But would 80% of the audience gotten it correct if option B were “Proxima Centauri” or even “Alpha Centauri”?

Jason Said:
>Having choice “B� simply listed as “Sun� just seems a little suspect to me. Wouldn’t “Sol� have looked more appropriate there? Or at the very least “Our Sun� or “The Sun?�

No, that actually sounds like Who Want’s to be a Millionaire.

What is the smartest primate in the room?

…always remember that yours is not the only point of view.

My first reaction to this picture was that it had been given the Photoshop treatment. My thought was that either Proxima Centauri or Alpha Centauri was originally listed for option “B,” and someone figured it would be a good opportunity to make a point.

Having choice “B” simply listed as “Sun” just seems a little suspect to me. Wouldn’t “Sol” have looked more appropriate there? Or at the very least “Our Sun” or “The Sun?” Plus (unless as some others have mentioned she was just really, really nervous), it seems to me having the option “Sun” listed in front of you would be pretty hard to ignore. If this question is for real, then obviously it’s one of the first few questions ($100 – $500 range) in the game. She would have known (as is the pattern of the show) that it wasn’t a trick and that there was an obvious answer. I could see balking if you were pulled off the street Jay Leno style and asked out of the blue, but having the correct answer read aloud to you should have rung a few bells, no matter what you think the sun is.

Also, as I recall, it was pretty hard to actually get on this show, let alone into the hot seat. I think we can be reasonably sure that this woman was not “dumb.” I guess there is a chance she was just really nervous, but I’m still thinking it’s been doctored.

Although, maybe I’ve been just spending too much time on this site.

Can’t really blame them

Actually that’s not true. “planet” means “wandering star”.

Ah. Then I’m wondering – Saturn, will I be unlucky in love this month?

In all honesty, the ‘closest star’ question is the type of thing that I could see myself doing, even though I know better. We always talk about how we are able to finally “see the stars” once the Sun goes down. Logically, if you wanted to see a star, the daytime would be a prime time to do it.

It’s easy to see the Sun as one thing (a sun, naturally) and all those other points-of-light as stars (usually including other planets). That’s the “real world” version of a star, and I can’t blame anyone who gets confused when asked to provide an answer under pressure… Especially if they are unlucky in love.

Perhaps Science isn’t the only area where we’re ignorant. Grammar may be a poorly understood by the average American despite the ten years of mandatory training (third grade through twelfth).

jbs

It’s like astrology, but based on facts and observations

Keep in mind, however, a lot of people don’t have perspective on a lot of other things. Many people are just as passionate about history, government, etc, which the general populace should know more about also.

Incidentally, “Who wants to be a Millionaire?” had this question for $1,000,000:

How long does it take the sun’s rays to reach Earth?
A: 4 Minutes. B: 8 Minutes. C: 12 Minutes. D: 14 Minutes

If I remember correctly, the contestant got it right.
Now, I would consider THAT to be (though I knew the answer too).

And that is something that doesn’t seem to be getter better.

As one of my high school English teachers frequently reminded her classes, “Ignorance can be repaired. Stupidity is permanent.” Be kind.

I agree with BA’s point. The problem seems to be that most people are ignorant of all things scientific, and there seems to be no public concern with that fact. Most kids are fascinated by the wonders of the universe and everything it contains. They can be moved to remark, “awesome” by a knowledgable and motivated teacher. I’ve seen it happen repeatedly. In their naivete, kids choose the perfect word.

Why does that wonder die? I don’t think most folks see the connection between science and our hope for the future. Science will be our salvation if we earn it, but most people look to the supernatural for guidance.

Hold on… What’s astronomy?

Christian, your question:
“What is the furthest planet from the Sun?”
is a very difficult one to answer.

A few years ago I would have said Neptune. Then Pluto was again further from the Sun than Neptune and I would have said Pluto. Now I’m not so sure. For the Solar System, it could be Sedna or Quauor (sp?) or Pluto or Neptune, depending on how you define a planet.

But, now I’ve thought about the question a bit more, none of the furthest planets from the sun have names – I don’t know the names of ANY exoplanets, let alone how far any of them are from the Sun. So, my answer is the simplest one : I don’t know.

BTW, I think I quite like the sound of being “retarted”. You could have started a new trend, RPM.

But, back on topic : the contestant in the picture has obviously had time to think about the question, because she has chosen to ask the audience and the result has been displayed.

In a recent edition of the show in the UK, the question (for £500,000) cropped up: who was the first Astronomer Royal? The options were William Herschel, Edmond Halley, Isaac Newton and John Flamsteed, and the contestant seemed to have a pretty good idea of who three of the four were and what they had done, but she didn’t know who John Flamsteed was. And, as I’m sure you all know, John Flamsteed was the right answer. She played it safe and went home with £250,000 (about $400,000US or thereabouts), which sounds like a useful sum of money to me.