Jinn of Quality and Risk

• Lasers do not work by focusing sound waves (45% correct)
• Light travels faster than sound (77%)
• Earth takes one year to go around the Sun (54%)
• The father's gene decides whether the baby is a boy or a girl (65%)
• Antibiotics do not kill viruses (50%)

Only 22% of respondents were able to define "molecule", and 45% gave an acceptable definition for DNA. Further, 45% of Americans agree with the statement: "God created human beings pretty much in their present form at one time within the last 10,000 years or so" (Gallup poll, February 2001); 68% favor teaching this belief (known as creationism) along with evolution in public schools.

Given the high percentage of false answers, it is likely that a large proportion of respondents were merely guessing — for instance, people who did not complete high school averaged 50% correct answers, which is consistent with random guessing! Thus the proportion of people who actually know the scientific facts is probably even lower than indicated... It is bizarre that the report does not point this out. Similar studies conducted in Europe seem to indicate that the overall situation is worse there.

A largely ignorant population votes to select their "leaders" — who vote to control what research and development is allowed (gene therapy, nuclear power, space exploration, etc.). What a deal.