A surprising statistic from the National Science Foundation’s biennial survey reveals that one in four Americans is unaware that the Earth orbits the sun. This shocking insight was part of a broader report presented to Congress last year, assessing the state of science education in the country. In the 2014 survey involving over 2,200 participants, the average correct response rate was a mere 65 percent—equivalent to a D grade in typical middle or high school science courses.
Those holding a bachelor’s degree performed better, answering 78 percent of the questions accurately. In contrast, only 45 percent of high school graduates achieved similar success, and older adults, particularly those over 65, also struggled compared to their younger counterparts.
Test Your Knowledge
Do you think you can surpass these statistics? Test your knowledge with the following quiz (and check your answers afterward):
- The core of the Earth is extremely hot. True or false?
- Continents have been shifting their positions for millions of years and will keep doing so. True or false?
- Does the sun revolve around the Earth, or does the Earth revolve around the sun?
- All forms of radioactivity are artificially created. True or false?
- Electrons are smaller than atoms. True or false?
- Lasers operate by concentrating sound waves. True or false?
- The universe originated from a massive explosion. True or false?
- The father’s gene determines whether the offspring is male or female. True or false?
- Antibiotics are effective against both viruses and bacteria. True or false?
- Modern humans evolved from earlier species of animals. True or false?
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In summary, understanding basic scientific concepts is crucial, with many Americans showing gaps in knowledge. By challenging yourself with this quiz, you can gauge your science skills and perhaps learn something new along the way.