Fact Check: The Earth is flat

Fact-Check Article: "The Earth is flat"

What We Know

The claim that "the Earth is flat" is a scientifically disproven notion. Historical evidence suggests that ancient civilizations, such as the Greeks and Egyptians, recognized the Earth's spherical shape based on astronomical observations. For instance, they noted the way the Sun's shadow varied in different locations, which could only be explained by a round Earth (NASA Expert).

Modern scientific understanding confirms that the Earth is not only round but more accurately described as an oblate spheroid, meaning it is slightly flattened at the poles and bulging at the equator due to its rotation (NOAA). Photographic evidence from space has provided clear visual confirmation of the Earth's roundness, with images taken from various altitudes showing its curvature (NASA History).

Additionally, empirical evidence supports the spherical shape of the Earth through various observations, including the way ships disappear hull-first over the horizon and the curved shadow cast on the Moon during a lunar eclipse (Wikipedia - Empirical Evidence).

Analysis

The claim that the Earth is flat lacks credible scientific support and contradicts centuries of established knowledge. The sources that support the spherical Earth are well-respected and include scientific organizations like NASA and NOAA, which are authoritative in the field of Earth sciences. For example, NASA's expert commentary emphasizes the historical understanding of Earth's shape and the advancements in space exploration that have visually confirmed it (NASA Expert).

Furthermore, the NOAA provides detailed explanations of Earth's shape, noting that it is not a perfect sphere but rather an ellipsoid, which is a more accurate representation of its form due to gravitational and rotational forces (NOAA). The historical context provided by NASA's documentation illustrates how ancient observations laid the groundwork for modern scientific understanding (NASA History).

In contrast, sources promoting the flat Earth theory often rely on anecdotal evidence and conspiracy theories rather than empirical data. For instance, while the Flat Earth Wikipedia page discusses the historical context of the belief, it also highlights that it is an archaic concept with no scientific basis.

The reliability of the sources supporting the spherical Earth is high, given their scientific rigor and peer-reviewed nature. In contrast, flat Earth claims typically lack such scrutiny and are often dismissed by the scientific community.

Conclusion

The claim that "the Earth is flat" is False. Extensive scientific evidence, historical observations, and modern photographic proof all support the conclusion that the Earth is a sphere, or more accurately, an oblate spheroid. The overwhelming consensus in the scientific community, backed by credible organizations, confirms that the Earth is not flat.