FLAT-EARTHERS THINK ‘PAC-MAN EFFECT’ STOPS US FALLING OFF THE EDGE OF THE PLANET

Sailors never had anything to fear from the edges of a flat Earth, say conspiracy theorists at the first U.K. Flat Earth convention. Instead, objects will zap to the other side of the planet when they reach the very edge, some proponents argue.

The convention saw flat-Earthers, skeptics, and the flat-Earth-curious gather in the city of Birmingham, U.K. At the event, conference speaker Darren Nesbit sought to address one of the most obvious problems with flat-Earth claims—why people don’t just fall off the edge of the planet if they travel too far in one direction.

“We know that continuous east-west travel is a reality,” he said, according to the Telegraph. “No one has ever come to or crossed a physical boundary.”

This image shows our spheroid planet Earth from space. Or does it? Flat-Earthers believe the planet is flat, and that objects would be teleported from one edge of the Earth to the opposite edge.

The best explanation isn't a curved, globe-shaped Earth, Nesbit thinks. Instead, it could be something more like teleportation. Yes, you read that right. Teleportation. 

Like Pac-Man himself, who reappears on one side of the game screen having exited on the other, objects would be transported from one edge of the flat Earth to the opposite edge. Describing this as a “logical possibility” for “truly free thinkers,” Nesbit explained, “Space-time wraps around and we get a Pac-Man effect.”

Nesbit isn’t the only one to highlight this effect. As ScienceAlert points out, rather than a plausible concept, the Pac-Man effect is described as a ridiculous consequence of flat-Earth claims online. 

Some flat-Earthers are even bolder in the face of skeptics. "My research destroys Big Bang cosmology," conference speaker Dave Marsh said, according to the Telegraph. "It supports the idea that gravity doesn't exist and the only true force in nature is electromagnetism."

There is plenty of disagreement within flat-Earth circles as well. Is the Earth a flat circle, a series of rings, or a diamond? Is the sky really a domed roof? Nesbit thinks the Earth is diamond-shaped and supported with pillars, for what it’s worth. “I’m not saying this is definitely what is going on,” he said, “But I think it is a plausible model.”

Conference organizer Gary John was thrilled by the gathering of like-minded conspiracy theorists. “It’s just amazing to connect with people and do the experiments and prove to yourself again that the Earth is flat,” he said, according to the Telegraph. “People are waking up…. We’re seeing an explosion of interest in flat-Earth theories and increasing mistrust of governments.”