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b'The Earth is not round.\\xa0Technically, it\\u2019s an oblate spheroid.\\xa0But for some people, the first statement is not even approximately correct. Flat Earthers believe that our planet resembles \\u2013 not a slightly squashed grapefruit \\u2013 but a thick pancake.\\xa0A journalist who covered a Flat Earth convention describes the rationale behind this ever-more popular belief.\\xa0\\nSo how do you establish science truth?\\xa0We look at the difference between a truly scientific examination of extraordinary claims and approaches that feel and look science-y but aren\\u2019t.\\xa0\\nFind out how one man will use telescopes and balloons in the desert to demonstrate that the Earth is a globe, while a biologist runs a test on the waters of Loch Ness to see if it contains prehistoric reptile DNA.\\nAnd what happens when amateur investigators chase ghosts, UFOs, and Bigfoot with science instruments, but without an understanding of the scientific method.\\nGuests:\\n\\xb7\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0James Underdown\\xa0\\u2013\\xa0Executive Director of the Center for Inquiry in Los Angeles and of the Independent Investigations Group. The results of his experiment are available\\xa0here.\\n\\xb7\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0Alex Moshakis\\xa0\\u2013\\xa0Journalist who writes for the\\xa0Observer, the\\xa0Guardian, and\\xa0Esquire.\\xa0His article on the U.K.\\u2019s first Flat Earth convention\\xa0appeared in May, 2018 in the\\xa0Guardian.\\xa0\\xa0\\n\\xb7\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0Harry Dyer\\xa0\\u2013\\xa0Lecturer in education at the University of East Anglia.\\xa0His article about the flat earth convention is titled "I Watched an Entire Flat Earth Convention for my Research, Here is What I Learned."\\n\\xb7\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0Neil Gemmell\\xa0\\u2013\\xa0Professor in the Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, New Zealand\\n\\xb7\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0Sharon Hill\\xa0\\u2013\\xa0Geologist, science writer, speaker, and author of "Scientifical Americans: The Culture of Amateur Paranormal Researchers."\\n\\xa0\\nOriginally aired June 11, 2018\\n\\xa0\\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices'