Flat Earth Theory

The modern flat Earth movement emerged in the 2010s through internet communities and YouTube channels, reviving claims that Earth is a flat disk surrounded by an Antarctic ice wall with the North Pole at the center. This contemporary version differs significantly from historical flat Earth beliefs, incorporating elements of conspiracy theory about space agencies and governments concealing Earth’s true shape.

Daniel Shenton revived the Flat Earth Society in 2009 as an online community, though the movement gained significant momentum through YouTube personalities including Patricia Steere and Mark Sargent. These advocates organized conferences beginning in 2016 and promoted various experiments they claimed would demonstrate Earth’s flatness.

Flat Earth proponents typically argue that space agencies fabricate evidence of Earth’s sphericity, that gravity does not exist, and that the sun and moon are small local objects circling above the flat plane. They claim that airline flight paths, ship navigation, and satellite communications can be explained within their flat Earth model, though these explanations require numerous ad hoc assumptions.

The movement attracted adherents despite centuries of evidence for Earth’s spherical shape, including ancient Greek calculations, circumnavigation voyages, satellite imagery, and direct observation from space. Modern flat Earth believers often dismiss photographic evidence from space as fabricated and reject experimental results that confirm Earth’s curvature.

Scientific demonstrations repeatedly refute flat Earth claims, from simple observations of ships disappearing hull-first over the horizon to precise measurements of Earth’s curvature using laser levels. The Bedford Level Experiment, often cited by flat Earth advocates, actually confirmed Earth’s curvature when properly conducted with adequate controls.

Psychological studies of flat Earth believers suggest the movement appeals to individuals seeking community, alternative authority structures, and simple explanations for complex phenomena. The theory demonstrates how internet communities can sustain beliefs contrary to overwhelming evidence through selective information sources and mutual reinforcement.