216 Million Americans Are Scientifically Illiterate

[eits]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: Vic
It's not very scientific to get emotional about people who question science.

But they control the Country

not anymore.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: Vic
It's not very scientific to get emotional about people who question science.

But they control the Country

That's politics, not science, troll.

 

[verndewd]

Hilarious.wait till we find out that this time space continuum is just a septic tank for immeasurably large monodeists.

 

[miniMUNCH]

Originally posted by: Gibsons
The laws of thermodynamics are theories, as are Newton's laws of motion.

They are theories that have been used time and time again to make incredibly accurate predictions when applied in right circumstances.

It is true that they are theories (I grant that completely) but they are also scientific laws.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laws_of_thermodynamics

 

[miniMUNCH]

Originally posted by: verndewd
Hilarious.wait till we find out that this time space continuum is just a septic tank for immeasurably large monodeists.

I lol'ed

 

[Gibsons]

Originally posted by: miniMUNCH

Originally posted by: Gibsons
The laws of thermodynamics are theories, as are Newton's laws of motion.

They are theories that have been used time and time again to make incredibly accurate predictions when applied in right circumstances.

It is true that they theories (I grant that completely) but they are also laws.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laws_of_thermodynamics

They are valid theories until something disproves them. All theories are unproved and unproveable, but all scientific theories can be disproven. They might have a mountain of supporting evidence (certainly the case for thermodynamics, and yes, evolution), but they're still not proven, only supported.

If someone builds a perpetual motion machine tomorrow, they will have disproven a lot of thermodynamics. Not that I'm expecting it to happen! Just sayin...

 

[CKent]

Originally posted by: Coldkilla
In my history middle school class (7 years ago), a girl didn't know where Antartica was... I say about 1/3rd of the the class couldn't name all the continents.. 1/2 couldn't name all the oceans. Pathetic.

Lol... back in 9th grade our earth science teacher was teaching us about plate tectonics and used Hawaii as an example. He showed us how the different islands had formed as the plate moved over a hotspot in the mantle. He told us how a new island was forming as we speak. A girl (who had failed the previous year and was a year older than us all - big surprise) interrupted by asking what they were going to name it

Sorry to interrupt the flames, carry on gentlemen.

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: foghorn67

Originally posted by: zinfamous

Originally posted by: foghorn67

Originally posted by: DougK62

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

You don't know what you're talking about.

really. Is Evolution scientific law?

...You can also consider this: pig insulin as a treatment for diabeties. It's been around for more than 50 years now. It works. It doesn't work, however, in a world where evolution is not true. The majority of insulin is sythesized now, but it was the use of pig insulin that got us here.

Anyway...let's NOT turn this into a weekly evolution debate, shall we?

You are painting something with a rather broad brush. Let's admit that is a lot assumption.

Please elaborate. It is simply not an assumption that the thought that lead to pig insulin being useful in humans was based on evolutionary thought. This is, actually, fact. Don't misunderstand me in saying that this one example proves evolution; it represents just one of many hypothesis, predicated on the ideas of evolutionary theory, that lead to a great discovery. In the grand scheme of things, it stacks up as one of the many pieces of evidence that lend credence to evolution through natural selection.

If by painting with a broad brush, my claim that everything we know in Biology is related to evolutionary thought, well, that's simply true. I work in genetics. I've worked in embryonic development, evolutionary genetics, and now in a transgenics/targeted mutagenesis facility. You can trust me when I say that Biology-related research over the last half century (nearly the entire century, really), is predicated by evolutionary theory.

It's not the goal of the research is to prove evolution. It's that every minor step in each experiement that one may perform is possible because evolution makes sense. Otherwise, could you explain how I can sequence a small strand of mouse RNA, replicate it in bacteria, purify it from bacterial cells, inject it into a recently-fertilized fish embryo, and observe that fish sythesizing protein from the mouse's RNA? This can't be done without evolution being possible; and I've done it. Several times over.

