An astronaut has posted a video from space that conclusively debunks the ‘flat Earth’ theory.
The belief that Earth is round has been common knowledge for thousands of years.
Despite popular misconceptions about 2D maps and Christopher Columbus’s objectives, humans have known about Earth’s spherical shape since the Hellenistic period. Greek philosopher Pythagoras even speculated about it before his death in 495 B.C.
And yet, the myth of a flat, table-topped world has persisted for centuries.
While misconceptions about Earth’s shape were more common in the past, even in today’s era of information overload, the ‘flat Earth’ arguments persist.
The arguments from flat Earthers must seem particularly amusing to astronauts, who have seen Earth’s spherical beauty firsthand many times.
Shared on TikTok via the account spacemanedu, which regularly posts clips from astronauts in space, the video shows an astronaut waving to the camera before turning it around to reveal Earth. The caption humorously adds, “Someone said Earth was flat.”
For anyone still unconvinced, NASA frequently posts pictures and videos of Earth taken from space on their International Space Station and NASA Earth Instagram accounts.
Why do people believe that the Earth is flat?
Unlike historical civilizations that may have believed the Earth was flat due to a lack of evidence, the persistence of the flat Earth conspiracy theory today is puzzling. Despite overwhelming scientific evidence proving that the Earth is round, some people continue to subscribe to the flat Earth belief. This phenomenon can be attributed to various factors, including misinformation, distrust in scientific authorities, and psychological biases that favor alternative narratives.
Modern flat Earth beliefs can be traced back to the 19th-century inventor Samuel Rowbotham, who proposed that his theory of zetetic astronomy demonstrated the Earth was a flat disc centered around the North Pole. Rowbotham’s ideas gained traction and were further propagated by notable flat-Earthers of the period, including William Carpenter.
So, what is the best way to deal with a flat-Earther? Ignore them or pull out a wealth of facts and evidence?
Not always.
Astrophysicist Paul M. Sutter from SUNY previously suggested in an article for Space.com that contemporary flat Earth beliefs arise from a ‘lack of trust’ in scientists and experts.
He writes, “By asserting that the Earth is flat, people are essentially expressing a profound distrust of scientists and the scientific community.”
He suggests, “If you’re discussing with someone who believes in a flat Earth, focus less on presenting evidence and arguments and more on finding ways to build trust.”
