Science · Facts & sources
4 sourced facts about science and how the public understands it, each with the context behind the number. 4 more are in today's round and appear here after it closes.
Answerabout 60%
A clear majority of Americans wanted scientists actively involved in shaping policy on scientific issues, rather than staying out of debates entirely.
Source: Pew Research Center (2019) pewresearch.org
Answerabout 3.45%
The U.S. spends a larger share of its economy on R&D than most countries, though several smaller nations spend an even higher share.
Source: Wikipedia, citing national R&D spending data (2023) en.wikipedia.org
AnswerIsrael, at about 5.44% of GDP
Israel leads the world in R&D intensity, followed by South Korea and Sweden, all spending a larger share of GDP on research than the U.S.
Source: Wikipedia, citing national R&D spending data (2023) en.wikipedia.org
AnswerSweden
The U.S. scored close to the OECD average on scientific literacy, trailing only Sweden among the European countries compared.
Source: Wikipedia, citing OECD-based comparison (2018) en.wikipedia.org