Science Issues

While 43% of Americans say the new coronavirus most likely came about naturally, nearly three-in-ten say it most likely was created in a lab.

Americans see “social distancing” measures urged by public health officials to limit the spread of COVID-19 as generally appropriate.

Older Americans are more likely than younger adults to feel their health is at risk, while younger people are focused on economic threats.

Responses to cable news coverage and the pandemic vary notably among Americans who identify Fox News, MSNBC or CNN as their main source of political news.

Nearly one-in-five U.S. adults say they have had a physical reaction at least some or a little of the time when thinking about the outbreak.

71% of U.S. adults say they are confident that medical centers in their area can handle the needs of seriously ill people during the pandemic.

Sharply growing majorities of Americans say the outbreak poses a major threat to the health of the U.S. population and the nation’s economy.

New and emerging occupations are raising the importance of analytical skills, such as science, mathematics and programming.

Those most likely to say COVID-19 threatens day-to-day life live in urban areas in states that have seen relatively high numbers of cases.

Views about the health effects of genetically modified foods grew more negative between 2016 and 2018 and have been steady since then.