Antarctic Journey by Flat Earth Advocates Fortifies Assertion of Earth's Spherical Shape
A group of individuals who subscribe to the Flat Earth conspiracy theory recently embarked on a journey to Antarctica, aiming to conclusively demonstrate that our planet is, in truth, flat. Regrettably for them, their adventure seems to have validated what scientists and geologists have been pronouncing for years, and what visual evidence and videos have previously shown: our Earth is spherical.
This expedition was arranged by Will Duffy, a pastor overseeing a small congregation based in Denver, Colorado. On a platform dedicated to the expedition, Duffy elaborates that the voyage encompasses 24 flat earthers and 24 "globe earthers" designated as "representatives" of their respective factions. The objective of the expedition, christened "The Final Experiment," is to explore whether a 24-hour sun exists in Antarctica.
As stated on the expedition's website, "The Final Experiment serves as a means to settle the debate about the shape of the Earth. Both the flat earth proponents and the globe proponents concur that whether or not a 24-hour sun is present in Antarctica will corroborate whether we inhabit a flat terrain or a globular one."
Referred to as "the midnight sun," this phenomenon is caused by the Earth's axial tilt and the solar rays' position in relation to the Arctic Circle. I am not well-versed in the inner workings of the conspiracy theory at hand, yet I struggle to discern what significance the sun's behavior has on their beliefs. If our planet is genuinely flat, how do you account for the various phases of day and night, for instance? What is the sun doing during the hours of darkness? Is it lurking beneath some celestial board game unfolding across our world's surface?
As expected, the team found that Antarctica featured the much-anticipated 24-hour sun. Jeran Campanella, a prominent Flat Earth influencer, admitted in a video postulated by Duffy upon their arrival, "Sometimes, you're wrong in life. I genuinely thought there was no 24-hour sun. I was quite positive of it."
Popularly, the Flat Earth ideology is largely driven by religious sentiments (it has even been categorized as an "extreme Biblical-literalist theology"). This explains the explosive growth of its believers' distrust in scientific evidence. In current times, the theory has been boosted by a slew of right-wing personalities, including Candace Owens and Tucker Carlson, who presumably find appeal in its message among their primarily conservative and religious constituencies.
Interestingly, Owens seems to maintain ties with the recent Antarctica excursion. Duffy expresses gratitude to Owens in his video, stating that she was "thrilled" by the idea of the expedition and that her director, Mark Herman, actually accompanied them in Antarctica. In a separate video, Duffy mentions that Herman will share insights from the journey with Owens' audience. Previously, Owens admits, "I am not a flat earther. I am not a round earther. Actually, what I am is I am someone who has left the cult of science."
Despite the setback for flat Earth believers, the expedition has sparked interest in exploring the intersection of technology and the conspiracy theory. In the future, virtual reality technology could provide a compelling experience for flat Earthers to simulate a flat Earth without physically traveling to Antarctica.
Moreover, the Flat Earth movement's use of social media platforms and online communities to spread their beliefs demonstrates the powerful role of technology in shaping contemporary societal norms and beliefs, even in the face of overwhelming scientific evidence.
