Science Issues

In recent years, legislatures and courts, religious leaders and scientists, citizens and patient advocates have all weighed in on end-of-life issues ranging from whether the terminally ill should have the right to take their own lives to how much treatment and sustenance those in the last stages of life should receive.

Religious leaders, scholars and ethicists from 16 major American religious groups explain how their faith traditions’ teachings address physician-assisted suicide, euthanasia and other end-of-life questions.

The public views a number of public health problems as serious, but while prescription drug abuse does not top the list, it stands out as a problem that Americans say is getting worse.

Obesity in the U.S. varies considerably by gender, race, ethnicity, income and educational level, but not necessarily how you might expect.

Survey Report Most Americans (69%) see obesity as a very serious public health problem, substantially more than the percentages viewing alcohol abuse, cigarette smoking and AIDS in the same terms. In addition, a broad majority believes that obesity is not just a problem that affects individuals: 63% say obesity has consequences for society beyond the […]

The UN Climate Change Conference convened today in Warsaw with a call for governments to reach an agreement to cut greenhouse gas emissions. The talks begin against a public opinion backdrop in which fewer Americans see global climate change as a major threat than do people in most other regions.

A nationwide survey finds 44% in favor of prohibiting restaurants from using trans fats in foods, while 52% oppose the idea.

Survey Topline Other questions from this survey are held for future release About the Survey The survey was conducted by telephone October 30-November 6, 2013 among a national sample of 2,003 adults, 18 years of age or older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia (1,001 respondents were interviews on a […]

As many Republicans say there is solid evidence of global warming as say there is not (46% each). Among those who agree with the Tea Party, 70% say there is not solid evidence of warming, while 61% of non-Tea Party Republicans say global warming does exist.