They then used the difference in these angles to calculate the circumference of the Earth. The ancient Greeks found the shadows were different because the Earth was curved and so the sticks were at different angles. If the Earth were flat then both sticks should show the same shadow (or lack of) because they would be positioned at the same angle towards the sun.

At the same time in a city around 500 miles north, the stick there did cast a shadow. When the sun was directly overhead in one place, the stick there cast no shadow. This was achieved by comparing the shadows of sticks in different locations. One of the best documented methods for determining the Earth’s roundness was first performed (to our knowledge) by the ancient Greeks. A good place to start would be by making sure children have the chance to try out simple experiments in school. Perhaps if more people really could see for themselves the evidence, we might be able to reverse this worrying trend.

I wish Hughes well with his endeavour, as he has at least been willing to try and prove his theory. But the awareness of how easily images can be doctored and the growth of internet conspiracy theories appears to have fuelled a resurgence of belief in a flat Earth.Īt the same time, there’s a lack of understanding of the science that has long been used to demonstrate that we live on a globe, without the need to leave it.

“Mad” Mike Hughes is all set to build his own rocket to see for himself that the Earth is flat.įor the last 50 years, we’ve been able to view pictures of the Earth from space, which might seem like all the proof you need to see that our planet is in fact round. Could 2,000 years of belief be wrong? Are we in fact living on a disc rather than a globe? One believer from the Flat Earth Society is determined to find out.

Is the earth is round or flat