OK, so how do we know - scientifically - that the Earth is a sphere?Īt a very basic level, we can see the Earth’s curvature through satellites that we’ve launched into space. Discoveries from that mission revolutionized our understanding of planets and planetary systems, Steffen said.Īs such, he was able to help us break down reasons why the Flat Earth Theory falls flat. For more than 10 years, Steffen was also a member of the science team for NASA’s Kepler mission. Jason Steffen, an assistant professor of physics and astronomy at UNLV, works in the field of exoplanets (planets that orbit distant stars) and has a history in experimental studies of dark matter, dark energy, and gravity. The documentary follows several people who espouse the Flat Earth Theory, which is the belief that the Earth is a plane or a disk, and try to generate support for their cause through Internet videos, social media, podcasts, meetings, and even international conferences.

This might seem like an expensive trip, but it’s one part of an experiment that can be done to disprove the Flat Earth Theory - a theory at the center of a popular new documentary - Behind the Curve - that is now streaming on Netflix. There, you won’t be able to see the North Star. Hop on a plane, and fly to Cape Town, South Africa, or Melbourne, Australia - two major cities located in the Southern Hemisphere. Do you want to prove that the Earth is round?

The earth is flat