DolorasClitoris
147858
10563
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A dude more than 2,000 years ago figured out what some still can’t understand despite the benefits of free public school, generations of documentation and the internet at there fucking fingertips. Science rules.
nunya967
What was NEVER EXPLAINED in that episode was HOW did they communicate so they knew the lengths of the shadows on the same day, the same time
Munchman347
The pillar directly under the sun has no shadow at noon, the one to the north does. Travel time won't change the angles. Then math!...
Agent
And his only instruments were some obelisks and a shitload of walking.
yavamosportuputahamburgesa
or a research confederate. "Hey, Ramskanhk, measure that obelisk's shadow at, like, noon, ok?"
wildcatfan4life
Burn the witch!
TehSlendy
Did you seriously say 2000 years ago?
scotskies
Greek sailors were using this https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antikythera_mechanism in antiquity. There was an app for that even then.
swinglinered
Has this been determined? It's not like there were piles of them.
scotskies
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eUibF">JqI">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eUibFQKJqI yes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbjfcikvhFY
swinglinered
I'm not sure if sailors were using this. Maybe simpler versions.
SDOMO
The Antikythera Mechanism is the most interesting archaeological find ever. Its the equivalent of finding a Rolex on the wrist of a caveman.
demiandub
The history of scientific discovery is easily as interesting as scientific knowledge itself. Ridiculous how some things were found out.
LychFinderGeneral
This goes way beyond a Strawman. This is like...shadowboxing.
CaptainArminius
You could also just do the boat on the horizon trick.
Wolfmanwolf
Yes but this method with the obelisks was able to help measure the circumference of the earth very accurately
CrazyGuyOnABike
That's false. If the sun was directly over Alexandria, the shadow at Syene would exist.
squindiggly
Ya but if the sun is all the way in "heaven," the shadow at Syene would be a lot smaller, wouldn't it?
NeedtoGeek
This fenomenon would exist on a flat earth if the sun is somhow close to earth. Like same order of magnitude as the distance.
CrazyGuyOnABike
yes that's exactly what I'm saying. This does not by itself prove a round earth.
MissTCShore
True. If the sun were directly over Syene by the same distance as the distance to Alexandria, the shadow difference would be very large.
ShipsPassingintheNight
*Their fingertips... English also rules.
Valentino46
pbrubaker
http://www.sciencealert.com/people-who-constantly-pick-up-grammar-mistakes-are-kinda-jerks-scientists-find
Tirade
In the game of homonyms: their our know rules.
dontsaydoingyourwife
*ruled
jackoffhorsecheesefilthygobbler
This is just to enhance the round earth masculine bipolar non unconformed normal birthing beliefs of catholicism
Stromming
Do people still believe that stuff? wow
confusedgoose
Okay I don't think I've ever met or heard of a person that still thinks the earth is flat. So idk if this post is like serious
squindiggly
If you are educated, then most of the people you know are probably educated to so you wouldn't be finding one anytime soon
HOLAKOOO
i thought it was a metaphor for climate change deniers. they deny the science on an equal scale.
taintedlove
https://www.facebook.com/jesusischrist?fref=nf&pnref=story.unseen-section
Janthran
I mean nobody has thought the earth was flat since like 2500 years ago
mrgrynch
look on youtube.. It's actually getting pretty big sadly.. I've even met someone that believes so
ScienceExperiment
A rapper by the name of B.o.B was indoctrinated by the Flat Earth society (still alive and kicking a century on!) and many people follow him
ScienceExperiment
He got into an argument with Neil Tyson on Twitter after sampling Neil talking about a 'pear shaped Earth,' a BoB diss song followed...
ScienceExperiment
(The diss song was written by one of Tyson's nephews or something. Back to flat. It was pretty good.)
MrMesa
Hail science!
vnqx
But what if shadows do whatever the fuck they want? Before you say anything, remember, there's a shadow right behind you.
DolorasClitoris
This. ^
Knilore
Earth may be flat and we're all curved!
rbourgeon
but Flat Earth Society has members all around the globe... Oh, wait
ManuelMaier
How did he know how long the shadows where at the same time? Didn't they measure time based on the height of the sun back then?.
