Viruses created in laboratories, the cure for cancer exists but is hidden... 40% of Spaniards believe in conspiracy theories

People who believe that the cure for cancer is being hidden from us, that some viruses were created in laboratories, or that there is a conspiracy to conceal the relationship between vaccines and autism are little more than an anecdote today. Even so, there are those who continue to cling to this nonsense, thinking that the human species did not evolve from other species and that the mammoth, for example, never became extinct. The 2024 Social Perception of Science and Technology Survey, presented this Wednesday by the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (Fecyt), indicates that denialism is a residual phenomenon in Spain, to the point that barely 11% of the population denies or questions scientific evidence.

However, we are still lost on some issues: 49% believe that pharmaceutical companies hide the danger of vaccines from us , 41% believe that there are viruses that have been produced in government laboratories to control our freedom, 36% think that a cure for cancer exists but that governments hide it for commercial interests, 27% doubt that the human species has evolved from other species or 23% believe that the government is trying to hide the relationship between vaccines and autism.

In addition to all this, the majority also believe that science will never have the answers to the questions that concern humanity. More than half of the population—56%—doubts that it can resolve everything. Spanish society has a critical view of the scope of scientific knowledge, recognizing that there are dimensions of reality—philosophical, ethical, or emotional—that escape empirical logic. What is consciousness or free will? Does God exist? Is there life after death? It seems that Spaniards doubt that science will ever find answers to these questions.

However, this perception coexists with a broad recognition of the value of science for progress in other areas, although there are also concerns about its influence on everyday life, the impact of technology, and the role of scientists in decision-making. Generally speaking, Spanish citizens trust science and research personnel; but they want them to be closer to people's problems.

For example, when it comes to weighing the benefits and harms of science and technology, the majority perception remains, generally speaking, positive. Nearly two-thirds (64%) believe the benefits are greater, compared to just 7% who think otherwise. It is on issues such as research to combat diseases or epidemics like COVID-19 (71%) or to improve quality of life (55%) that the most positive opinions exist. This is even more pronounced among certain segments of the population. In particular, men between the ages of 15 and 34, people with higher educational levels, and those living in higher socioeconomic households are more favorable.

On the other hand, the perception of benefits decreases in areas such as environmental and nature conservation (40.5%), job creation (36.9%), and increased individual freedoms (32.8%). The most negative balance, in which the disadvantages are considered to outweigh the benefits (36.8%), is the narrowing of the gap between rich and poor countries.

The report also shows that Spaniards have a very high level of trust in scientists (86%) and consider them to be experts in their field and that they conduct research in the common interest (61%), but points out that more than half agree that those who pay for research can influence scientists to reach conclusions that suit them (57%).

Regarding information channels, the use of digital media and social networks is consolidating among young people, while traditional channels (television, newspapers, radio) maintain significant influence and remain the preferred means of information for the adult population. However, interest in information remains minimal, at just 13.2%. The report also indicates that 66% of respondents believe the scientific information they receive is superficial, incomprehensible (25%), and even insufficient (80%).

Society's disconnect from science is also evident in the significant decrease compared to 2022 in the participation in science-related activities, especially attendance at outreach activities and museum visits (2.6% and 2.2% respectively). Compared to 2020, the frequency with which people watch or listen to science programs on the media has increased. However, participation in science outreach activities, such as conferences, meetings, fairs, or science weeks, as well as participation in science projects, has decreased.

In the field of artificial intelligence, the outlook is pessimistic. Seven out of ten Spaniards believe that AI could completely take over their jobs in the next ten years. They are also concerned about the security of their personal data (42%) and the excessive trust placed in it (33%), despite the fact that eight out of ten say they use it in their daily lives. Furthermore, they fear that AI could help governments gain greater control over people.

On the other hand, and considering what benefits Spaniards see in this technology, 69% highlight facial recognition for surveillance and border control, as well as virtual voice assistants. However, they doubt the usefulness—and see more harm than good—of content recommendation algorithms, whether products on social media or even websites (42%). The report highlights that in all the applications analyzed, a significant percentage of people have no clear opinion, suggesting that there is still a significant margin of ignorance or ambivalence about these emerging tools.