• by Wendy Davis  @wendyndavis, November 22, 2006

The Web has surpassed television as a source of science news for U.S. broadband users between the ages of 18 and 29. That's one of the key findings of a new study by the Pew Internet & American Life Project.

Specifically, Pew reported that 44% of American users younger than 30 who have broadband connections say the Web is their main source of science news, while just 32% say the same about television. The proportion of all under-30s (dial-up and broadband users) who get science information from TV is nearly the same as those who do so from the Web; 36% say they rely on TV for science news, while 34% receive such information from the Internet.

Across all demographic groups, however, more U.S. consumers rely on TV than the Internet. Forty-one percent of American adults say they get most science information from television, compared to 20% who cite the Web as the primary source of science news.

When respondents were asked how they would research precise topics--stem cell research, climate change or the origins of life on earth--more respondents said they would start with the Internet than the library.