Kovalentus
Yep, exactly. Measure the min length of the shadows and you'll have the lengths for midday for both places. Different lengths = round earth
BendystrawCrumblesnatch
Midday is when shadows are shortest, i.e. highest in sky, which allows measurement to be synchronised.
OrionRed
I love questions like this! People really think about these things!
Lissyb
Step 1: Place sun dial at both locations; Step 2: Record length at same time on dial at both places; Step 3: Compare
SterlingArcherSecretAgent
That was my first thought too. I also wonder how they could know the exact distance between the two places.
viila
Typically they used walkers with practiced steady step lengths who counted how many steps it took to walk the distance.
moodytravesty
nobody said the answer back then was as accurate as is it today, just that it was the only explanation for what was seen
Nottherealslimshadyjusthisbodydouble
Probably had their ways of measuring just like we do like a measuring wheel
SterlingArcherSecretAgent
Sure, but you can't travel that far in a straight line.
Nottherealslimshadyjusthisbodydouble
Never said it was perfect, just suggesting one means by which they could get an estimate
SterlingArcherSecretAgent
Ok. Guess it doesn't have to be very precise anyway.
DolorasClitoris
Since he measured the circumference of the earth to a few percentage of it's know value today..he did something right
GerberLegalTeam
They were just asking how, they weren't challenging the assertion that they did.
GreatWhiteNorthEh
Which is the right question to be asking. Shows a desire to understand, not just to memorize to sound smart at parties.
moodytravesty
the 2 locations are N/S of each other, "time" is measured as the sun moves E-to-W. so they can tell when the sun is at noon at both cities
ArcipluvianCosmicGallows
I always wondered that! Thank you!
ShitsNGiggelz
Me too!
moodytravesty
they cities don't even need to be "noon" at the exact same time. the point is that at "noon" the shadows differ, which means the sun is 1/
moodytravesty
at different angles to the two cities at noon, which means the sun canNOT be directly overhead to both of them. 2/
animatic
By the same token, there were probably ways to check the angle and measure time with hourglasses, etc.
LvAllen
Couldn't it also have just meant that Apollo was doing his zig-zag thing when he sees a fine-ass shephardess?
animatic
Also, what if either obelisk were not straight?
moodytravesty
it would fall over
JodyHighroller
they are.
JustEngineeringPuns
But couldn't it also mean that the earth is flat and the sun is really close so that viewing it from a different city would have a (1/2)
Curiousone545
No, because then the temperature would be dependent on the sun's position to earth. Which is easy to demonstrate w/thermometer & logic.
JustEngineeringPuns
substantial impact on its angle?
moodytravesty
if you take measurements of the same shadow at different times, you can estimate the sun's distance away
radieon
They measured the distance between the two points, and measured the shortest shadow (noon)
hitshappens
You have 2 people in 2 places set to record on the same day. You take the shadow every few minutes from sun up to sun down and compare both
[deleted]
[deleted]
hitshappens
Which serves as evidence that the world is round. Also, you can compare peak heights at both locations
Cereaza
Mmmm. Love it.
warick
Makes sense. Just because he's credited with doing it, doesn't mean he didn't have a few interns to help out.
drizzler
I believe interns were just called slaves back then.
TheTrekkieWhovian
The title you're looking for is apprentice..
ChrisPBacon82
Yeah.. they weren't as politically correct back then.
Ravben
They are not called slaves today?
CantoCement
then you still need a way to measure those minutes though.
caedescorvidus
they had water clocks at the time as well as candle or sand clocks
CantoCement
right. so i guess you could have had two of those clocks start at the same time and then transport one of them to the other city :D
viila
You don't need to measure the time. You just do the measurement every few moments and then pick the shortest length as your answer.
viila
You don't need to know when exactly it was, just what it was. The interval doesn't matter as long as it's often enough that you can spot it.
DolorasClitoris
The detailed specifics of exactly what they did around 230 BC are not surprisingly comprehensive.
StudioAudience
I'm tasting salt in the air
MimzytheBun
You want salt? Bring up the Library of Alexandria. Then you're going to get some historian tears.
EnoughlyTannedEnough
:(
TextWampa
This was David Starkey level academic snark response here.
swinglinered
Starkey snarky?
