I created this episode using Google’s NotebookLM, an AI Research Assistant.
Observation: I wanted to test something on which there is a lot of misinformation on the internet. I specifically included some sources that make a case for flat earth theory. Looks like NotebookLM was able to come to the right conclusion.
These sources discuss the flat Earth theory, a belief that contradicts the scientifically accepted model of a spherical Earth. While ancient cultures held diverse views on Earth's shape, the concept of a spherical Earth was established by ancient Greek philosophers and has been supported by empirical evidence and modern technology, such as observations of ships disappearing over the horizon, different star patterns seen from varying latitudes, time zones, and satellite imagery. Despite overwhelming evidence, flat Earth beliefs have seen a resurgence, particularly fueled by the internet and social media, where proponents share their alternative explanations and experiments, often attributing scientific evidence to hoaxes and conspiracies. Experts note that this belief is often rooted in distrust of institutions and a misunderstanding of scientific methods, highlighting the importance of rebuilding trust in science.
Disclaimer: NotebookLM can be inaccurate. Please double check for accuracy. Be mindful of the GIGO Principle – The output is only as good as its sources (or worse).
Sources:
Excerpts from "7 DIY experiments you and rapper B.o.B can do to prove Earth is round | PBS News"1...
URL: The source text refers to PBS NewsHour Episodes, Podcasts, Newsletters, etc., but does not provide a specific URL for this article. Based on the title and source structure, it is likely from pbs.org/newshour.
Excerpts from "90 Years of Our Changing Views of Earth - NASA"3...
URL: The source text provides navigation and footer links for NASA, including "Home", "News & Events", "Multimedia", etc. The article is by John Uri of Johnson Space Center and dated Dec 21, 2020. Based on the content and structure, the URL is likely https://www.nasa.gov/history/90-years-of-our-changing-views-of-earth/.
Excerpts from "ELI5: How did ancient people know that the earth was round? : r/explainlikeimfive - Reddit"17...
URL: The source text indicates this is from the r/explainlikeimfive subreddit on Reddit. The URL is https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/auto2o/eli5_how_did_ancient_people_know_that_the_earth/.
Excerpts from "Empirical evidence for the spherical shape of Earth - Wikipedia"30...
URL: The source text is from a Wikipedia article titled "Empirical evidence for the spherical shape of Earth". The URL is https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Empirical_evidence_for_the_spherical_shape_of_Earth&oldid=1288407540.
Excerpts from "Fighting flat-Earth theory - Physics World"36...
URL: The source text is from Physics World. The URL is https://physicsworld.com/a/fighting-flat-earth-theory/.
Excerpts from "Flat Earth - Wikipedia"52...
URL: The source text is from a Wikipedia article titled "Flat Earth". The URL is https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Flat_Earth&oldid=1288125146.
Excerpts from "Flat Earthers Redux: Subjective Belief, Science, and Reality | Psychology Today"77...
URL: The source text is from Psychology Today, authored by Joe Pierre M.D. The URL is https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/psych-unseen/201905/flat-earthers-redux-subjective-belief-science-and-reality.
Excerpts from "Full article: Differential susceptibility to misleading flat earth arguments on youtube"87
URL: The source text mentions Taylor and Francis Group / Informa UK Limited and hints at a journal article about misleading flat earth arguments on YouTube. The URL is likely related to their journal platform, potentially https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/19313173.2021.1982812 (based on searching the title, but this specific URL is not in the provided text, so this is outside information).
Excerpts from "How the ancient Greeks proved Earth was round over 2000 years ago | The Independent"88...
URL: The source text is from The Independent. The URL is https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/how-ancient-greeks-proved-earth-round-2000-years-ago-a8124871.html.
Excerpts from "How to debate a flat-Earther - Proven scientific arguments and strategies - Space"91...
URL: The source text is from Space.com. The URL is https://www.space.com/how-to-debate-a-flat-earther.html.
Excerpts from the transcript of the video "Inside a Flat Earth convention, where nearly everyone believes Earth isn't round" uploaded on the YouTube channel "ABC News"96...
URL: The source text is from an ABC News YouTube video transcript. The URL is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5s3mJ6_C-Q (based on searching the title and channel, but this specific URL is not in the provided text, so this is outside information).
Excerpts from the transcript of the video "True World | Flat Earth Documentary ▶️️" uploaded on the YouTube channel "ODD TV"100...
URL: The source text is from a YouTube video transcript from the ODD TV channel. The URL is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzM5pS5u1s8 (based on searching the title and channel, but this specific URL is not in the provided text, so this is outside information).