BRUSSELS, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- Citizens in the old 15 European Union (EU) member states are more open to science news than people in new member states, according to the results of a survey released on Monday.

More than 62 percent of the public in the old 15 member states are interested in scientific research, compared with only 38 percent in those member states that joined the bloc in 2004 and after, shows a new "Eurobarometer" survey.

The differences range from 80 percent in Sweden to just 24 percent in Bulgaria.

The survey also shows a difference in the subjects of interest, with the new member states more focused on information of technology and space, whereas the old 15 member states on medicine, environment and energy.

Europeans are generally satisfied with the presentation of science in the media, with more than a half expressing their contentment. The majority of them consider the scientific information they get from the media to be reliable (65 percent), objective (63 percent) and useful (60 percent).

At the same time there are complaints that the issues are difficult to understand (49 percent), far from their concerns (45 percent) and not entertaining (51 percent).

Television is the most popular (61 percent) and most trusted (47 percent) medium for information about science, shows the survey.