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"It's not rocket science!"

This favourite saying could soon make no sense at all. New studies show that people who understand rocket science are no cleverer than most normal people.

Experts spoke to rocket scientistsSpecial engineers who work on building technology for space. It can also be used as a chatty way to describe somebody who is very clever. and brain surgeonsA surgeon is a doctor who performs surgery. A brain surgeon will do operations on people's brains to help them get better.. They asked them lots of questions. These questions tested their brain power.

The results were very surprising. They showed that the doctors and scientists were no cleverer than lots of other people they asked.

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Does this mean we could all be rocket scientists?

It might not be so easy. The tests show that the doctors and scientists have other qualities. These make them good at their jobs.

Brain surgeons are good at solving word problems. Rocket scientists can concentrate for a long time.

Yes! This is proof. These people do difficult jobs. But they are not much more clever than everyone else. This means we can all be brain surgeons or build rockets!

No. We all have similar brains, but being clever is about how we use our brains. The rocket scientists can do their jobs because they have other skills!