Buzz
Acquiring knowledge is no easy feat, especially when you consider humanity's relatively brief existence in the grand timeline of the universe. Despite this, we've made significant progress in unraveling the mysteries surrounding us, from the Earth's shape to the movement of continents and the formation of mountains and canyons. However, reaching this level of understanding has required countless trials and errors. Here, we explore some truly outlandish theories about our planet that, surprisingly, still have believers today.
10. Lemuria and Atlantis
While our focus is primarily on Lemuria, it’s impossible to ignore the fascination surrounding both of these so-called 'lost continents.' For years, people have speculated that these landmasses must have existed—though the exact reasons remain unclear. Similar to Atlantis, Lemuria was believed to be a massive continent situated in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The primary motivation behind these theories was to explain how identical species could inhabit landmasses separated by vast distances.
The concept of Lemuria largely stems from Philip Sclater, who was baffled by the discovery of lemur fossils in Madagascar and India but not in Africa or the Middle East. Sclater concluded that a massive landmass must have once connected these regions, naming it after the lemur. Over time, the idea of Lemuria has been largely discredited, yet it persists due to the influence of eccentric writers like Helena Blavatsky, who delved into the Occult, making her a questionable authority.
9. Geoterrapinism Theory
Believe it or not, some claim that we inhabit the shell of a colossal turtle. While theories also suggest elephants or serpents, the Cosmic Turtle is the most prominent in this bizarre category.
The Great Turtle myth gained traction in the 17th century when Jasper Danckaerts learned of it from Native American tribes. This belief isn’t exclusive to Native Americans, as it also appears in Chinese and Indian folklore. If we truly live on a giant turtle’s back, let’s hope it embodies Michelangelo’s charm rather than Raphael’s rudeness.
8. Tectonic Strain Theory
Unlike other theories that aim to explain Earth's natural phenomena, Tectonic Strain Theory focuses on the unexplained, such as UFO sightings, ghostly apparitions, spontaneous combustion, and other mysterious events that defy conventional explanation.
Proposed by Professor Michael Persinger in 1975, Tectonic Strain Theory posits that UFO sightings and other unexplained phenomena can be attributed to electromagnetic fields generated by stress in the Earth's crust near seismic faults. Persinger argues that these EM fields induce hallucinations, often influenced by images from popular culture. It’s an elaborate way of suggesting that what people see might just be influenced by what they’ve watched on TV.
7. Contracting Earth Theory
The Contracting Earth Theory, also referred to as geophysical global cooling in scientific terms, predates the concept of plate tectonics. It proposes that the Earth is gradually shrinking over time, and this contraction is responsible for natural disasters as well as the formation of geological features like mountain ranges.
This theory suggests that the Earth is composed of molten rock, and as its core cools and contracts, the surface follows suit. This process leads to the creation of mountains, which can sometimes erupt as volcanoes when the planet releases pressure. The theory was notably applied in scientific research by Professor Edward Suess to explain earthquakes. For clarity, this is not the same individual as the beloved children's author Dr. Seuss, as the names are spelled differently, and the writer of 'Green Eggs and Ham' likely wouldn’t have endorsed such a concept.
6. The Expanding Earth Theory
Contrary to the Contracting Earth Theory, the Expanding Earth Theory suggests that our planet is continuously growing, much like the universe itself. However, with the advent of plate tectonics, both theories have been largely dismissed as implausible.
While it’s easy to dismiss the Expanding Earth Theory as absurd, it’s worth noting that even Charles Darwin once entertained the idea. Fortunately, he soon recognized its flaws and returned to his groundbreaking work, much to the chagrin of Creationists.
5. Fixed Earth Theory
Also referred to as the geocentric model, the Fixed Earth Theory posits that Earth lies at the center of the universe, with all celestial bodies orbiting around it. Despite being debunked by figures like Copernicus and Kepler, some still cling to the notion that humanity must be the focal point of the cosmos.
The Fixed Earth Theory was famously championed by Ptolemy, and his geocentric model dominated astrological charts for over a millennium. It wasn’t until Copernicus, Kepler, and Galileo challenged this view that people began to accept the Earth rotates around the sun, not the other way around. Surprisingly, some still cling to this outdated theory, and if you encounter such individuals at a party, it might be time to reconsider your social circle.
4. Time Cube Theory
Gene Ray is an eccentric figure who, in 1997, dismissed established science to propose his own theory called Time Cube. He claims that our understanding of physics is entirely incorrect, asserting that each day is actually four distinct days occurring simultaneously. Yes, you read that correctly.
Ray argues that the Earth has four equidistant 'time points' corresponding to midday, midnight, sunrise, and sunset. According to him, these represent four separate days happening concurrently, unrelated to the Earth’s rotation or the sun’s position. So convinced is Ray of his theory that he once challenged MIT professors to disprove it, wagering $10,000. None accepted, either because they deemed it unworthy of their time or feared revealing the 'truth.'
3. Flat Earth Theory
The Flat Earth Theory is perhaps the most infamous and widely debunked idea about our planet. Despite overwhelming evidence proving its falsehood, some still cling to the Modern Flat Earth Theory. The Flat Earth Society, established in 1956, continues to promote this belief, even today.
Flat Earth proponents argue that, contrary to all scientific findings, the Earth is flat. In 1980, Charles Johnson, a member of the Flat Earth Society, published an article in Science Digest claiming that water surfaces like Lake Tahoe would show curvature if the Earth were round. Ignoring space photographs of a spherical Earth, he insisted that flat water surfaces were proof enough.
2. Cyrus Teed’s Cellular Cosmology Theory
Cyrus Teed’s Cellular Cosmology, an offshoot of Hollow Earth Theory, suggests that we inhabit an inside-out universe contained within an 8,000-mile-wide hollow rock. At the center of this structure lies the sun, which Teed described as an electromagnetic battery. His ideas, to put it mildly, were unconventional.
Teed, an eccentric alchemist, believed the universe was composed of a single substance. He claimed to have received revelations from 'The Divine Motherhood,' declaring himself a new Messiah. Given his unorthodox views, it’s wise to approach his theories with considerable skepticism.
1. John Symmes’s Hollow Earth Theory
Gazing at the night sky, you can be certain of a few things: you’re looking upward, outward, and into vast emptiness. Yet, in the 19th century, a bizarre theory emerged that defies logic—suggesting that what you see in the stars actually lies at the Earth’s core. This idea persists today, despite its absurdity.
This theory was largely popularized by John Symmes, a former US Army captain from the War of 1812. He proposed that the Earth has an 800-mile-thick shell with openings at the poles and multiple inner layers forming concentric spheres, each inhabited by people and animals. It’s puzzling why this wasn’t dubbed the Russian Nesting Doll Theory instead.
