Big Picture Science

Skeptic Check: Flat Earth


Listen Later

(repeat) The Earth is not round. Technically, it’s an oblate spheroid. But for some people, the first statement is not even approximately correct. Flat Earthers believe that our planet resembles – not a slightly squashed grapefruit – but a thick pancake.  A journalist who covered a Flat Earth convention describes the rationale behind this ever-more popular belief. 

So how do you establish science truth? We look at the difference between a truly scientific examination of extraordinary claims and approaches that feel and look science-y but aren’t. 

Find out how one man will use telescopes and balloons in the desert to demonstrate that the Earth is a globe, while a biologist runs a test on the waters of Loch Ness to see if it contains prehistoric reptile DNA.

And what happens when amateur investigators chase ghosts, UFOs, and Bigfoot with science instruments, but without an understanding of the scientific method.

Guests:

  • James Underdown– Executive Director of the Center for Inquiry in Los Angeles and of the Independent Investigations Group. The results of his experiment will be posted here.
  • Alex Moshakis– Journalist who writes for the Observer, the Guardian, and Esquire.  His article on the U.K.’s first Flat Earth convention appeared in May, 2018 in the   
  • Harry Dyer–  Lecturer in education at the University of East Anglia. His article about the flat earth convention is titled "I Watched an Entire Flat Earth Convention for my Research, Here is What I Learned."
  • Neil Gemmell– Professor in the Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, New Zealand
  • Sharon Hill– Geologist, science writer, speaker, and author of "Scientifical Americans: The Culture of Amateur Paranormal Researchers."

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store

    Big Picture ScienceBy Big Picture Science

    • 4.5
    • 4.5
    • 4.5
    • 4.5
    • 4.5

    4.5

    912 ratings


    More shows like Big Picture Science

    View all
    Dan Carlin's Hardcore History by Dan Carlin

    Dan Carlin's Hardcore History

    64,037 Listeners

    Common Sense with Dan Carlin by Dan Carlin

    Common Sense with Dan Carlin

    11,419 Listeners

    Scott Sigler Slices: MIX TAPE VOL. 1 by Scott Sigler

    Scott Sigler Slices: MIX TAPE VOL. 1

    1,087 Listeners

    The Deadpod by J.Henrikson

    The Deadpod

    1,225 Listeners

    The Naked Scientists Podcast by The Naked Scientists

    The Naked Scientists Podcast

    603 Listeners

    Nature Podcast by Springer Nature Limited

    Nature Podcast

    753 Listeners

    Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science by The Planetary Society

    Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science

    1,349 Listeners

    SpaceTime with Stuart Gary by Stuart Gary

    SpaceTime with Stuart Gary

    324 Listeners

    Meditation Oasis by Mary and Richard Maddux

    Meditation Oasis

    3,895 Listeners

    Mac OS Ken by Ken Ray

    Mac OS Ken

    902 Listeners

    Astronomy Cast by Fraser Cain and Dr. Pamela Gay

    Astronomy Cast

    2,880 Listeners

    Universe Today Podcast by Fraser Cain

    Universe Today Podcast

    565 Listeners

    The Quanta Podcast by Quanta Magazine

    The Quanta Podcast

    548 Listeners

    Discovery by BBC World Service

    Discovery

    961 Listeners

    BBC Inside Science by BBC Radio 4

    BBC Inside Science

    407 Listeners

    Science Magazine Podcast by Science Magazine

    Science Magazine Podcast

    821 Listeners

    Science Friday by Science Friday and WNYC Studios

    Science Friday

    6,441 Listeners

    Philosophy Bites by Edmonds and Warburton

    Philosophy Bites

    1,537 Listeners

    Unexpected Elements by BBC World Service

    Unexpected Elements

    363 Listeners

    CrowdScience by BBC World Service

    CrowdScience

    474 Listeners

    Dan Carlin's Hardcore History: Addendum by Dan Carlin

    Dan Carlin's Hardcore History: Addendum

    8,318 Listeners

    Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe by iHeartPodcasts

    Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe

    2,365 Listeners

    Why This Universe? by Dan Hooper, Shalma Wegsman

    Why This Universe?

    384 Listeners