How is it that 93% of respondents did not know all of these very basic things?

I wouldn't call them very basic.

There are people on this planet that think lasers work by focusing sound waves?...... I guess they wathed to much Star Wars then ''piew piew''.

badgenome said: dsgrue3 said: 12/13 The atmosphere one got you, didn't it?!

I'll admit it, its the only one that nailed me...and it should have been pretty obivious since the nitrogen in our atmosphere is what makes our sky look blue...stupid, stupid me :p

Wathed, wathed they all got wathed.

So yeah I got 12/13 and I failed.

I teach first year earth sciences at a university and I would expect anyone coming out of highschool to already know all of these things.  So from my perspective I would consider them very basic.  But there is seldom enough emphasis put on sciences in the school system, even though it is vital to understanding the world and yourself.  So for those who went through a lackluster education system you may be right. The survey speaks volumes about the need for more science litteracy in society.

12/13 - I got the 'Fracking' one wrong, just never heard of the term.

Although reading back on this thread, I'd surprised at the amount getting the atmosphere wrong, that's basic general knowledge isn't it?

Then you expect too much.

Only around 6/13 of those questions were strictly tought at my school. I'd say 4/13 were common sense and the other 3/13 were more obscure general knowledge.

Either way, I wouldn't look down on somebody for getting a few wrong.