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: verndewd
Hilarious.wait till we find out that this time space continuum is just a septic tank for immeasurably large monodeists.

how's the skunk today?

 

[TehMac]

Just worry about yourself. Make sure you know all you think you need to know, and don't worry about no one else.

 

[Oceandevi]

Originally posted by: d3n

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

...

Okay, now let?s talk (dare I say rant?) about the 200 million Americans out there who cannot read a simple story in, say, Technology Review or the New York Times science section and understand even the basics of DNA or microchips or global warming.

This level of science illiteracy may explain why over 40 percent of Americans do not believe in evolution and about 20 percent, when asked if the earth orbits the sun or vice versa, say it?s the sun that does the orbiting--placing these people in the same camp as the Inquisition that punished Galileo almost 400 years ago. It also explains the extraordinary disconnect between scientists and much of the public over issues the scientists think were settled long ago--never mind newer discoveries and research on topics such as the use of chimeras to study cancer, or pills that may extend life span by 30 or 40 percent.

As Carl Sagan eloquently wrote in The Demon-Haunted World, ignorance reigns in our society at a moment when science is on the cusp of doing amazing and wonderful things, but also dangerous things. Ignorance, said Sagan, is not an option.

...

One of Miller?s findings that may surprise many Americans is that Europeans and Japanese actually rate slightly lower in science literacy.

...

Sagan had a nice quote there. For all the advancement I would say that civilization is bordering on controlled chaos most of the time. People will revert to a primal state without the thin veil of government to be held over them. Science will be the first thing to go when people are faced with everyday problems. I happen to think that science is the only thing that will get us beyond our everyday problems. Hopefully, it will get us off of this rock before we doom or selves or something comes along and does it for us.

Which proves to me that we are animals.

 

[Scarpozzi]

I'm real smart with books tho. I dunno what they're talking about or wear their getting there numbers from, but Americons arenn't that dum.

 

[verndewd]

Originally posted by: zinfamous

Originally posted by: verndewd
Hilarious.wait till we find out that this time space continuum is just a septic tank for immeasurably large monodeists.

how's the skunk today?

pretty righteous(pun intended,I can make fun of myself too) lol

 

[ManBearPig]

the sun does NOT rotate around the planets? wtf?

 

[verndewd]

Originally posted by: Oceandevi

Originally posted by: d3n

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

...

Okay, now let?s talk (dare I say rant?) about the 200 million Americans out there who cannot read a simple story in, say, Technology Review or the New York Times science section and understand even the basics of DNA or microchips or global warming.

This level of science illiteracy may explain why over 40 percent of Americans do not believe in evolution and about 20 percent, when asked if the earth orbits the sun or vice versa, say it?s the sun that does the orbiting--placing these people in the same camp as the Inquisition that punished Galileo almost 400 years ago. It also explains the extraordinary disconnect between scientists and much of the public over issues the scientists think were settled long ago--never mind newer discoveries and research on topics such as the use of chimeras to study cancer, or pills that may extend life span by 30 or 40 percent.

As Carl Sagan eloquently wrote in The Demon-Haunted World, ignorance reigns in our society at a moment when science is on the cusp of doing amazing and wonderful things, but also dangerous things. Ignorance, said Sagan, is not an option.

...

One of Miller?s findings that may surprise many Americans is that Europeans and Japanese actually rate slightly lower in science literacy.

...

Sagan had a nice quote there. For all the advancement I would say that civilization is bordering on controlled chaos most of the time. People will revert to a primal state without the thin veil of government to be held over them. Science will be the first thing to go when people are faced with everyday problems. I happen to think that science is the only thing that will get us beyond our everyday problems. Hopefully, it will get us off of this rock before we doom or selves or something comes along and does it for us.

