The fact that the buildings are visible is in fact simply a mirage. Light bends down towards the denser air, but because our eyes assume the light has travelled in a straight line, the object appears higher than it is. The effect also explains why a far-off ship can be seen even though it might have dipped below the horizon. It can even make distant boats appear to float in the air. But, as McIntyre found, this type of reasoning is unlikely to convince flat-Earthers. Instead, given that flat-Earthers place so much emphasis on naked-eye observations, he and colleague Derek Roff decided to create a navigable 3D computer simulation of a flat Earth to see how well it could replicate what we see.
Based on the US version of the flat-Earth model, it allows anyone to virtually roam a flat world. One of the major problems is the size and brightness of the Sun. In the flat-Earth model this varies by more than a factor of two from sunrise to midday, something we obviously do not see.
The night sky also differs. In the northern hemisphere we see constellations rising in the east and arcing across the sky but in the flat-Earth model they would just circle at a constant height.
I no longer feel that way. But Effingham, who has also interacted with flat-Earthers on Facebook, wonders if physics is the place to start combating these conspiracy-based ideas. Effingham also tries to point out their inconsistencies. He was simply told that planes can fly on one tank of fuel and refuelling planes could just be a giant hoax to stop us realizing that the Earth is flat.
Landrum agrees the underlying problem is one of trust rather than physics. That may seem like an excruciatingly painful process, but a necessary one, for people to gain trust in science as an institution again. A level of sustained personal engagement can change minds. He was appointed by Donald Trump in and was known to have disputed climate change. The difference was that the evidence was presented to him by scientists he had grown to trust. Oddly, Landrum says that many flat-Earthers may distrust scientists, but they are not against the scientific method.
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Enter e-mail address This e-mail address will be used to create your account. Reset your password. Crucially, he claimed that when the explorer told Spanish geographers the earth was not actually flat, they refused to believe him, even questioning his faith and endangering his life. And when his book became a runaway bestseller, the supposed confrontation between the rational explorer and the dogmatic official was accepted as truth. Over the years—and with the help of Antoine-Jean Letronne , a French author—the legend took hold.
Though Columbus never proved Earth was round, he did manage to upset long-held dogma in another way when he ran across a continent nobody in Europe even knew was there. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! Twice a week we compile our most fascinating features and deliver them straight to you. Still, one could save the hypothesis by assuming that light refracts in a peculiar way.
Modern flat-earthers do indeed assume that refraction is at work. They attribute the disappearance of the ships over the horizon to a refraction effect, and even point out that with some atmospheric conditions, ships, icebergs, and distant mountains have been observed to rise above the horizon, and even turn upside down! The diagram at the right shows how this works. The angle that the rays strike the earth's surface is correct, matching the left diagram. To complete their path from the sun to the earth the rays must curve to strike the earth at the correct observed angle.
Of course this result can be obtained in various ways. The curvature could be confined to the region near the earth, even within the atmosphere. The diagram shows circular arcs, but other shapes might be used as well. How airplanes and earth satellites orbit around a flat earth. And what about airliners going around the earth?
What about earth satellites? They are merely traveling in loop orbits. What makes them do this? Johnson doesn't say. Flat-earthers shun any form of gravitational force. They consider gravity to be a mystical or occult idea. What about the moon flights and the pictures from space showing a round earth? Johnson wasn't about to be taken in by such nonsense. It's all a hoax, he proclaimed, an elaborate movie production written by Arthur C.
Clarke, filmed on Hollywood sound stages and the Mohave desert. Johnson says his mission is to restore sanity to the world. He was proud that the United Nations accepts his idea, for they put a map of his flat earth on their flag. Who could be perverse enough to deny one's senses by doubting it?
Johnson also cited the testimony of his wife Marjory, who came from Australia. She sailed a ship over here, and she did not get on it upside down and she did not sail straight up. She sailed right straight across the ocean. We consider that a very important proof that the world is flat," Johnson says. United Nations Flag. A flat world order. Johnson claimed his flat earth society had members worldwide, but admits some haven't kept up their dues. The society was always struggling financially.
There were probably less than hard core members. By now you may be thinking that this is an elaborate joke. Not so. Read a few issues of his newspaper, and you will see that he is deadly serious.
He put out the newspaper at a financial loss, and lived with his wife in isolation and poverty at the edge of the Mohave desert. He was quite sincere, and indignant at those who would make a joke of the flat earth idea. Ferrari taught in the philosophy department of St. Thomas University. I'll give you a few gems from his promotional brochure:.
The cover of his brochure says "We're on the level. There he gazed over the edge into the 'abysmal chasm'. Flyer of The Flat Earth Society. Leo Ferrari, Canada. I do not know to what extent Ferrari's efforts were parody. But since the internet has made it so easy for people to reach a worldwide audience, several websites of flat earth organizations have appeard, almost certainly intended as satire. Much has changed since I wrote the above account. Bob Shadewald brought me up to date, by supplying the following information.
In late September , the Johnsons' home caught fire. Having no fire insurance, the Johnsons were unable to rebuild. A dilapidated old house trailer, bought as a storage shed, survived the fire, and they took refuge there. A few months later, Marjory fell and broke a hip. She survived hip replacement surgery but never recovered her strength. On May 16, , she died. Charles Johnson immersed himself in rebuilding the membership roster.
Publication of the Flat Earth News , in hiatus since , was to resume with the December issue. But I have no confirmation that it did. Charles Johnson died in I hear rumors that some efforts have been made to find a new leader to revive the organization, but I've seen no evidence that it has happened. I still would like to see a debate between hollow earthers and flat earthers on the subject of the shape of the earth.
It would, I think, demonstrate how alike they are in the methods they use to support their belief, and how they can use misinterpreted data and flawed arguments to arrive at mutually contradictory conclusions.
Sources: Cohen, Daniel. Cook, Philip. John Alexander Dowie's Theocracy. Zion Historical Society publication, Series 2. Life and Work of John Alexander Dowie. Collier's, May 11, DeFord, Charles S. A reparation: universal gravitation a universal fake. Fairfield, Wash. D44 Reprint of the 3d ed. Fiske, John. A Century of Science and Other Essays. Houghton, Mifflin, It discusses, among other things, the history of flat and hollow earth theories.
Flat Earth News. International Flat Earth Research Society. Gardner, Martin. G35 Garwood, Christine. Macmillian, Gates, David, with Jennifer Smith. Gleason, Alex. Is the Bible from heaven? Is the earth a globe? Buffalo, N. G56 Kneitel, Tom. Popular Communications , June Johnson, William J. Leaves of Healing. A guide to the independent thinkers. M66 Pfarr, Jerry. Reinders, Robert C. XXX, 1, p. Earth not a globe.
By "Parallax" [pseud. London, Day, An account of the 'Old Bedford Canal' challenge in which naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace and flat-earther John Hampden measured the flatness of the water surface. Schadewald, Robert. Moon Landings? A fraud! Says This Prophet. Science Digest, July , p. Web copy. New York: Harmony Books, , Taylor, Jabez. Zion Historical Society, Shiloh House. Part 1, Summer? Part 2. Fall, Wallace, Irving.
The Square Pegs. Alfred A. Knopf, Chapter 1. In Defense of the Square Peg. Williams, Marjorie I. John Alexander Dowie. Thesis, Rosary College, July By Rectangle [pseud.
Durban, Natal, T. Cullingworth, W77 First published in 46 p. This document is a work in progress. Consider it a first or rough draft. Later versions will have more specific references and footnotes.
The Flat Earth by Donald E.
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