Monday, February 19, 2007
When More is Less
Randolph E. Schmid, a science writer for the Associated Press, examines an American paradox: We know more about basic science today than we did two decades ago, but more of us also believe in pseudosciences such as astrology, visits from space aliens, and creationism.
Schmid also reports one finding that may, at least partially, reassure some of us who this strange phenomenon troubling:
Schmid also reports one finding that may, at least partially, reassure some of us who this strange phenomenon troubling:
Nick Allum of the University of Surry in England suggested belief in astrology might be a simple misunderstanding of the question, with people confusing astrology with astronomy.
In one European study about 25 percent of people said they thought astrology was very scientific. But when the question was rephrased to horoscopes that fell to about 7 percent.