TextWampa
The very same.
TinyLiehon
Are we to be not surprised that they are comprehensive or surprised they are not comprehensive?
Ragnar42
if I could upvote this multiple times, I would.
scotskies
Highest point of the sun over three days anywhere you can see it is easy. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_navigation
LuciusAelius
iirc, he measured the shadow of Alexandria at noon on midsummer one year, and measured the shadow of Syene the next.
beardyfaceguy
That's what I remember too. He waited a year to get the second measurement. But I thought it was the summer solstice.
longshorttermmemorynetwork
Hourglasses, perhaps?
Nottherealslimshadyjusthisbodydouble
I assume he measured the length of one shadow at set times for a few days, then did the same for the other and compared. Scientific method
technollama
Eratosthenes read a report that during midday of June 21st a post in Syene would not produce a shadow. He measured in Alexandria day/time.
Remne
iPhones. Duh.
ScienceExperiment
He 'hired' a slave to measure the distance and keep track in one town.
plenilunius
He had lived in both towns. He also sent a slave to count the steps between each one.
Dayrest
Hourglasses?
FlowbeeRevival
He had an intern pace out the distance and measure the minimum shadow length (occurs at midday)
hi5560
He had a second person at the other place measure it at the same time.
UsChickens
Seriously? You can't figure out how that was done? About those free public schools...
Nottherealslimshadyjusthisbodydouble
Actually now I think of it what I said makes no sense without a way of confirming the time at the other place
Kind0ne
demiandub
Excellent gif
Ineodox
I don't know why, but the font is very satisfying to look at.
bleefendorf
WOAH MOBILE SHOWS YOU THE GIFS IN COMMENTS INSTEAD OF HAVING TO TAP THE LINK, WHHAAAAAATTTTTTT
OrdinaryMeatbag
I still have to tap the links, I dunno what people are talking about
PhoenixQueenAzula
I'll just grab my cellular phone and call up my friend down in Syene and ask how long the shadow is at this moment.
eff2b
For Alexandria.
eff2b
They could measure the shadow at the sun's highest point, document it, then compare later with the shadow at the same time (also documented)
Yupurineutah
Yes but he could be in on the conspiracy!
Zashaa
chimpspirit
Were*
Zashaa
Saddly, those 3 images dont phase a flat earther even in the slightest.
drbootyshaker
Lol you're right, they'll just say the pictures are edited. That or that there's some sort of device at the peak of the mountains.
Janthran
.. I don't think there's a such thing as a flat-earther. There are, however, people who believe in flat-earthers, which is funny.
TeraGX
We're definitely watching some strange one-sided argument with a bunch of people trying to express a point that no one is arguing against.
IHaveVotingPOWER
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=flat+earth
ScienceExperiment
Avoid Googling it if you want it to remain humorous and not incomprehensibly infuriating.
theurlfieldmustbelessthan63characterslongbitch
tia tequila and a few other celebs are self proclaimed flat earthers. its terrifying.
everlastingtilt
flat-earthers are almost as bad as anti-vaxers, but flat-earthers aren't hurting anybody. well, not yet.
Marikhen
I'm not anti-vaccination myself, but I do see some merit to not doing it in the form of applied eugenics.
Marikhen
I mean it's not like first world nations are teeming with opportunities to weed out the unfit from the breeding pool these decades. :-/
virgil247
Is VAX still around? I thought UNIX replaced it
swinglinered
VMS forever! http://imgur.com/DYAtnn6
ArcipluvianCosmicGallows
So you're an anti VAX-user?
ArcipluvianCosmicGallows
Flat Earthers really aren't causing problems, they are just stupid. Global warming deniers are the real problem.
HiroProtagonist2332
People that use the term "Global Warming" rather than "Global Climate Change" are not helping...just saying.
ArcipluvianCosmicGallows
Look man you're the fourth person who told accused me of being wrong by saying "global warming" and so far when questioned not one of you
ArcipluvianCosmicGallows
has bothered to respond. If you're going to make a post telling me and everyone else that I'm wrong, either back it up with facts or admit
ArcipluvianCosmicGallows
that you were wrong. It sucks losing internet points to other people's ignorance so it's just an extra kick in the face to ignore me after.
