The earth is flat
The claim that the Earth is flat posits that our planet exists as a flat, disk-like structure rather than a spherical one. This belief has ancient origins and has been revived in modern times by various groups and individuals who question established scientific consensus.
The evidence
The assertion that the Earth is flat is unequivocally refuted by extensive scientific evidence accumulated over centuries.
Ancient Greek scholars, such as Aristotle, observed that during lunar eclipses, the Earth's shadow on the Moon is always round, indicating a spherical shape. Additionally, the phenomenon of ships disappearing hull-first over the horizon as they sail away further supports the curvature of the Earth. In contemporary times, satellite imagery provides clear visual confirmation of the Earth's roundness. Photographs taken from space consistently depict the Earth as a sphere, reinforcing observations made from the ground.
Moreover, the ability to circumnavigate the globe, traveling in a consistent direction and returning to the starting point, is only possible on a spherical planet. This real-world evidence directly contradicts the flat Earth model. Scientific studies have also demonstrated that certain natural phenomena, such as the behavior of turbulent ship wakes, can only be accurately explained if the Earth is round. These wakes appear as narrow strips of bubble-whitened water converging toward the horizon, a pattern that aligns with a spherical Earth.
Some proponents of a flat Earth refer to biblical passages, interpreting descriptions of the Earth as flat. However, many theologians argue these verses are metaphorical, not literal. The Bible uses poetic language to convey spiritual truths rather than to provide scientific explanation.
The persistence of flat Earth beliefs in modern times is often attributed to factors such as mistrust of scientific institutions, the spread of conspiracy theories, and the influence of social media platforms that amplify misinformation. However, the overwhelming body of empirical evidence supports the conclusion that the Earth is an oblate spheroid, slightly flattened at the poles and bulging at the equator due to its rotation.
By the numbers
Based on a 2018 YouGov survey, this chart shows the percentage of Americans who believe the Earth is flat, broken down by age group.
In the conversation
“A history documentary on the Flat Earth Theory and how Flat Earthers were debunked over 2,000 years ago.”
“The Earth is the third planet from the Sun and is unique for supporting life. For centuries, people believed the Earth was flat, but scientific evidence over time has conclusively proven that the Earth is not flat, but instead an oblate spheroid.”
Sources
- Flat Earth | Theory, Model, Meaning, & Facts | Britannica — Britannica
“The perception that Earth exists as a flat disk persisted in the ancient world until empirical observations revealed that Earth’s shape was spherical or ellipsoidal.”
- Earth is round, but flat-earthers still exist — Britannica
“Long before satellite images and airplanes, ancient civilizations used the stars and the movement of the Sun to figure out that the Earth was round.”
- Earth is round and high-altitude footage doesn’t prove Earth is flat — PolitiFact
“Photos from space show that the Earth is round.”
- Strange but True: Earth Is Not Round — Scientific American
“Planet Earth is not, in fact, perfectly round. It is an oblate spheroid—a sphere that is squashed at its poles and swollen at the equator.”
- Turbulent ship wakes: further evidence that the Earth is round — PubMed
“A ship's turbulent wake appears as a narrow strip of bubble-whitened water converging toward the horizon, indicating that the Earth is not flat, but rather round.”