Greatest scientific achievement of 20th century

Q. Which of the following do you think was the greatest scientific achievement of the 20^th century?

Q	Total	Gender		Age
		Male	Female	18-34	35-54	55+
Discovery of penicillin	40%	36%	43%	24%	36%	56%
Launch of the World Wide Web	18%	20%	17%	21%	20%	14%
First person to walk on the moon	10%	11%	8%	10%	10%	9%
First powered aircraft flight	8%	10%	7%	12%	8%	5%
Generation of electricity from nuclear power	6%	6%	7%	10%	5%	4%
Introduction of the contraceptive pill	6%	3%	8%	8%	5%	4%
Invention of the television	5%	6%	4%	4%	7%	3%
World’s first cloned animal	2%	3%	2%	4%	2%	1%
First person to reach the South Pole	2%	1%	2%	4%	1%	0%
Other scientific achievement	3%	4%	3%	2%	5%	3%

• The discovery of penicillin was the most selected event, with 40% selecting it as the greatest scientific achievement of the 20^th
• As we approach the 50^th anniversary of humans setting foot on the moon, 10% regard this as the greatest scientific achievement, behind the launch of the internet, selected by 18% of people.
• Over 55s were more likely to select the discovery of penicillin (56%) than younger respondents (36% of 35 to 54 year olds and 24% of 18 to 34 year olds).
• Those with a university education were more likely to select the launch of the World Wide Web (25%) than those with a secondary education (14%) or a professional qualification (16%).
• Just 5% regarded the invention of the television as the greatest scientific achievement of the previous century.