Who Is Professor Brian Cox?
Professor Brian Cox OBE is a Professor of Particle Physics at the University of Manchester, the Royal Society Professor for Public Engagement in Science, and a Fellow of the Royal Society.
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He has presented numerous acclaimed science programs for the BBC, including “Adventures in Space and Time,” “Universe,” “The Planets,” “Forces of Nature,” “Human Universe,” “Wonders of Life,” “Wonders of the Universe,” and “Wonders of the Solar System.”
British TV’s Well-Known Scientist
He also co-hosted the astronomy and cosmology series “Stargazing Live” and the BBC Radio 4 series “Infinite Monkey Cage.”
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His BBC Horizon documentaries include “Can We Make a Star on Earth?,” “What Time is It?,” and “What on Earth is Wrong with Gravity?”
Some Believe The Earth Is Flat
Despite overwhelming scientific evidence and countless images of our planet from space confirming its spherical shape, some people persist in believing the Earth is a flat disk.
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Flat Earth proponents have bizarre ideas about the nature of our world and the universe to support their belief.
Boxer Believes Earth Is Flat
One such advocate is former boxer Carl Froch, who claimed he is “100 percent” certain the Earth is flat and dismissed images showing the Earth’s curvature as “like cartoons.”
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He said he would believe the Earth was round “when someone like Richard Branson goes up there and starts doing chartered flights” and people can see the planet for themselves.
No Room For Such Belief
However, Froch’s stance finds no sympathy from British TV’s most approachable scientist, as Professor Brian Cox has firmly rejected the Flat Earth theory.
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Several years ago, while answering public questions on scientific topics, Cox was asked about the Flat Earth idea.
Cox Shoots Down Flat Earth Theory
Cox did not mince words in his response, thoroughly debunking the notion.
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“There is absolutely no basis at all for thinking the world is flat. Nobody in human history, as far as I know, has thought the world was flat,” he stated.
Earth’s Radius Tells Us Earth Is Not Flat
Cox continued to reference the Greeks to support his view.
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“The Greeks measured the radius of the Earth. I cannot conceive of a reason why anybody would think the world is flat.”
Pictures Are Proof
Cox then emphasized the overwhelming evidence against the flat Earth concept.
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“The very simple fact we’ve taken pictures of it. I’m lost for words, it’s probably the most nonsensical suggestion that a thinking human being could possibly make. It is drivel.”
The Earth is Flat, Says Professor
Harold Cunningham/Getty Images for IWC Schaffhausen)
Some Flat Earthers Changed Their Mind
It may be difficult to imagine the amiable scientist so thoroughly dismantling the flat Earth theory, but his stance is clear.
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Some former Flat Earthers have acknowledged that observing the evidence for themselves helped them abandon the flat Earth mindset.
Rapper Tried To Prove Flat Earth Theory
In 2017, U.S. rapper B.o.B (real name Bobby Ray Simmons Jr) initiated a crowdfunding campaign to launch a satellite.
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As an outspoken supporter of the “flat-Earth theory,” he aimed to gather evidence proving that our planet is a disc rather than a globe.
No Luck In Reaching Goal
He planned to raise $200,000 (later increased to $1 million) on the GoFundMe website to send one or more spacecraft into space to “find the curve,” a term used by flat-Earthers to describe the edge of their supposed disc-shaped Earth.
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The rapper’s endeavor might appear to be a joke or a publicity stunt. In fact, there is currently no evidence that B.o.B raised a significant amount of money or came close to reaching his goal.
Cox Comments On B.O.B’s Assertions
During his interview with the BBC, Cox was asked what he thought of B.O.B’s assertions, to which he joked, “To his credit – I’m not going to defend what he thinks, it’s totally wrong – but that’s the heart of science.”
Source: FreePik, African American male journalist
Cox continued, “If you want to prove something to yourself and you should do, that’s a good instinct, then that’s what you do. You get your money, build a rocket, go up into space and then you will find it is spherical. He has wasted all his money but he will have learned something.”
Cox Offers B.O.B Money For Proof
Throughout the entirety of the interview, it was quite apparent that Cox didn’t take any of B.O.B’s ideas seriously. At one point he even joked about sending the rapper music in exchange for pictures confirming a flat earth.
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“So, please carry on, I’d like him to do that and publish his pictures. I’ll send him a tenner,” said Cox.
Flat Earther Tries to Find Evidence to Support Claim
David Weiss is another flat earther, who tried and failed to prove the Earth was flat in 2015. Years later he spoke with CNN to discuss his opinion on the matter.
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“I don’t want to be a flat Earther,” Weiss said, his voice weary as he reflected on what appeared to be a personal awakening. “Would you wake up in the morning and want everyone to think you’re an idiot?”
A Flat and Stationary World
However, the business man partook in an experiment to prove his point once and for all, yet it failed, and the results turned his life upside down.
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“I absolutely freaked out,” Weiss told CNN in a phone interview. “It literally whips the rug out from underneath you.”
Weiss Remains a Flat Earther
Even after failing in his attempt to prove the Earth was flat, apparently it did nothing to change his mind, and despite his preference of having friends who share his belief, he still has others that believe in a round globe.
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“I have no problem with anybody that wants to believe we live on a ball. That’s their choice,” he said. “It’s just not something I resonate with.”
Flat Earth Conference
Weiss is one of many Americans who travel to conferences throughout the year to speak about flat earth. One such event is the Flat Earth International Conference, which is held at the Embassy Suites hotel in Dallas, Texas.
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“I’ve never seen anything grow this fast,” says Robbie Davidson, the founder of the Dallas conference. “I would say that within 10 years, the numbers are going to be astounding… next year, there’s going to be a conference in every major country in the world.”
How Davidson Became a Flat Earther
Davidson shared the story on how he became a flat earther, claiming that when someone mentioned the idea to him he said “I just laughed and said, ‘they’ve got to be the stupidest people ever.’ Who in their right mind could believe something so dumb?”
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However, just a few years laters, Davidson would become a driving force for the movement in Texas after setting up the first international flat Earth conference.
Christian Explains Why He Believes in a Flat Earth
According to Davidson, his strong belief in the Christian faith warrants his belief in the theory.
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“Let’s just say there is an adversary, there is a devil, there is a Satan. His whole job would be to try to convince the world that God doesn’t exist. He’s done an incredible job convincing people with the idea that we’re just on a random speck in an infinite universe,” he said.
The Truman Show
Davidson has gone as far as to suggest that the Earth, moon, sun and all celestial bodies are contained within a dome, just like the “Truman Show.”
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He claims that many of the photos taken in space are photoshopped. In defence of his argument, Davidson said, “This all goes away if they put a 24/7 camera feed on the moon.”
Why Do People Believe in a Flat Earth?
The real question is why do some people gravitate towards theories such as the flat earth with credible evidence? According to Daniel Jolley, a senior lecturer in the psychology of conspiracy theories at the UK’s Northumbria University, “People, in essence, are just trying to understand the world.”
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He continued, “They may have distrust towards powerful people or groups, which could be the government or NASA, and when they look towards evidence that makes sense to them, his world view (is) endorsed,” he says. “It’s difficult to break out of that mindset.”
Potential Harm of Conspiracy Theories
Whereas others, such as social psychologist Karen Douglas of the University of Kent, are under the impression that conspiracy theories do more harm than good.
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“It seems that increasingly, people don’t trust scientists and experts, or their motives,” Douglas said. “More research needs to be done in this area, and I’m sure there are some positive consequences to believing in conspiracy theories, but early indications suggest that they are more harm than help.”