Before diving into the topic, it’s important to clarify that, despite gaining more attention in recent times, the famous Flat Earth theory has existed for many years. So, it’s not something new. The key difference is that, with the advent of the internet, such information has become easier to spread worldwide, leading to the creation and popularization of various conspiracy theories. With this in mind, I wrote this article to answer the question once and for all: Is the Earth really flat?
Many people genuinely believe there is a global conspiracy involving scientists and space agencies (such as NASA and SpaceX) to make everyone think that the Earth is spherical. According to these claims, we supposedly live on a “flat circular disc,” not a globe, with the North Pole at the center and Antarctica forming a massive ice wall around the edges. Take a deep breath! In a way, this belief aligns with what some ancient civilizations thought. According to a report by The Guardian, followers of this theory are described as being “almost like a religion.”
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Undoubtedly, the most well-known advocate of Flat Earth ideas is the Flat Earth Society. Founded in 1956 by Englishman Samuel Shenton, the organization partially bases its beliefs on interpretations of the Bible, which some claim suggests a flat Earth. Additionally, the society promotes an “empirical approach” to understanding our planet, emphasizing direct observation as the most reliable way to discern the nature of the world around us.
Now, let’s imagine… If the Earth were truly flat, wouldn’t the bottom of clouds also be flat? Wouldn’t the Sun’s movement be different? And what about Mars and the Moon—are they flat too? Quite a mystery, right? On the other hand, when we look at the overwhelming evidence confirming that the Earth is (thankfully) round, we often rely on what we learned in school or on photographs taken during space missions. In our daily lives, with our fast-paced routines, it’s understandable that we don’t actively notice the Earth’s curvature—this is one of the main arguments Flat Earthers use to support their claims.
For these and other reasons, some people truly believe in a Flat Earth, despite having no solid evidence to support such a “brilliant” claim. One of the most frequently used arguments is that when we look around, we see a completely flat world. This apparent “flaw” in perception has been seized upon by Flat Earthers, who have built seemingly convincing arguments around it. But does it really hold up?
Now, if empiricism is considered a valuable method for acquiring knowledge in various scientific fields, applying it blindly to astronomy can be misleading. For instance, placing a ruler on the horizon at the beach does not prove that the Earth is flat. Why? Because our planet is so vast that its curvature is imperceptible over short distances. This is a matter of scale!
To truly observe Earth’s curvature, one must go much higher—around 60,000 feet (approximately 18,000 meters) above sea level. Only at these altitudes does the planet’s curvature become visible. This was demonstrated by the supersonic Concorde aircraft, developed by Aérospatiale and British Aircraft Corporation in the 1970s, which flew high enough to confirm the roundness of our beloved Earth. Commercial airplanes, in contrast, do not reach such heights, making it impossible to perceive this curvature during a typical flight.
Moreover, many Flat Earthers insist that NASA’s images are fake and part of a government manipulation. However, they seem to overlook one small detail… NASA is not the only space agency in the world! Many other organizations, including ESA (European Space Agency), Roscosmos (Russia), CNSA (China), and ISRO (India), have captured images of Earth from space. In addition, NASA’s budget today accounts for roughly 0.4% of the U.S. government’s spending—about 10% less than during the era of the Apollo missions. And according to Flat Earthers, those missions never happened and were just Hollywood VFX magic.
Another recurring and rather bizarre question is: If Earth is truly flat, why do ships gradually disappear over the horizon? If the world were flat, our eyes should be able to see beyond the horizon, right? Why can’t we see Mount Everest, which is “only” 8,844 meters high, from anywhere in the world? Flat Earthers argue that atmospheric haze and human vision limitations are the reason.
In reality, this argument makes no sense, especially considering that we can see stars located only 40 trillion kilometers (4.3 light-years) away! The reason we cannot see beyond the horizon is simple: the Earth’s curvature obstructs our view. But Flat Earthers refuse to acknowledge this, as if reality itself were just another fabrication of NASA, SpaceX, and—why not?—the Matrix. 😀 😀
Speaking of which, another clear way to observe Earth’s curvature is by watching how ships disappear over the horizon. If you carefully observe a ship sailing away, you’ll notice that it doesn’t vanish all at once—it disappears from the bottom up. This happens because, surprise… the Earth is spherical! Shocking, right? As the vessel moves further away, the lower parts disappear first, followed by the upper sections.
Conclusion: The Earth Is Not Flat. Thank You!
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So, do you really believe the Earth is flat? Share this with your friends and leave a comment! 😊
