The podcast explores different theories about the shape of the Earth, including the flat Earth theory, cube Earth theory, and spherical Earth theory. The flat Earth theory believes that the Earth is a flat disc with a wall of ice around the rim. The cube Earth theory is based on Plato's belief that the Earth is made of cubes. The spherical Earth theory is the most popular and supported by real-life photos and experiments. The podcast also discusses ways to prove that the Earth is round, such as watching a ship sail off the sea, observing a lunar eclipse, climbing a tree to see the horizon, and traveling through different time zones.
Space, a final frontier. Square, circle, circle, flat. Which shape is the world? What shape is the Earth? Square, circle, circle, flat. Hi gang, welcome to the 15-Minute Globologist Podcast. My name is Peter Gaussian-Connolly. I'm here with my friends, roommates, colleagues, and fellow global shape theorists. Bang, and loose, my name. Happy to speak some rhythmic truth into your ears for the next quarter of an hour. Let's talk planets. Hey, hey, welcome to the 15-Minute Globologist, Luke. And it looks like we've got Kieran Bowler here too.
Kieran, do you want to say anything to our listeners? Okay then, that was awkward. Let's talk planetary shape. So I know you're probably all listening out there and thinking, you know, how this podcast is going to turn out based off our sick opening. But we are actually going to challenge some ideas here. Explain why certain theories are believed. So I want you all to close your eyes for a second. I'm going to give you a few minutes to think about what you think.
And then I'm going to give you a few minutes to think about what you think. And then I'm going to give you a few minutes to think about what you think. And then I'm going to give you a few minutes to think about what you think. And then I'm going to give you a few minutes to think about what you think. Remember that day you emerged from that darkness of birth and that first time you opened your eyes.
So imagine for a second, you don't know anything but the room you have just opened your eyes upon for the first time. Let's now approach the world here. Let's imagine you have no preconceived notions about planetary shape and try if you can to come into the discussion open minded, not in a condescending way, truly open to hearing why people believe what they believe, especially on something that seems so, so clear yet for some isn't. If we can really do this the right way, if we can humble ourselves into having the most basic of a conversation, then not only will we have a greater understanding of what we believe, why we believe it, but also we can become more compassionate people to others' views.
Something that seems so simple but yet is so grossly underappreciated in society today. So in this understanding, we are in a way becoming almost, I don't know, apologists, global apologists. Not to mention a great conversation starter for an icebreaker at a party. Yeah, because you definitely want to start making friends by asking about their theories about the shape of the earth. Hi, I'm Kieran and I think the earth is basically a Minecraft dirt block. Will you be my friend? You're such an idiot.
How did you even get into school? So what theory did you guys want to talk about first? I feel like way too many people are arguing about the earth being flat. I feel like that's such a dumb thing to waste energy on. So let's get that out of the way first. I think we should talk about flatter. That's a fantastic idea. Okay, so the earth is flat, an idea that popularized in the 1950s. Hold on, popularized in the 1950s? I think you're a few centuries out there, bud.
Yeah, dumbass. Sorry, sir, I should say repopularized. It was repopularized in the 1950s while initial idea expanded back to the beginning of time and lasted its prevailing belief until really the fifth century. That led to the creation of the Flat Earth Society. Now this group believes that the moon landing and photos were a hoax by the government and that the ancient Greeks were supposed proof of a spherical earth was stupid, obviously, and the earth is a circle.
You think that the Flat Earth Society would think the earth is flat? Exactly. The thing is, they think it is like a flat circle, like a pizza, not to be confused with a sphere or like a plate for a sphere C. According to the society, the earth is a disc with the Arctic Circle in the center and a 150-foot tall wall of ice around the rim. NASA employees actually guard this ice wall to prevent people from climbing over and falling off the disc.
I mean, that's tracking rogers. NASA would have trouble staying in business if the earth was flat. So naturally, they'd guard the ice around so people don't fall off. My favorite part of the theory though is, get this, most flat earthers actually believe the sun and moon are spheres. Flat earth theorizing follows from a mode of thought called the Zetetic Method. The Zetetic Method is an alternative to the scientific method established and developed by a 19th century flat earther in which sensory observations reign supreme.
At least this is all true according to the 2019 conference of flat earthers in Dallas. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. There's a conference of the flat earth society? They let anybody do anything nowadays. Apparently. So for everyone listening out there, before we transition to Minecraft theory, if you would like to learn more about the flat earth theory, I recommend checking out from one of its most outspoken supporters on Big Podcast with Shaq, where the famous basketball player explains his belief in the theory.
And let's just take a moment to realize that neither the cube or sphere earth believers have a conference annually. So I think I add some credibility, at least to the flat earthers and tilt the scale a bit in their direction. Now a word from the people who made this podcast possible. And it looks like we actually have a caller. All right. Hello. Hello. I'm an American taxpayer. And if this is where $500,000 of my money is going, I want it.