ArcipluvianCosmicGallows
Why?
HiroProtagonist2332
http://pmm.nasa.gov/education/articles/whats-name-global-warming-vs-climate-change
HiroProtagonist2332
Basically, its easier for "deniers" and "skeptics" to manipulate the idea of "Global Warming" in the public's mind by pointing to
TommyChongsBong
Their.
nightmarerunner
pbrubaker
http://www.sciencealert.com/people-who-constantly-pick-up-grammar-mistakes-are-kinda-jerks-scientists-find
overboard
i hate grammer missteaks, to
TommyChongsBong
Grammer is Nazi important so long as people know what you're communicating right? fuk gammhar
AMartianPotato
ATTENTION IMGUR. THIS IS WHAT A SCIENTIST ACTUALLY FUCKING LOOKS LIKE. STOP ABUSING OUR WORD.
AxelBeingCivil
Biologist here. My eyebrows are not nearly that bushy.
AMartianPotato
You obviously aren't sciencing hard enough. Up your game.
Splodgey
The potato speaks the truth
whiskeysix086
No one believes the earth is flat, right? This is a great obj lesson for grade schoolers, but let's preach to those that are worth it.
opticsnake
This assumes your light source is sufficiently far enough away that the difference in angle from the light source to the two sources is(1/?)
twfeline
They tried to fire an arrow at it, but didn't get close, so they assumed the Sun was a long way away.
opticsnake
(sorry..two objects) small enough to be negligible. Flat earthers explain things like this away by saying that the sun is much smaller (2/?)
opticsnake
and closer than we know it to be. Example: on a flat table with a table lamp place two of the same objects, one close to the base of (3/?)
opticsnake
the lamp and another about 12 inches out from it. The one close to the base has a shorter shadow. Based on what he just said, the table(4/?)
opticsnake
would have to be curved. I don't believe the earth is flat but this explanation requires the base assumption about the sun being far away.
opticsnake
Please don't send me to downvote hell!
falconmunch
How many people honestly think the earth is flat. I know flat earthers is a gag but I don't think that it is more than .01%
Zakn3fein
Thats about 712,000 people, roughly the population of San Fracisco
JacksRagingGallbladder
Man 0.01% is pretty substantial in terms of global populations, it would be a lot smaller
omnipotentmonkey
All my experience on this earth leads me to believe that 700,000 people being that stupid is a vast underestimate.
Iwillhaveoneofeverything
If they want to argue earth is flat, than I demand they explain every other phenomenon that depends on Earth being sphere.
JGthiccworth877THICCNOW
Oh man. The Flat Earth Society people insist that gravity isn't even real. Pretty funny stuff on their site/subreddit.
Iwillhaveoneofeverything
like they wanna explain why shadows like ^ are different, about earthquakes, volcanoes?
Shewy92
Don't Google it if you want your faith in humanity to stay where it is.
Honorius77
My wife showed me this and I literally can't believe there's a "movement" of people defending the concept.
Honorius77
One guy tried to defend the flat earth idea & thought he was boosting his personal cred saying, "and I almost have my bachelors in physics"
Normalface
The last time I knew the whole Flat Earth thing was a Chan gang, designed to mock Facebook news feeds.
mithiwithi
Flat Earth Society greatly predates those guys, but I'll stipulate that the *chan trolls may outnumber the real flat earthers by now.
warick
I have a FB friend that believes it. She also believes Jesus (and all Israeleites) was black.
greenandgrey
I've met one recently. He also believed all disease, bacteria, or viruses was caused by the cutting open of animals.
SterlingArcherSecretAgent
Also, I bet that 99.99999% of the flat earthers know the Earth isn't really flat, and just pretend they do, because they want to stand.
Zashaa
After talking with at-least 100 of them...i strongly disagree. They really do think the earth is flat.
SterlingArcherSecretAgent
My theory is still that they are faking it. As a hobby or something. Anything else is too disturbing and sad.
chimpspirit
I'm sorry to tell you this - but you're being a flat earther about flat earthers...
SterlingArcherSecretAgent
I just really really hope noone could be that dense.
