Neil deGrasse Tyson takes on flat earthers.
Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson is known for his sharp wit and scientific knowledge.
And this week, he had a few choice words for Flat Earthers.
But let’s rewind a bit—how did we even get to this point?
Tracing the origins of Flat Earth belief.
The idea of a flat Earth has ancient origins, going back to early civilizations like the Babylonians and Egyptians.
By the time of the ancient Greeks, most scholars already knew the Earth was a sphere, thanks to observations of the stars and lunar eclipses.
The 19th century revival.
Fast forward to the 19th century, and you find Samuel Birley Rowbotham, a British writer who revived the Flat Earth theory.
He published a book, Zetetic Astronomy, which claimed to provide evidence that the Earth is flat based on his interpretations of the Bible and his own experiments.
Despite overwhelming evidence against it, Rowbotham’s ideas caught on with a niche audience.
The Flat Earth Society, officially formed in 1956, has kept the theory alive into the modern age.
Today, it claims to be a movement for free thought and the questioning of mainstream science.
Their website boldly states: “Flat Earth Theory has grown over the centuries like a wandering sojourner hungry for truth and eager for discovery.”
Yet, Tyson and many others in the scientific community see it differently.
Flat Earth theory explained.
For those unfamiliar, the Flat Earth theory claims that our planet is a flat disk, surrounded by ice, and not a sphere.
It’s a theory that’s been around for centuries, despite being widely debunked by science.
Flat Earthers’ beliefs exposed.
But a small, yet vocal group of believers—known as Flat Earthers—continue to push the idea.
They argue that what we know about the Earth’s shape is a conspiracy by the world’s leading scientific bodies, including NASA.
Tyson is baffled that anyone still subscribes to this belief.
YouTube video sparks debate.
In a recent YouTube video on the StarTalk channel, Tyson didn’t hold back when debunking the infamous Flat Earth theory.
As the topic surfaced, Tyson’s frustration was palpable, and he aimed to shut it down once and for all.
“What is odd,” he said, “is there are people who think Earth is flat but recognize that the Moon is round, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and the sun are all spheres. But Earth is flat. Something doesn’t square.”
It was a mic-drop moment, but Tyson was just getting started.
Tyson debunks Flat Earth theory.
Tyson explained that the laws of physics naturally result in spherical objects in space.
“Most observable objects in space are round,” he pointed out.
This is because the laws of physics and processes like gravity “favor the sphere.”
Slight distortions explained.
Even when celestial bodies appear slightly flattened, it’s usually due to fast rotation, which causes a minor distortion.
And Tyson didn’t stop there.
Tyson calls for better education.
He criticized the American education system, suggesting it fails to teach critical thinking skills.
“Our system needs to train you not only what to know but how to think about information and knowledge and evidence,” Tyson argued.
Without such training, he warned, “you would run around and believe anything.”
“We have video from space of the rotating, spherical Earth,” Tyson pointed out.
“The Earth is round.” Period.
The Flat Earthers may continue their quest, but Tyson made one thing clear: science isn’t budging.