Finfacts Team, July 10, 2009 
A US survey published on Thursday, shows a big gulf in the views of scientists and the public; when it comes to contemporary scientific issues, these differences are large. Most notably, 87% of scientists say that humans and other living things have evolved over time and that evolution is the result of natural processes such as natural selection. Just 32% of the public accepts this as true. And while there is near consensus among scientists about global warming, it is not mirrored in the general public. While 84% of scientists say the earth is getting warmer because of human activity such as burning fossil fuels, just 49% of the public agrees. 11% of Americans believe global warming is a fiction.

The most startling results may be that 13% of polled scientists do not believe in evolution - - nearly all scientists (97%) say humans and other living things have evolved over time but 87% say evolution is due to natural processes, such as natural selection - - while 16% of them reject the common view in for example Europe, on the cause of global warming.

However, Europeans shouldn't scoff at apparent American ignorance, as many of the public in Europe, have fallen for scaremongering on genetically modified food despite no credible evidence to support claims, while extremists have used violence to prevent research that may debunk their positions.

Survey at http://people-press.org/report/528/