Which proves to me that we are animals.

everything we are and do illustrates the capacity for animalism;That in and of itself is a huge evolutionary statement. We are little more than evolved primates. And I feel it is true that science has often led the way to civility because of religions inherent condemnatory biproduct from something akin to self hatred. Science doesnt carry the diachotomy of religion; the love hate factor so the decline of civilization mirrors the decline of disciplined thought. Religion defined is an action based on a belief,so if our religion was science nothing could be done or assumed without bieng proven.

Science is a better religion than the religiosity of Deists, I feel you can believe in god and make science your religion.

Embrace the ape and move forward. We have been devolving since the early to mid 1900's due to a variety of catalysts ;from the justification of the mafia by the media , the bonus act for ww1 vets pushed off by the hoover administration and not responsibly addressed until just before WW2 ;The list of catalysts is long and the fallout affects the greatest minds that man is gifted with, by supplying an overabundance of ignorance which ultimately slows the process of science.

I dont know that there is a quick solution ,but I know it involves reform on a scale that is barely fathomable. It starts with the home and the security to provide for the home environment,which then goes through every single monetary aspect of man.

It is only a few who debilitate opportunity for the many And there is no solution there will always be oppression from greed and power. We can only hope that the trend for discipline of thought will again be a much honored persuit for mankind. The future belongs to science yet is threatened by the masses as they turn to a more volatile lack of self discipline.

Two of the greatest sedatives of man are government and god; because only a select few are bright enough to persue science .And science is an incredible sedative. So you remove god and there is only government which is dangerous ;As history shows no government can withstand the masses.

 

[StrangerGuy]

Originally posted by: Heen05
the sun does NOT rotate around the planets? wtf?

It's "revolve". ***verb police***

 

[Kaieye]

Originally posted by: theprodigalrebel
Forget the evolution debate (religion comes in, things get messy).

But this - about 20 percent, when asked if the earth orbits the sun or vice versa, say it?s the sun that does the orbiting - is the real shocker. Come on, no way can this be true. If it is, I'm speechless. The US has a literacy rate of 99% - and I believe how the planets work is something everyone knows by the time they are out of Elementary School.

I don't believe that the literacy rate of 99% in the US is correct. But I believe that the literacy rate in Eastern Asia is higher than here in America.

 

[Strk]

Originally posted by: Kaieye

Originally posted by: theprodigalrebel
Forget the evolution debate (religion comes in, things get messy).

But this - about 20 percent, when asked if the earth orbits the sun or vice versa, say it?s the sun that does the orbiting - is the real shocker. Come on, no way can this be true. If it is, I'm speechless. The US has a literacy rate of 99% - and I believe how the planets work is something everyone knows by the time they are out of Elementary School.

I don't believe that the literacy rate of 99% in the US is correct. But I believe that the literacy rate in Eastern Asia is higher than here in America.

I can believe it. It says people are literate, but not necessarily at what level. I doubt the developed Asian countries are much different. However, it can always debated what level the literacy actually is; that is, can they do more than read street signs and order McDonalds.

 

[mjrpes3]

What's more likely: that people don't understand what the word 'orbit' means, or that, visually in their mind, they really do believe that the sun orbits around the earth?

 

[verndewd]

Originally posted by: mjrpes3
What's more likely: that people don't understand what the word 'orbit' means, or that, visually in their mind, they really do believe that the sun orbits around the earth?

do you really want to know that answer? I wouldnt relish knowing my country men have the belief that the sun orbits the earth. Honestly I dont want to know Id just like to blindly assume they dont realize That orbit is something other than a brand of gum.

 

[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.

 

[Random Variable]

If one doesn't understand quantum electrodynamics, is one scientifically illiterate?

 

[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'

 

[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

 

[Gibsons]

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

You'll have to strictly define what constitutes an understanding of quantum electrodynamics. I took my year of physics in college, I read QED, most of Hawkings pop stuff, I try to keep up with Science and Nature... but I wouldn't claim to understand quantum electrodynamics.