So, apparently, we have a bunch of armchair sailors out there on the internet who think they can sail straight from the US to India without getting wet. I mean, who needs a globe when you have Google Maps, right?
The debate over this mind-boggling claim has divided the online community like never before. On one side, we have the rational folks who understand that the Earth is not flat (sorry, flat-earthers, your time will come). They argue that sailing in a straight line from the US to India would be like trying to drive a car straight through a mountain – not gonna happen.
But then we have the defenders of the impossible dream, who believe that if you squint hard enough at a map, anything is possible. They insist that the Earth is just playing tricks on us with its pesky curves and slopes, and that sailing along its curvature is just a minor inconvenience.
In the midst of this chaos, experts have stepped in to drop some knowledge bombs on the masses. They explain that while it may look like a straight shot on a flat map, the reality is that the Earth is more like a lumpy potato than a perfect sphere. So, unless you’re planning to take a detour through Atlantis, sailing from the US to India in a straight line is about as likely as finding a unicorn in your backyard.
But hey, who needs science when you have the power of wishful thinking, right? Maybe if we all close our eyes and chant “straight line, straight line” enough times, we can defy the laws of physics and sail straight through solid land. Stranger things have happened, I suppose.
In the end, one thing is clear: the Earth will continue to confound and confuse us with its roundness. So, next time you’re planning a transcontinental sailing trip, remember to bring a globe and maybe a compass or two. And if all else fails, just close your eyes and believe in the power of straight lines. Who knows, maybe you’ll end up in Narnia.
Source: IFLScience
URL: https://www.iflscience.com/people-are-confused-how-you-can-sail-from-the-usa-to-india-in-a-straight-line-74488