Looks like the Boring Company's Las Vegas tunnels are going about as well as you'd expect from an Elon project...
"The muck pooling in the tunnel at the north end of the Las Vegas Strip had the consistency of a milkshake and, in some places, sat at least two feet deep. ... At first, it merely felt damp. But in addition to the water, sand and silt—the natural byproducts of any dig—the workers understood that it was full of chemicals known as accelerants.
"The accelerants cure the grout that seals the tunnel’s concrete supports, helping the grout set properly and protecting the work against cracks and other deterioration. They also seriously burn exposed human skin. At the Encore dig site, such burns became almost routine, workers there told Nevada’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration. An investigation by the state OSHA, which Bloomberg Businessweek has obtained via a freedom of information request, describes workers being scarred permanently on their arms and legs. According to the investigation, at least one employee took a direct hit to the face. In an interview with Businessweek, one of the tunnel workers recalls the feeling of exposure to the chemicals: “You’d be like, ‘Why am I on fire?’”"
I have an assignment for my Geosciences class where I have to ask others, preferably those not from the United States, why the US struggles to believe in Science, particularly topics such as The Big Bang Theory.
Why do Americans, compared to most of the world, seemingly propagate Creation myths while simultaneously rejecting the very notion of Science?
How does your community (or country) regard The Big Bang? Is it largely accepted in your culture(s)?
Finally, what could the American education system or government do to help its citizens increase their Scientific literacy?
Thank you for any responses, it is greatly appreciated!
My understanding is the US was founded by especially religious Puritans, and perhaps being an ocean away from the late-renaissance Europe helped stifle progressive thinking further.
Since then, due mainly in part to having such a spread out population forging their own way in new lands (and also possibly spurred on from winning independence), it’s had strong ideals of rugged individualism. This inherent selfish nature has led to a rise in conservatism much stronger than that in many comparable places, which in turn has lead to a hierarchical, winning-at-all-cost mentality. A population is easier to subjugate if it’s uneducated, hence the anti-science push.
I’m from the UK and the big bang theory is widely accepted, as far as I can tell. Creationism as an opposition to the BBT isn’t very openly touted by many, at least.
I’m not sure how to answer your last question. Maybe ensure the scientific method is thoroughly explained and engrained from a young age — make sure it’s understood that it’s never a question of devout belief, but rather about data and falsifiability. And don’t teach religion as fact… although good luck implementing that.