It seems neurosurgeons and aerospace engineers may have a pedestal to climb down from, after researchers discovered they’re no smarter than the general population.

Eager to settle which phrase — ‘It’s not brain surgery’ or ‘It’s not rocket science’ — was the most appropriate measure of superior intelligence, the UK team tested the intellect of both professions. 

They asked 72 neuroscientists and 329 aerospace engineers to complete a cognition test spanning reasoning, working memory, attention and emotion processing abilities.

In addition to comparing the neurosurgeons’ and aerospace engineers’ scores, the researchers also put them up against 18,200 average Joe Blows, only half of whom had a university education.