Wow!

1 in 4 Americans doesn't know Earth circles sun

This is such a basic thing to know. Someone would have to not be paying attention in class *all the time*, and in many, many classes throughout their life, to not know something this basic.

And 1 in 4 Americans doesn't know this?! It boggles the mind!

On an online dating site I belong to, there is a Q&A section, and one of the questions is:
"Which is larger, the Earth or the Sun?"

I would say that about a third or half the people answer incorrectly that the Earth is larger!

In actuality, over 1.3 million Earths could fit inside the Sun.

SciFi, MANY people don't know MANY things that everyone should know ~ it's always mind-boggling to me ~

Sooz

we are the most anti-science of ALL developed nations. we are approximately where IRAN is, in terms of belief.

Via self-imposed and voluntary ignorance, Mac ~

Sooz

IMO, it's not ignorance. They know the facts and have been taught the facts. The choose not to believe them. That's more scary than ignorance. Ignorance can be "cured".

We're a very devout nation. Even our ignorance is faith-based.

Has anyone noticed the poor grammar in that headline? "Doesn't" is singular. If we were taking about one person in a group of four, it would be appropriate. But we're taking about "Americans" - plural, so the word should be "don't".

Hence: "1 in 4 Americans Don't Know the Earth Circles the Sun!"

I'd say the subject of the sentence is "1". It takes the singular verb form. Potential here for an interesting argument.

But isn't it referring to the one in four?

1 (in 4 Americans) does not know Earth circles sun

I'm with gramps and John on this ~ the subject is 1 ~ 1 American doesn't know ~

Sooz

And remember, that 1 votes!

You're a sadist for scaring us!

Granted it can be a grey area. How about "a bunch of people" - or "a lot of people"? Bunch and lot are both singular nouns - one bunch, two bunches and one lot, two lots- but you don't say that a lot of people doesn't know. Bunch and lot have a plural meaning, even though they're singular. Majority is another such noun. I still think one in four Americans doesn't know...much.