No, I havent gone nuts nor have I forgotten my physics.
In a recent study quoted in the NYT, Americans are found lacking in basic scientific knowledge, the kind taught in primary and secondary school.
American adults in general do not understand what molecules are (other than that they are really small).
Fewer than a third can identify DNA as a key to heredity.
Only about 10 percent know what radiation is.
One adult American in five thinks the Sun revolves around the Earth, an idea science had abandoned by the 17th century.
Yikes !! That means that 20% of America thinks that the Sun goes around the Earth. No wonder they elected Bush !!
I don’t know what you call recent, but that article is from 2005. Granted, there’s almost certainly been little change.
In this youtube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhlERjW0bhw this Frenchman thinks the Sun revolves around the earth. 56% of the studio audience thinks Mars does (see responses around 1 minute into the video).
And a lot of US Democrats believe in homeopathy, “complementary” medicine, and other such nonsense.
And from what I gather about your country, you have a lot of nonsense floating around as well.
Not that that excuses the US, but it’s odd we here in the US always hear about how bad we are and rarely hear about other countries who are just as bad or worse.