Zashaa
i actually know people in real life that think the earth is flat
SterlingArcherSecretAgent
I just find it hard to accept that people can be that stupid and ignorant.
ILikedTheirOldStuffBetter
I don't know, some religious people have to insist that the earth is only, what, 6 thousand years old. Nothing is too crazy for some people.
MissTCShore
To be fair, it's fairly easy to view the round earth from space. We don't have a time machine to go back 20,000 years.
thegraphiteknight
I have a Christadelphian friend who is adamant about the 7000 year old earth thing. Drives me crazy!
flamingbaconeagle
Speaking on behalf of European Christians here: those guys are very few, and mostly southern-state evangelicals for that matter.
Cere4l
as a dutch person from the bible belt: their numbers are declining. but there are still FAR too many
ILikedTheirOldStuffBetter
No argument here.
drmuelr
I'm from Iowa, raised non-denominational, and was always taught the universe is ~7000 years old. My dad's preacher still says it. [1/2]
drmuelr
Meanwhile, I'm studying aerospace engineering with the intent of interplanetary exploration. Talk about out of sync. [2/2]
Wolfmanwolf
My man :D
gopms
I feel this way about creationists. I think the number of people who truly believe the bible should be taken literally is extremely small.
BigPoppaJo
Retards like him maybe ?? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypRcl4x80U4
ihazanaccount
Always keep an eye out for Poe's law some of them could just be doing it just to see everyone else flip out over it.
taintedlove
https://www.facebook.com/krunkbot21?fref=ts
taintedlove
https://www.facebook.com/jesusischrist?fref=nf&pnref=story.unseen-section
LargeCanine
Almost no one. There are always a handful of crazies. Making an issue of it and assuming the moral indignation is patronizing.
Honorius77
More than a handful sadly.
ZachPutland
I've never seen someone believe it and an Imgurian who claimed they could argue for it decided not to for no apparent reason, so just a meme
IHaveVotingPOWER
Youtube. That's where they are. Lots of videos, and just you try to correct any of their misunderstandings...
AsSubtleAsARabbitRapingACatMarkII
Flat earthers just want to be edgy
Jupman
Na its an internet group troll. Like Planet X Nibiru and the qhole ELENIN stuff.
Zashaa
they use the same example to "prove" the elevation of the sun...there are a million problems with that...but still, they try.
photog
Bunch of squares I tell yeah.
Pankuthankoo
Well, there's a tshirt idea
MavGigan
they are the hipsters of the conspirascene.
ChickenOnAGoat
So God damn good. +1
ReitnesTenought
These clowns think the sun behaves like a spotlight or somesuch bullshit.
DanK109
I wish they'd just fall off the edge of the earth
MydeslyxiasFunnyToMe
I'm pretty sure they're just doing it for attention.
SonOfpajamaSam
If only. They exist, I promise.
DataTrekker
They just want to be special snowflakes, privy to aaaallll this wisdom us commoners just aren't able to understand.
frong
Flath earthers are all around the globe
TheFirstUsername
They seriously need to expand their horizons
KaizerKilborn
Came back to upvote this.
MachoNacho95
TheEarthIsFlat
I guess...
BoomSticks6619
Balls sacks! Oh sorry I thought you said they were ball sacks... Which they are, making the stupid, stupider
hetriedtokillmewithaforklift
Nobody had heard from B.O.B. since 2010. He's like the drunk college girl losing her top in a bar because she can't get attention elsewhere.
TheAssassinArtemisEntreri
He killed it on First We Feast - Hot Ones. I at least respect that.
hetriedtokillmewithaforklift
Oh and I respect him for Magic, which is just a kick-ass tune. But... Well he kinda turned out for the worse after that.
blarglebrle
It is basically how to troll but acting like your serious and NEVER breaking character.
Combatmatt
Im a vegan crossfiter that vapes in my lowered civic as i drive around this flat earth. And i rock the shit out of a fedora
PacoAlaTaco
Drive *aflat
DocVolt
Dear god...
RheaButt
Sorry but I have a boyfriend
JohnnyTitelips
Reference game on point.
