By Tim Binnall
Flat Earthers participating in an expedition to Antarctica were left flummoxed when the position of the sun upended one of the key facets of the controversial conspiracy theory. The audacious adventure, dubbed 'The Final Experiment,' was organized by Pastor Will Duffy as a means of settling the argument surrounding the shape of the planet. The scientific challenge saw a select group of Flat Earthers and skeptics travel to Antarctica to observe the sun. If it remained in the sky for 24 hours, this would confirm that the planet is a globe, which would contradict the conspiracy theory as it posits that the sun must set behind ice walls surrounding the Flat Earth.
Upon arriving in Antarctica over the weekend, the group reportedly observed the sun and found that, indeed, it remained in the sky the entire time. In a subsequent live broadcast from the frosty continent, Flat Earther Jeran Campanella mused to viewers that "sometimes you are wrong in life and I thought there was no 24-hour sun. In fact, I was pretty sure of it." However, while he conceded to being incorrect about that particular facet of the conspiracy theory, it would appear that he was not quite ready to change his position on the shape of the planet. Instead, he simply indicated that the experiment determined that the popular azimuthal equidistant map used by Flat Earthers "no longer works."
Echoing Campanella's concession was fellow Flat Earther and expedition participant Austin Whitsitt, who also told viewers that "I was wrong" about the perpetual sun over Antarctica. Similarly, while he agreed that the experiment seemingly dealt a significant blow to the conspiracy theory, he suggested that there must be some yet-to-be-determined explanation that would fit within the framework of the belief system. Unsurprisingly, their testimonies were met with considerable consternation from those in the Flat Earth community with many accusing them of 'selling out' by participating in what was speculated to be a fake expedition.
In what one imagines was an eye-opening experience for the conspiracy theorist, Whitsitt found himself on the outside of the proverbial Flat Earth bubble during the broadcast, trying to convince his fellow believers. "You guys sound so insane when you say stuff like this is all a lie. We're all using green screens or whatever," he declared, "I'm sitting right here telling you that it's real." Although he called upon dismayed conspiracy theorists "to kind of chill because truth doesn't fear investigation," it remains to be seen if Whitsitt and Campanella will be welcomed back into the Flat Earth fold upon their return from Antarctica or if the duo will be cast out into the cold for their 'blasphemy.'