Flat Earth

Science textbooks present formulas and models as universal truths, but underneath every scientific claim are assumptions that rarely get examined. Here’s why teaching students to question those assumptions matters more than memorizing facts.

The famous Blue Marble image of Earth is a composite, not a raw photograph. Most space images are stitched together, color-corrected, and heavily processed before release. Here’s what that processing involves and why it’s rarely explained upfront.

Distance estimation can be tricky, but it’s especially challenging over water. Find out why our brains struggle to judge distances on the horizon.

The atmosphere bends light in ways most people never consider. From temperature inversions to Fata Morgana mirages, what you see at the horizon is often not what geometry would predict — and the reasons go deeper than heat haze.

Most people think measuring the horizon is simple — plug in your height, get a number. But the real method involves atmospheric refraction, temperature gradients, and corrections that surveyors have quietly used for centuries. Here’s what the textbook leaves out.

How we measure horizon distance seems like a settled scientific matter, yet the actual methods used—optical, geometric, and observational—are more complex than most people realize. This article explores how horizon distance is calculated, how it is measured in real-world conditions, and why disagreements continue to surface when theory meets observation.

Explore how assumptions influence scientific inquiry and learning, and why it’s crucial to recognize their impact

The atmosphere plays tricks on our eyes, altering what we see in astonishing ways

Straight lines are a rarity in nature, from the curves of rivers to the paths of animals. But why is this the case, and what does it reveal about the fundamental laws of physics and geography?

Space images undergo significant processing to remove noise, correct distortions, and enhance details, making them visually stunning and scientifically accurate

Delve into the psychological and sociological factors driving the proliferation of conspiracy theories, and the role of fear and power narratives in shaping modern conspiracy culture

Explore the surprising reasons behind algorithms’ affinity for controversy, and how it affects the online landscape