Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — A group of flat-Earth believers traveled to Antarctica in a bid to prove their theory that the Earth is flat, only to be confronted with evidence challenging their claims.
According to IFL Science, the journey was part of a project called The Final Experiment, led by Will Duffy, a pastor from Colorado who “hopes to end the debate over the shape of the Earth.”
The expeditions goal was to witness the midnight Sun at the South Pole—an occurrence that Duffy hoped would put an end to the debate about the Earth’s shape.
The expedition included four flat-Earth proponents and four individuals supporting the globe model. Each participant reportedly spent $31,495 (around Rp507 million) for the journey.
The midnight Sun is widely recognized as evidence that the Earth is a rotating sphere. During the summer months, the Earth’s axial tilt causes the South Pole to face the Sun continuously, resulting in 24-hour daylight in Antarctica. Such a phenomenon would be impossible on a flat, stationary surface.
Flat-Earth proponents have long claimed that the 1959 Antarctic Treaty, which restricts civilian travel to the South Pole, is part of a conspiracy to conceal the “true shape” of the Earth.
“I created The Final Experiment to end this debate once and for all,” Duffy stated. “After we’ve visited Antarctica, no one should waste time arguing about the Earth’s shape anymore.”
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For Jeran Campanella, a content creator and flat-Earth believer, witnessing the midnight Sun firsthand was a moment of reckoning.
“Sometimes you’re wrong in life,” Campanella admitted. “I didn’t believe there was 24-hour sunlight. In fact, I was so sure of it. But now I’ve seen it with my own eyes—it’s real.”
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However, not all flat-Earth participants were convinced. Austin Whitsitt, another member of the group, remained steadfast in his beliefs despite the evidence.
“I know a lot of people are asking how I explain this [24-hour Sun],” Whitsitt said. “I’ve seen demonstrations of how this could work, and I think the data we gather from this trip will help clarify what’s really happening.”
The expedition underscores the ongoing clash between scientific evidence and persistent alternative theories about the Earth’s shape. For some, the journey was a humbling realization; for others, it was yet another reason to keep searching for answers.
(Raidi/Agung)
