One in Five Brits Think Light Sabers Exist

[308Mike]

Linkarooni

The Force Is Strong: One in Five Brits Think Light Sabers Exist
Mar 14, 2011 – 11:56 AM

Light sabers from "Star Wars," time travel and hover boards from "Back to the Future." Many people in the U.K. believe all these things from science fiction and fantasy are, in fact, reality.

The results of a survey that opened National Science and Engineering Week in Britain last week reveal a fine line between science and fiction in the public's eye.

Here's what the survey reveals, according to Birmingham Science City, which created it. Note that in all cases, the respondents incorrectly believe the following:

• • More than a fifth of adults believe light sabers exist.
  • Almost 25 percent of people believe humans can be teleported.
  • Nearly 50 percent of adults believe that memory-erasing technology exists.
  • More than 40 percent believe that hover boards exist.
  • Almost one-fifth of adults believe they can see gravity.

"We commissioned the survey to see how blurred the lines between science fact and fiction have become," said Pam Waddell, director of Birmingham Science City.

"While films and TV can be acknowledged as creating confusion, it is also worth highlighting how advanced science has now become, and many things deemed only possible in fiction have now become reality or are nearing creation due to the advancements of science," she added.

Some amazing feats of science have already started to bring us closer to science fiction than ever before.

While 78 percent of Britons believe that an invisibility cloak, such as the one seen in the Harry Potter movies, is merely fiction, University of Birmingham researchers are inching closer to making objects disappear.

And most people -- seven out of 10 adults -- think it's impossible to move objects with the mind. But researchers at Coventry University's Serious Games Institute collaborated with NeuroSky in California to develop a headset to read brainwaves and turn them into digital signals. Users of these "brainwave readers" will be able manipulate images on a screen through the power of their minds.

When the British survey asked what inventions people most wanted to see become reality, men voted for time machines and teleportation, while women hoped for something more practical: a universal cure for all diseases.

If you'd like to test your knowledge of science fiction and fact, take this very short Birmingham Science City quiz, and then compare your answers to how 3,000 others did.

National Science and Engineering Week runs through March 20 in the U.K.

[rightisright]

I'd imagine the numbers to be similar here. Stupidity knows no nationality.

[mekender]

I cant find the actual study results so I think the article is BS in large part. There is no info on what exact questions were asked, the demographics, education or income levels of the people asked, or even how many people were asked...

[Denis]

What, light sabres don't exist? Piffle.

Next you'll be telling me there's no Santa.

[Erik]

I cant find the actual study results so I think the article is BS in large part. There is no info on what exact questions were asked, the demographics, education or income levels of the people asked, or even how many people were asked...

This is what I was thinking. People doing these kind of studies often have an agenda. They tailor the questions and interpret the answers to fit it.
I can see myself giving the "stupid" answer on several of those question:

For instance:
• More than a fifth of adults believe light sabers exist.
Well, they do, I've seen them. The toy version of course, but unless you clearly specify that you mean the real thing as presented in the movie, I'd call the toy a "light sabre", since that's what they're sold as.

• Almost 25 percent of people believe humans can be teleported.
There's a difference between "can it be done physically", "is it being done today" and "do I know how to do it". I'd answer no on the second and third, but I'm not sure about the first one. I'm no physiscist, but from what I've heard the science behind Star Treks teleporters are basically sound, with a few fiction steps added to it, like the Heisenberg compensators. So I can see how even people that's not stupid might believe that with enough scientific progress it might be possible some day. That would mean it can be done, but we dont know how.

• Nearly 50 percent of adults believe that memory-erasing technology exists.
Define memory-erasing. There's certainly brainwashing methods that can seriously mess up people, and other ways to fry peoples brain and make them forget lots of things. So I'd say yes to that, but no if the question is about technology that can selectively erase what I did June 13, 2008.

• More than 40 percent believe that hover boards exist.
Well, mythbusters made two of those on their show. You can also see several of them on Youtube. It's not the same as the one in 'Back to the future', but they are hover boards and they do exist.

• Almost one-fifth of adults believe they can see gravity.
Drop five pounds of lead on your feet and you'll not only see it, you'll feel it.
(Yeah, I know it's the effects of it, and not gravity itself. But if I'm asked "can you see gravity" that's how I'll answer it. Unless I'm being asked while I'm in a physics discussion.)

It's not just how you ask the question, it's how the person you're asking perceives it.
This is btw a favorite tactic of the leftist media, they love asking questions like this to people they dont like, and then call them stupid if the answer is any other than what they expect.

[Rusty Ray]

• Nearly 50 percent of adults believe that memory-erasing technology exists.

It is called Guinness. I can't for the life of me remember how I got home last Friday night..........


Rusty

[Jericho941]

• Nearly 50 percent of adults believe that memory-erasing technology exists.

It is called Guinness. I can't for the life of me remember how I got home last Friday night..........


Rusty

The trouble with alcohol is that it only scrubs the memories that might be useful, like what you said the night before. It doesn't erase what you want it to.

[Termite]

When the British survey asked what inventions people most wanted to see become reality, men voted for time machines and teleportation, while women hoped for something more practical: a universal cure for all diseases.

I'd say teleportation would be really useful and practical; it would save me a bunch of money on gas, and a lot of time, too.

Universal cure for all diseases? Then how is Mother Nature supposed to thin the herd?

[Termite]

The trouble with alcohol is that it only scrubs the memories that might be useful, like what you said the night before. It doesn't erase what you want it to.

Like the fact that you may have come home at 2 AM with a "10", and then woke up at 10 AM lying next to a "2".........

[Jericho941]

The trouble with alcohol is that it only scrubs the memories that might be useful, like what you said the night before. It doesn't erase what you want it to.

Like the fact that you may have come home at 2 AM with a "10", and then woke up at 10 AM lying next to a "2".........

Nailed it!