Believe it or not, one in four Americans is unaware that the Earth revolves around the sun. Shocking, right? This was one of the eye-opening revelations from the National Science Foundation’s biannual survey, which was part of a larger report presented to Congress last year about the state of science in the U.S.
In the 2014 survey involving over 2,200 participants, the average correct response rate was only 65 percent. (That’s a solid D in most middle school science classes, folks.) Graduates with bachelor’s degrees answered about 78 percent correctly, while only 45 percent of high school graduates managed to do the same. Oh, and if you’re over 65, it seems you might need a refresher course, as younger respondents performed better.
How do you think you’ll fare? Put your science skills to the test with this fun quiz (and don’t forget to check your answers afterward)!
- The Earth’s core 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 Earth orbit around the sun, or does the sun orbit around the Earth?
- All forms of radioactivity are created by humans. True or false?
- Electrons are tinier 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 genes determine whether a baby will be a boy or a girl. True or false?
- Antibiotics are effective against both viruses and bacteria. True or false?
- Modern humans evolved from earlier animal species. True or false?
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In summary, while many Americans struggle with basic science knowledge, you can see how you stack up against the average. Take this quiz and find out if you’re ready to ace your next science class—or if you might need to hit the books a bit more!