IronBruh
I'm a vegan
halborski
Combatmatt
Lmao, I'd drive into a really deep lake if that was forced upon me
daiconrad
halborski
icamehereforpuns
I'm so not disappointed right now
JumballWotersun
,+1
Schmuck4hire
I just figure they're trolls. I'm gonna need to see proof of otherwise to get my mind changed.
thor0486
I feel the same way. How is it possible, they can think that? They don't, they can't.
basicwitch
I have a cousin who seriously believes it and his reason "well why don't airplanes just drive straight into space" -___-
HitodamaKyrie
What.
Schmuck4hire
That's the most redneck thing I've heard all day...
SonOfpajamaSam
I assure you they're not.
nebworb
https://www.tfes.org I suppose it could all be a joke but a whole website seems a bit elaborate for just a joke.
RebelWithoutApplause
That is some powerful stupid goingnon over there
nebworb
Yeah. Seems like a conspiracy theory type thing.
n0gal
You know, as someone who's been curious in what all the flat-earth hubbub is about (no, i do not believe them), the above experiment does
n0gal
not "prove" the earth is round (while it does provide strong evidence.) The same phenomenon is observed by using a smaller light source
n0gal
which is much closer to the object. The source would be more above one obelisk and to the side of the other, casting the same shadow pattern
n0gal
In modern times, the best way to disprove flat earth theorists is to get a telescope and look at the I.S.S.
HitodamaKyrie
You don't even need a telescope, to be honest. Though I guess they'd think it was a plane or something. However those work on a flat earth.
psychedelicsatan
Carl sagan.
chimpspirit
Hail to the Carl
IFuckingLoveGoldenRetrievers
I still read it in his sexy voice
somegeek
smellyboots
Read cosmos for the first time not long ago. Most inspiring thing I've ever read.
TsunamiJohn
Honestly, Neil Tyson doesn't even hold a candle to him. He's all we have to fill that void, but the void still remains.
Ejaws
Neil was inspired by Sagan,,as a child he met him,,went on to be the man he is today,,But Sagan inspired many ppl,,SAGAN IS GOD..
chimpspirit
Sagan actually hooked him up when they met and blessed Neil - so it was written (by Sagan on the inside cover of a book).
inkpod
I disagree. Neil has more character and charisma. Sagan was brilliant and poetic but not as stimulating as Neil.
TsunamiJohn
I did fall asleep once or twice while Sagan was talking. But Neil comes across as obnoxious, and I don't see anything original from him.
swinglinered
Well, there is Nye.
chimpspirit
Yeah but come on, he's CARL SAGAN. If you had a person for every grain of sand on every beach you wouldn't find another Sagan among them.
chimpspirit
Though there is the Drake Equation which calculates the probability of finding a season of a Sagan's "Cosmos" transmitting in the universe.
DeadlyFood
Wow that is fantastix
DeadlyFood
Fantastic, I can't freaking type right now
LookingOutAtTheDoomedEarthSheBreathedaSighAsEverythingHadBecome
You don't need to be seen everywhere to make enormous contributions to scientific understanding. Go look at winners of the nobel prize.
EerieBarlow
Why? Give reasons give factual reasons why. Other then it's hip to like Sagan. Why? What are your reasons.
TsunamiJohn
I think he likes being divisive. First episode of Cosmos (old and new). Sagan talked about the wonders and size of the universe (1/2)
TsunamiJohn
Tyson stopped in the middle of "the universe is massive" and spent five minutes ridiculing certain religious beliefs.
EerieBarlow
I don't remember that at all. I like Sagan but i also like Tyson and listen to his podcast which he has multiple priests on to discuss 1/2
NotACanadian
"Carl SATAN!" - My family
gayducks
I was watching cosmos and my parents started watching and got very uncomfortable by all the science.
ButterfaceTaintClown
I know, right? Flares? Ugh!
4i6o2k
Is that a Captain Disillusion reference?
bowserbob
Don't take this the wrong way. But fuck your family good sir or madam. Sagan is my hero and whenever I hear that shit. Blood boils.
NotACanadian
Hate the sin, not the sinner. There is one evil, and that is ignorance; those affected are merely victims.
rottingcarcasswithmaggots
Please don't fuck your family good.
bowserbob
Ah, and this is why punctuation is so important. I forgot the comma after family.