Americans report more engagement with science news than in 2017
More than half of U.S. adults (56%) say they talk about science news with others at least a few times a month.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
More than half of U.S. adults (56%) say they talk about science news with others at least a few times a month.
Overall, 46% of Americans say the statement “public health officials were unprepared for the outbreak” describes their views extremely or very well, including similar shares of Republicans and Democrats.
Many Americans are aware of common ways they might encounter AI in daily life, though fewer are able to correctly identify each of the six common uses of AI in the survey. More broadly, the public remains more concerned than excited about the increasing use of AI in daily life.
Here’s what Americans said they learned about the development of vaccines and medical treatments and their advice for handling a future outbreak.
Large shares of Americans support the U.S. taking steps to address global climate change and prioritize renewable energy development in the country. Still, fewer than half are ready to phase out fossil fuels completely and 59% oppose ending the production of gas-powered cars.
The share of Americans who say science has had a mostly positive impact on society has fallen 16 percentage points since before the start of the coronavirus outbreak, from 73% in January 2019 to 57% today.
65% of Americans overall see clinical trials as very important, despite the time such trials add to the process of developing new treatments.
While residential solar power generates just a fraction of the country’s overall electricity, it has continued to grow rapidly.
Americans offer a lackluster evaluation of how the country has balanced priorities during the coronavirus outbreak. Fewer than half say the country has given the right amount of priority to the needs of K-12 students, public health or quality of life.
Black Americans hold multifaceted views when it comes to trust in medical research scientists: Majorities hold largely positive views of their competence, but express concern about the potential for misconduct.
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