Nearly a third of Texans believe humans and dinosaurs roamed the earth at the same time, and more than half disagree with the theory that humans developed from earlier species of animals, according to the University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll.
Back in 1996 we obtained similar results. Our series of Scientific Correctness Surveys attempted to decide science questions in the most expedient way: by taking a public opinion survey. The very first of those surveys asked whether dinosaurs and humans walked together. As reported in the January 1997 issue of mini-AIR:
33% Dinosaurs and man walked together less than 10,000 years ago.
30% Dinosaurs became extinct before the first humans existed.
23% Dinosaurs and man walked together millions of years ago.
09% Humans became extinct before the first dinosaurs existed.
02% Declined, or were unable, to express an opinion
02% Agreed with all of the choices listed above
01% Dinosaurs and man walked together, but it was purely platonic.