<http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/epaper/editions/wednesday/news_c3fc69a136f132c60063.html>
Washington --- Few Americans understand the scientific process and many believe in mysterious psychic powers and may be quick to accept phony science reports, according to a national survey.
The survey, part of the National Science Foundation's biennial report on the state of science understanding, education, research and investment, found belief in "pseudoscience" common. It found science literacy had improved only slightly since the last survey and that 70 percent of U.S. adults do not understand the scientific process.
America continues to lead the world, the study found, in scientific investment, research and development, and technological advances. But it found weakness in some levels of scientific education and noted that the United States continues to depend heavily on foreign-born scientists and now faces increased competition from steadily improving scientific enterprises abroad.
In the survey of American attitudes toward science, the study found that doctors and scientists were the most respected professionals, but it also found that "belief in pseudoscience is relatively widespread and growing."
A survey of 1,574 adults found 60 percent agreed or strongly agreed that some people possess psychic powers or extrasensory perception, a premise most scientists regard as unproven.
Though 57 percent of those surveyed disagreed that UFOs came to Earth bearing aliens, about 30 percent believe that some reported objects in the sky are really space vehicles from other civilizations.
The scientific validity of astrology --- the belief that an alignment of the planets can affect events on Earth --- is rejected by 60 percent of Americans, as is the idea that some numbers are lucky while others are not. But 43 percent say they read the astrology charts at least occasionally in the newspaper.
Americans were almost evenly divided about genetic engineering --- modifying life forms by manipulating genes. Forty percent thought the technique would produce more good than bad effects, but 33 percent anticipated more harm than benefit.
About 48 percent of those surveyed said they were moderately or strongly opposed to cloning farm animals, even if it was used to make drugs to treat humans. The new science was supported by 47 percent, making opinion almost evenly divided.
Most Americans, about 59 percent, were comfortable with using mice in laboratory experiments, but opinions shifted dramatically when the question was using dogs or chimpanzees in the scientific research instead of mice. About 53 percent of those surveyed disagreed with allowing scientists to experiment with dogs or chimps in medical research.
===== Kevin Dean Buffalo, NY ICQ: 8616001 AIM: KDean75206 Buffalo Activist Network http://www.buffaloactivist.net http://www.yaysoft.com
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