All right. Well, anyway, it looks like we're back. And let's jump right into the cube earth theory. So this theory is probably slightly less well known nowadays, but I think you'll be surprised to learn that those who believe in the cube earth fight Plato and his platonic shape theory of the earth as their founder. No way. Pluto believed the earth was a cube. I think you mean a block, Luke. You trying to fight? Well that begs a deeper meaning, Luke, because you're exactly right.
He didn't really. So why did the group insist that he said something he really didn't? This is where it gets interesting. Plato never said the earth was a cube, but at the same time he did. He believed that the universe was made of five types of matter, right? Earth, air, fire, water, and cosmos. Each was described with a particular geometry or a platonic shape. For earth, that shape was the cube. Platonic shapes, according to the fifth century philosopher, was the building block of the universe.
But we now look at on as much smaller scale as the atom. Plato not only believed that the earth was sphere in shape, he was possibly the first person to teach it. He believed it was sphere, but that it was made of cubes. Cube earth theorists are misunderstanding Plato's work and his theory, but not entirely. Now it gets even weirder. Geophysicists across the country are just now starting to agree with Plato that after examining how earth tends to form, rocks do so in the platonic shape of the cube.
So you're basically saying that Minecraft is not completely wrong, that in the reality of the earth, rocks, even ore, is actually the shape of a cube, which also means blood for the blood gods. I'm afraid so. So then what about spherical earth theory? Well sphere is the last one we are really going to be able to touch on today, unfortunately due to time constraints. But I highly recommend you all check some of the other theories out.
So spherical earth theory is the most popular and prevailing theory of earth shape today, and for good reason. While you shouldn't believe everything you hear and approach much in life with skepticism, based off real life photos of the earth, a multitude of tests and experiments, which we are going to touch on in a possible following video based off support we received for this one, it's clear the earth is a sphere. Plato likened the shape to a leather ball while teaching in Athens in the 5th century.
And Greek astronomers proved the theory of the sphere with actually differing shadows cast between two ancient Greek towers in different cities at the same time of day. Because there was a different shadow length while it was at the same point between the cities, it proved that the earth was curved as opposed to cube or flat as many believed then. Well then, this has been fun. And I truly hope we were able to explore a new idea here during this brief period.
And in all reality, a curved earth is best. Personally, I love the spinning of the earth. It really makes my day. That's a good one, Peter Connolly. I had no idea the earth was made of cubes. That's crazy. That's wild. Are we nuts? And people are just now realizing how smart that was for Pluto to discover that and teach people that. I think you mean Plato. I said what I said. Oh, is that a visitor? Hello? We weren't expecting this.
Well, howdy there, Pete. My name is Daryl. And I got a question for you, all right? Oh, hey, Daryl. Okay. So my question is, how can I prove to my folks back home on the farm that the earth is round? Are there any simple ways at home I can do it and test it for myself? Hey there, Daryl. I'm actually glad you asked that. Because in reality, you're right. We talked about Plato and his theory, but the thing is, if we're not even sure that what they're telling us about the shape of the earth is sure coming in, then how can we be sure that what they've told us in the fifth century is certain? So how can we ourselves prove that the earth is round, I guess, is the question really should be asked.
Yeah, I need some dip on that chip, you know what I'm saying? Oh, I'll get you some dip for your chip, Daryl. You hold on here. If you... Okay. Just think it out loud. Let's think for a second. What do you think, Kieran? Is there anything? You could walk out to the harbor and watch a ship sail off the sea. Okay. I like that. So watching a ship going off and at the point it really disappears is, I guess that would be proving it's round, unless that could also be cube, I guess, if it's going to another surface.
What about watching a lunar eclipse? Okay. So... That would take a long time, though. You're right. It takes a long time. But the thing is, with lunar eclipse, at the very least, it shows spherical other planets. So that blocks out cube, but it still allows for sphere or earth, right? Because if you're able to catch a glimpse of lunar eclipse, you can see that the evidence that the earth is indeed round. I don't know. My mama said not to look at those or I go blind.
Well, Daryl, I guess a way to prove you're rather wrong would be, have you tried climbing up a tree ever in your life? I'm from the country, I have climbed many a tree in my day, son. Well, Daryl, imagine a vast plain, but one tree smack in the fricking middle. If the earth were flat, you're looking... I'd have people on your forehead, son. All right, Daryl, chill. Your vision would extend exactly as far while standing at the base of the tree as it would when at the top of the tree, right? However, the farther you climb up, the farther your line of sight will extend to the horizon, right? Yeah.
And that would prove, would that prove it's earth, even? Yeah. I suppose you're right there. Karen, what's another one? Or you could like travel through different time zones. Oh, okay. From the east coast, you go all the way back to the west. Okay, I like that. I don't like traveling too much. I don't think about it. I'm alone right now. Well, that's a good point, though, is time zones. Because according to a 2008 paper in Applied Optics by David C.
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