Do Americans Think the Country Is Losing or Gaining Ground in Science?
Democrats and Republicans both think it is important that the U.S. is a world leader in science, but most Democrats now think it is losing ground compared with other countries.
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A look at popes and their encyclicals
Popes have written encyclicals on an array of topics, ranging from the nature of work to the virginity of Jesus’ mother, Mary.
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Scientists more worried than public about world’s growing population
Over the course of history, many scientists and activists have raised alarm about population numbers that only increase every year.
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With trade on Congress’ agenda, just what does the U.S. import and export?
Though crude oil continues to be the nation’s single biggest import, energy exports have risen sharply. Exports of some metals and agricultural products also have grown rapidly.
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5 facts about the BP oil spill
The 2010 spill was one of the two biggest stories of the year in terms of news interest. Support for offshore drilling plummeted, but has largely recovered.
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Opinions on expanding access to experimental drugs differ by race, income
Generally, higher-income adults and college degree earners are more likely than others to favor greater availability, and African-Americans are significantly less supportive of the idea.
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Hispanics more likely than whites to say global warming is caused by humans
Two-thirds of Hispanics say the Earth is warming mostly because of human activity like burning fossil fuels, while about half of blacks and 41% of whites say the same.
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The skills Americans say kids need to succeed in life
In a recent Pew Research survey, more respondents said communication skills were most important for children to have, followed by reading, math, teamwork, writing and logic. Science fell somewhere in the middle.
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How Scientists Engage the Public and Why It Matters
At the AAAS 2015 Annual Meeting, Lee Rainie discussed new findings about how scientists use a variety of methods to bring their work to the general public.
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How Scientists Engage the Public
Most scientists (87%) believe it is important to participate in public policy debates. Almost half use social media to discuss or follow science, and nearly a quarter blog about science and research.
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How Different Groups Think about Scientific Issues
Different demographic groups think differently about scientific issues. For example, those more likely to think genetically modified food is unsafe include women, African-Americans and Hispanics, and those without college degrees. Those more likely to say parents should be able to decide whether to vaccinate their children include younger adults, Republicans and independents.
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AI and Human Enhancement: Americans’ Openness Is Tempered by a Range of Concerns
Public views are tied to how these technologies would be used and what constraints would be in place.
Science and Scientists Held in High Esteem Across Global Publics
Majorities across 20 publics say government investments in scientific research are worthwhile and express a lot or some confidence in scientists to do what is right for the public.
Americans Largely Favor U.S. Taking Steps To Become Carbon Neutral by 2050
Majorities of Americans say the United States should prioritize the development of renewable energy sources and take steps toward the country becoming carbon neutral by the year 2050. But just 31% want to phase out fossil fuels completely, and many foresee unexpected problems in a major transition to renewable energy.
Biotechnology Research Viewed With Caution Globally, but Most Support Gene Editing for Babies To Treat Disease
Majorities say scientific research on gene editing is a misuse – rather than an appropriate use – of technology. But public acceptance of gene editing for babies depends on how it will be used, and views often differ by age and religion.
