with suspicion.

Nearly 13 years later, the results aren't any better. In 2009, the California Academy of Sciences commissioned a survey, and the results were just as dismal as the report in the 1996 New York Times article: "Despite its importance to economic growth, environmental protection, and global health and energy issues, scientific literacy is currently low among American adults. According to the national survey commissioned by the California Academy of Sciences:

* Only 53% of adults know how long it takes for the Earth to revolve around the Sun.
* Only 59% of adults know that the earliest humans and dinosaurs did not live at the same time.
* Only 47% of adults can roughly approximate the percent of the Earth's surface that is covered with water.*
* Only 21% of adults answered all three questions correctly.

In the course of the interview with Charlie Rose, Sagan reiterated his points made in his then published book The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark. The book examines at great length topics such as "pseudo-science" that seem to never fail to capture the public's interest and gullibility: Christian Science, creationism, astrology, alien abductions, crop circles, etc. The book also includes a very personal reflection on Sagan's mortality weaved into ultimate questions of life after death and the existence of God, abortion, and new age religions.

According to Thomas Jefferson: the importance of having a knowledgeable electorate is critical for a successful society and democracy; it simply wasn't enough to enshrine rights in a Bill of Rights or a Constitution. We live in a world so differently technologically than Jefferson's, and collectively we've failed Jefferson's warnings. Sagan complained about a lack of scientifically informed Congressional leaders: as of this writing, there is only one current member of Congress who is a licensed professional engineer – Joe Barton of Texas; and only 8 percent of Congress has at least one math, science, or engineering degree.

*** Fun and extra stuff ***
Carl Sagan and Charlie Rose interview:

Find out how what your scientific literacy is by taking this short on-line quiz.

The WMAP within a proposed model of the universe's shape.

Several physicists and cosmologists now believe the Universe is shaped like a 12 sided soccer ball, and since that article was published, there's been some interesting developments since, including Alexander Kashlinsky's discovery of Dark Flow, where several large clusters of galaxies are moving towards something beyond the edge of the known universe. Since the area these galaxies are moving towards is a cold area on the WMAP (a map of the Universe when it was only about 400,000 years old), some see it as evidence of an alternative universe near ours, attracting nearby bodies. Theoretical physicist Laura Mersini-Houghton of University of North Carolina (GO TARHEELS ;) has some empirical evidence to back up Kashlinksy's work.