The Science Behind the Flat Earth Theory

If we take a look back about a couple hundred of years, we’ll probably see Christopher Columbus exploring certain areas of earth and later writing about how he believes that the earth is actually flat. While this is probably the most notable historical reference to the earth being flat, there is actually a vast expanse of civilizations who believe this both past and present. With all of the information that science has given us to actually discredit this theory, why do some people still believe that the earth is flat? In this article, we’ll explore some of the surprising scientific reasons that the Flat Earth Society gives to support their claims and belief system.

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What is the Origin of the Flat Earth Theory?

As aforementioned, Christopher Columbus was a supporter of this theory, but he’s not the one that came up with it, contrary to popular belief. It’s actually a very ancient theory that dates all the way back to 600 B.C. It’s actually theory that stood as the main belief about our home planet until about the seventeenth century. Up until that point, however, the theory could be found in just about any type of ancient literature on the subject of astronomy or any other type of concern with spirituality and the stars, and the notion of the earth being flat was taught to many by scholars virtually worldwide. Once our technology advanced, so did the minds of scientists, and it became plain to see that our earth is not actually flat, but it’s round just like the rest of the planets within our galaxy’s solar system.

Why is There a Sudden Resurgence of People Who Believe that the Earth is Still Flat?:
It’s actually not a resurgence whatsoever. Scientists accredit the illusion of a resurgence in the popularity of the flat earth theory to the abundance of online platforms in which people can share their thoughts with the entire world. In the late 1800s, a writer named Samuel Rowbotham wrote many scholarly papers that were supportive of the theory of a flat earth. Many artists around the same time were also creating sculptures that expressed their devotion to the belief that the earth is flat. Esteemed scientists in the early 1900s were also pushing the idea even moreso by using their education as credentials, but somehow, it was never taken very seriously.

In 1956, the Flat Earth Society was officially started in the United Kingdom by an astronomer named Samual Shenton. It was a safe haven for those who believed fervently in the flat earth theory to be able to share their ideas without being subject to misunderstanding or ridicule. Shenton actually ended up starting the Apollo project in the United States, and by 1972, the Flat Earth Society had reached over three thousand members.

But is there any Proof that the Earth is Flat?

In short—it depends on how you’re willing to look at the “evidence”, but mainly—no. There is nothing substantial that holds up. Many people state that because the horizon is always an exceptionally straight line aside from photographs taken by NASA officials. Many members of the Flat Earth Society also talk about how if Earth was actually a rotating globe, water would be literally getting everywhere rather and even flowing uphill in most areas rather than remaining rather stationary. However, this claim completely fails to mention anything about the physics of gravity. They also state that all of the different types of aircraft that fly around the atmosphere every day would continuously be having to adjust themselves so as not to accidentally fly away and into the abyss of space, and if a gun was fired towards the sky, it would actually land more westerly rather than coming almost straight back down. Again, these statements are also not paying very much mind to gravity.

Conclusively, members of the Flat Earth Society and other believers in the theory definitely have some pretty profound ideas. Admittedly, at first glance, the whole concept seems to make sense. However, once you add physics and other elemental components to the mixture of our weird and wild planet, that’s where scientists draw the line. While the notion of a flat earth is still considered a pseudoscience, some certain scientists who are advocates for the idea are still in the process of producing more proof-positive experiments to better implement the theory so it can be widely accepted everywhere in the same manner that the round earth theory is today.