The Greek philosopher and astronomer Eratosthenes of Cyrene was the first to calculate the circumference planet Earth (and with great precision) as early as 240 BC, by comparing the angles of the shadows cast by the sun's rays at midday during the summer solstice in Siena and Alexandria. His calculation is also considered the first empirical evidence that the Earth is spherical.
However, what Eratosthenes proved more than 2.200 years ago by knowing the basics of mathematics and geometry, and decades later, if nothing else, satellite images confirm, millions of people around the globe continue to dispute. And with great passion.
The flat earth theory is one of the most widely accepted and most widely discussed conspiracy theories today. Although this belief has been alive in various forms since the earliest days of human civilization, the flat Earth as an unscientific theory experienced expansion after 2010, when the Internet entered almost every household in even developed countries.
What shape is the "flat" earth?
In order to understand this phenomenon, its causes and consequences, we must start from what flat earthers actually preach.
Orlando-Ferguson-flat-earth-map_editOrlando Ferguson's 1893 Flat Earth Map / Illustration: Wikipedia.org
Broadly speaking, the proponents of this pseudo-scientific theory believe that our planet is not spherical in shape, but disc-shaped, with what science calls the North Pole in the middle and Antarctica as an envelope at the edge, beyond which is a chasm into space.
When it comes to finesse, there are some differences.
So, in addition to the standard disk theory, there is also the belief that the Earth is an infinite flat expanse, and that behind the "walls" of Antarctica - which, of course, is kept from the public eye by NASA - there are other continents unknown to us.
Some also believe that the Earth is diamond-shaped, slightly bulging at the point of the North Pole, and that gravity is actually the force produced by the movement of the planet through space in the "upward" direction.
All this happens in space, which different theories interpret in different ways, from the fact that it is just a projection, to the fact that the Sun and the Moon are located only a few hundred kilometers above the "plate" where they rotate in a circle, all the way to the thesis that the sky is a vault that hangs over the "disk" in which we live.
NASA is hiding the "truth" from us
In flat-earthers, a common model of a conspiratorial story appears, according to which some well-organized group of powerful people, with carefully planned actions, tries to hide the "truth" from the common man, with the aim of keeping him in the dark and thus controlling his life.
In this case, the main protagonist is NASA, which at the behest of political leaders is actively working to cover up evidence of a flat Earth by falsifying satellite photos and guarding the "walls" of Antarctica.
Although, at first glance, the motives for concealing the truth about the shape of our planet are unclear - which is not the case with, say, the attack on the Twin Towers or the landing on the moon, which can be interpreted by observing the political moments of the time - behind flat-earther beliefs nothing more is hidden than the idea that "knowledge is power", and whoever rules one, rules the other.
This, however, does not prevent flat-earthers from, calling for critical thinking, uncritically accepting many other conspiracy theories in support of the flat-Earth theory, such as secret elites who rule the world, Satanists who use science to distance man from God, or that man never landed on the moon.
Who establishes the "evidence" of a flat earth
Research shows that people inclined to this interpretation of the Earth's shape, base their beliefs more on personal experience than on official scientific evidence, which they consider to be fabricated under the influence of various lobbies and interests.
Often, "researchers" refer to experiments conducted under their own direction, without the supervision of research institutions and recognized experts in the field, and then present superficial conclusions based on senses and pre-established attitudes as scientific evidence.
Television National Geographic Explorer in 2018, she recorded a show on Salton Lake in which an experiment was performed in front of a group of flat earthers with boats that disappear behind the horizon as they move away. Despite the experiment demonstrating that the curvature of the Earth exists, conspiracy theorists still refused to believe it.
BaylonianmapsThe oldest known map of the world from Babylon / Illustration: Wikipedia.org
Who believes in all that?
Estimates vary as to how many people believe we live on a flat plate. Some more conservative ones say that it is between one and two percent of the population, while in some countries and age structures that percentage rises to over 15 percent.
The Internet has contributed the most to the spread of the flat earth theory, since it has enabled almost anyone to produce content that spreads pseudoscientific ideas with minimal resources and effort. With the help of the Internet, even the first "Flat Earth Conference" was organized in 2017, with more than 500 participants.
The early Internet was particularly fertile ground for the spread of conspiracy theories, as it provided viewers with an alternative to the distrusted traditional news channels. It was easier for someone who was not overly computer literate to get hooked on a ten-minute "documentary" on YouTube than a serious TV show or scientific text.
It was YouTube that was the medium on which flat-earthers had the most success in their preaching. It was only in 2019 that this platform tightened its policy against the spread of scientifically unfounded theories, so now these videos are rarely monetized, and YouTube must highlight them.
But it was too late, the flat earth theory had already been accepted by millions around the world, and even by some prominent public figures. From rappers Wiz Khalifa and BoB, to nine-time NBA All-Star and championship ring owner Kyrie Irving. Serbia is no exception, many people from the domestic public scene also believe that we do not live on a spherical planet and speak about it without reservation. Like probably many people from our close surroundings, although hardly anyone will admit it.
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