Less than half of Romanians know that humans didn’t live at the same time as dinosaurs, an EU survey has revealed.
One of the questions on the Eurobarometer survey on ‘European citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology asked respondents whether humans lived at the same time as dinosaurs.
Overall, 66% of Europeans questioned said they knew that humans weren’t around at the same time as dinosaurs. That percentage was unchanged since 2005 when people were asked the same question.
In Romania, 45% correctly asserted that humans and dinosaurs didn’t live at the same time, the same percentage as in Cyprus.
Another 34% of Romanians said the two species were around at the same time, much higher than the overall EU average of 20%. A further 21% of Romanians said they weren’t sure whether the statement was true.
Only Bulgarians scored worse of EU countries, with 35% correctly stating that dinosaurs and humans were alive at the same time. Some 36% said they didn’t know, the study published in September.
The most informed Europeans are in Sweden where 86% agreed the two soecies didn’t co-exist. In Luxembourg, Czechia and Belgium 82% knew the right answer and Germany came next.
Some Europeans are getting better at knowing the planet’s ancient history, with improved knowledge in 12 EU members states. The Portuguese saw the most progress, but there was backtracking in 11 countries too.
As well as the dinosaur question, people were asked whether they considered the overall influence of science and technology to be positive.
Data released showed that 9 in 10 EU citizens (86%) agreed. But in Romania 20% said it has had a negative influence on society.
The survey interviewed 37,103 respondents and opinions were surveyed in 38 countries from April-May, 2021.
7,000 year-old kilns from Copper Age dug up in northeast Bulgaria
