For a significant number of Americans, the reality, causes and meaning of global warming are seen through the lens of their religious beliefs. Some reject the evidence that humans are causing global warming because they believe God controls the climate. Others believe that global warming is evidence that the world […] Read more »
U.S. Public Wary of Biomedical Technologies to ‘Enhance’ Human Abilities
Cutting-edge biomedical technologies that could push the boundaries of human abilities may soon be available, making people’s minds sharper and their bodies stronger and healthier than ever before. But a new Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults shows that majorities greet the possibility of these breakthroughs with more wariness […] Read more »
The mistrust of science
The following was delivered as the commencement address at the California Institute of Technology, on Friday, June 10th. … The sociologist Gordon Gauchat studied U.S. survey data from 1974 to 2010 and found some deeply alarming trends. Despite increasing education levels, the public’s trust in the scientific community has been […] Read more »
Birth Control, Divorce Top List of Morally Acceptable Issues
Birth control, divorce, sex between unmarried men and women, and gambling top a list of morally acceptable issues, while Americans deem polygamy, cloning humans and extramarital affairs as the least acceptable. CONT. Art Swift, Gallup Read more »
Global Warming and the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election
… Fewer than half of any candidate’s supporters are aware that virtually all climate scientists have concluded human-caused global warming is happening. However, supporters of the Democratic candidates are the most likely to think at least 90% of climate scientists are convinced (Sanders: 38%, Clinton: 27%). Far fewer supporters of […] Read more »
It Doesn’t Matter If You Think It’s Nice Out
… When we encourage people to look to the weather for evidence of climate change, we’re inadvertently asking them to retreat from the pursuit of a more global understanding. … Making sense of the weather and what it means about our changing climate may entail studying it in aggregate, attending […] Read more »