"Fantastically Wrong: The Legendary Scientist Who Swore Our Planet Is Hollow" details the eccentric theories of John Cleves Symmes Jr., a 19th-century American army officer. Symmes fervently believed Earth was hollow, containing multiple concentric spheres with openings at the poles, and dedicated his life to promoting this idea. He lectured extensively, lobbied Congress for an expedition to the North Pole, and inspired a devoted following. While his "Hollow Earth" theory lacked any scientific basis and was ultimately proven false, it captured the public imagination and left a lasting legacy in science fiction and popular culture.
The blog post explores the interconnectedness of various measurement systems and mathematical concepts, examining potential historical links that are likely coincidental. The author notes the near equivalence of a meter to a royal cubit times the golden ratio, and how this relates to the dimensions of the Great Pyramid of Giza. While acknowledging the established historical definition of the meter based on Earth's circumference, the post speculates on whether ancient Egyptians might have possessed a sophisticated understanding of these relationships, potentially incorporating the golden ratio and Earth's dimensions into their construction. However, the author ultimately concludes that the observed connections are likely due to mathematical happenstance rather than deliberate design.
HN commenters largely dismiss the linked article as numerology and pseudoscience. Several point out the arbitrary nature of choosing specific measurements and units (meters, cubits) to force connections. One commenter notes that the golden ratio shows up frequently in geometric constructions, making its presence in the pyramids unsurprising and not necessarily indicative of intentional design. Others criticize the article's lack of rigor and its reliance on coincidences rather than evidence-based arguments. The general consensus is that the article presents a flawed and unconvincing argument for a relationship between these different elements.
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https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43555728
HN commenters generally found the linked Wired article about Edmond Halley's hollow Earth theory an interesting piece of scientific history. Several pointed out that Halley wasn't entirely crazy, as his ideas were attempts to explain observable phenomena like compass variations, and that his model, while incorrect, was a legitimate scientific hypothesis for its time. Some noted that the concept of a hollow Earth persists even today, highlighting the human tendency to embrace unconventional or fringe theories. A few commenters also discussed other historical scientific misconceptions and the evolution of scientific understanding. One popular comment pointed to Halley's other accomplishments, notably predicting the return of the comet now bearing his name, to illustrate that even brilliant minds can sometimes be wrong.
The Hacker News comments section for the Wired article "Fantastically Wrong: The Legendary Scientist Who Swore Our Planet Is Hollow" contains a moderate number of comments, mostly focusing on the historical fascination with the hollow Earth theory and its proponents, rather than seriously entertaining the idea itself.
Several commenters delve into the historical context of Symmes's belief and the surprisingly widespread acceptance it garnered. One points out the remarkable fact that Symmes almost secured government funding for an expedition to the supposed polar openings. Another highlights the powerful allure of such theories, especially in times with less scientific understanding, mentioning that even some educated individuals took it seriously.
A few commenters discuss the psychological aspects that might draw people to believe in hollow Earth theories, suggesting it might be tied to a desire for hidden knowledge or a more exciting reality. One commenter humorously notes that there's even a present-day organization promoting the idea and expresses amusement at its existence.
Some of the most compelling comments analyze the scientific flaws in the hollow Earth theory. One commenter explains how seismology definitively disproves the concept, describing how seismic waves' behavior allows scientists to understand the Earth's internal structure. Another points out the density problem, explaining that if Earth were hollow, its gravitational pull would be drastically different.
A couple of comments branch off into related topics, such as the connection between fringe theories and societal anxieties or the prevalence of similar hollow planet ideas in fiction. One user mentions other now-debunked scientific concepts that were popular in the past, illustrating how scientific understanding evolves over time.
While nobody in the comments section genuinely defends the hollow Earth theory, the discussion provides an interesting glimpse into the historical context of the idea, the psychology of belief, and the scientific evidence that refutes it. The comments are primarily focused on dissecting the historical and societal factors surrounding the theory, rather than the specifics of Symmes's claims themselves.