Surprisingly, one in four Americans is unaware that the Earth orbits the sun. This shocking statistic was revealed in the National Science Foundation’s biennial survey, which was part of a broader report presented to Congress on the current state of scientific knowledge in the United States.
In a 2014 survey involving over 2,200 individuals, the average correct response rate was only 65 percent. (This would be a failing grade in most junior high or high school science classes.) Those holding a bachelor’s degree answered 78 percent correctly, whereas only 45 percent of high school graduates performed similarly. Additionally, older adults (those over 65) tended to score lower than their younger counterparts.
Do you believe you can outperform the average? Test your knowledge with the following quiz (and check your answers after).
- The core of the Earth is extremely hot. True or false?
- Continents have shifted locations over millions of years and will continue to do so. True or false?
- Does the Earth revolve around the sun, or does the sun revolve around the Earth?
- All forms of radioactivity are artificial. 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 genetic contribution determines whether a baby is a boy or a girl. 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?
This article was originally published on Feb. 26, 2015.
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In summary, understanding basic scientific concepts is crucial, as many Americans struggle with fundamental knowledge. This quiz serves as a fun way to assess your own science skills while encouraging further exploration of related topics.