Hollow Earth

Map of the Interior World

Station Island

Hollow Earth

Concave hollow Earths

Hollow Earth is a concept proposing that the planet Earth is entirely hollow or contains a substantial interior space. Notably suggested by Edmond Halley in the late 17th century, the notion has been part of folklore, conspiracy theories, and science fiction for centuries. Despite being scientifically disproven, Hollow Earth continues to capture the imagination of many as a speculative idea.

History

The Hollow Earth hypothesis originated in the 17th century with Edmond Halley, who proposed that Earth might consist of a shell about 500 miles thick, with two inner concentric shells and an innermost core. Halley suggested that atmospheres separate these shells and that each shell might support life. His theory arose from his attempts to explain anomalous compass readings by suggesting there was a magnetic anomaly due to the differing metals that constituted the shells.

In the 19th century, John Cleves Symmes Jr. took up the Hollow Earth cause, proposing an entrance to the inner Earth at the North Pole. Symmes campaigned for an expedition to find this entrance, though he never succeeded in launching one. His ideas influenced several works of fiction, notably those of Jules Verne.

In Literature and Popular Culture

The Hollow Earth theory has been a popular subject in literature and popular culture. Jules Verne's novel Journey to the Center of the Earth is perhaps the most famous example, where characters descend into the Earth's crust, encountering prehistoric animals and fantastical landscapes. Other authors, such as Edgar Rice Burroughs, have explored similar themes in their works.

Scientific View

Modern science dismisses the Hollow Earth theory due to overwhelming evidence supporting plate tectonics, the study of Earth's solid mantle and core, and the field of seismology, which studies how seismic waves travel through Earth's interior. These fields have provided detailed images of the Earth's solid crust, mantle, and liquid outer core, and solid inner core, leaving no room for a hollow Earth.

In Conspiracy Theories

Despite scientific evidence to the contrary, the Hollow Earth theory remains part of some conspiracy theories and UFO lore. Some proponents suggest that the inner Earth is home to advanced civilizations or that governments have secret knowledge about entrances to the inner Earth that they keep hidden from the public.

See Also

• Conspiracy theory
• Edmond Halley
• Jules Verne
• Plate tectonics
• Science fiction