A new survey by the Pew Research center focuses on science. While the survey says Americans like science, it also confirms, by asking scientists themselves, what we already knew: the Bush Administration suppressed any results scientific research which did not comform to its own narrow POV.

The study combined data from three different surveys. The main survey covered 2,000 adults surveyed by telephone. There was an additional study of 1,000 adults about spending priorities and knowledge. Finally, Pew Research surveyed more than 2,500 scientists in collaboration with the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Here's the result with regards to Bush Administration blocking of research:

Most scientists had heard at least a little about claims that government scientists were not allowed to report research findings that conflicted with the Bush administration’s point of view. And the vast majority (77%) says that these claims are true. By contrast, these claims barely registered with the public – more than half heard nothing at all about this issue. Only about a quarter of the public (28%) said they thought the claims were true.

The results with regards to the public are sad. To think that more than 50% of the public hadn't even heard of the issue, shows how uninformed the general public is.

However, that's clear just from the simple 12-question knowledge test some were given.

• 91% know that aspirin is an over-the-counter drug recommended to prevent heart attacks
• 82% know that GPS technology relies on satellites
• 77% correctly identify earthquakes as a cause of tsunamis
• 65% can identify CO2 as a gas linked to rising temperatures.

But ...

• Only 54% know that antibiotics do not kill viruses along with bacteria
• Only 52% know that what distinguishes stem cells from other cells is that they can develop into many different kinds of cells.
• Fewer than half (46%) know that electrons are smaller than atoms.

Originally on SNAFU-ed