Science knowledge increases, but ...

SAN FRANCISCO — Americans know more about basic science today than they did two decades ago, good news that researchers say is tempered by an unsettling growth in the belief in pseudoscience such as astrology and visits by extraterrestrial aliens.

In 1988, only about 10 percent knew enough about science to understand reports in major newspapers, a figure that grew to 28 percent by 2005, according to Jon Miller, a Michigan State University professor. He presented his findings Saturday at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

The improvement largely reflects the requirement that all college students take some science courses, Miller said. This way they can better keep up with new developments through the media.

But a panel of researchers expressed concern that people are giving increasing credence to pseudoscience such as the visits of space aliens, lucky numbers and horoscopes.

In addition, these researchers noted an increase in college students who report they are "unsure" about creationism as compared with evolution.

More recent generations know more factual material about science, said Carol Susan Losh, an associate professor at Florida State University. But, she said, when it comes to pseudoscience, "the news is not good."

One problem, she said, is that pseudoscience can speak to the meaning of life in ways that science does not.

For example, for many women having a good life still depends on whom they marry, she said.

"What does astrology speak to? Love relationships," Losh said, noting that belief in horoscopes is much more widespread among women than men.

The disclosure that former first lady Nancy Reagan consulted an astrologer resulted in derision in the media, but few younger people remember that episode today, she said.

Miller said most horoscope readers are women, contributing to the listing of "female" as a leading negative factor in science literacy. Women also tended to take fewer college science courses, he said.

Belief in abduction by aliens also is on the rise, Losh said.

"It's not surprising that the generation that grew up on 'Twilight Zone' and early 'Star Trek' television endorsed a link between UFOs and alien spacecraft," she said.

Pseudoscience discussion often is absent from the classroom, Losh said, so "we have basically left it up to the media."

Raymond Eve of the University of Texas, Arlington, had mixed news in surveys of students at an unnamed Midwestern university.

There was a decline in belief in "Bigfoot" — also known as Sasquatch, an alleged ape-like animal said to inhabit remote forested areas of much of North America, with many sightings in the Pacific Northwest — and in whether psychics can predict the future.

But there also has been a drop in the number of people who believe evolution correctly explains development of life on Earth and an increase in those who believe mankind was created about 10,000 years ago.

Miller said a second major negative factor to scientific literacy was religious fundamentalism and aging.

Having taken college science courses was a strong positive influence, followed by overall education and informal science learning through the media.

Having children at home also resulted in adults being more scientifically informed, he said.

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 that fell to about 7 percent when the question was rephrased to horoscopes.