GETTY B.o.B launched a crowd-funding campaign to send satellites into orbit

Despite photographic evidence from space and even though a spherical globe was postulated as early as the 5th Century BC by the Greek philosopher Aristotle, adherents to the flat-Earth theory are growing in number. Data from Google Trends show that in the past two years, searches for “flat earth” have more than tripled. There have been several instances of high-profile celebrity endorsement, outrageous stunts to promote the theory and media coverage of flat-Earth events that have helped promote the cause. Last month, a self-taught rocket “scientist” constructed a home-made rocket out of scrap metal in order to prove astronauts lied about the planet being flat.

“Mad Mike” Hughes planned to launch himself 1,800 feet (550 metres) and fly through the air at 500mph in his steam-powered vessel made of scrap metal. But, he had to abandon the launch after the US Bureau of Land Management reportedly stopped him from using public land after reading about his plans in the media. Also, last month hundreds of fanatics attended a sellout Flat Earth International Conference (FEIC) to discuss everything from “NASA lies” to 9/11 conspiracies. Flat-Earthers believe NASA is lying to the general public to conceal a stationary, flat planet. The Flat Earth International Community explains the community suspect the planet is a circular disk shape that relies on Antarctica to provide an icy wall barrier.

The ice barrier is supposed to prevent humans walking off the edge of the Earth. Flat-Earther Mark Sargent told the BBC: "Nobody likes this uncomfortable feeling to be in this tiny ball, flying through space in this vast endless universe. "So as far as what's underneath this, I don't know, it could be this thickness. "It doesn't even have to be that think, because we can only drill down eight miles. Heck, this is only fifty miles deep, we don't know. So, it could be this sort of dimension. "Don't take my word for it, I could be a mental patient recently released from an institution."

Top 10 Conspiracy Theories Wed, March 8, 2017 From mind control, to the missing Malaysian airways flight MH370 Play slideshow AFP/Getty Images 1 of 10 In 2011, Osama Bin Laden was killed by US Navy Seals and buried at sea, but now conspiracy theorists claim that it was all a lie and he is still alive

Interest in the flat-Earth theory spiked when NBA player Kyrie Irving said in a podcast that he believed the Earth is flat. In September when rapper Bobby Ray Simmons Jr, otherwise known as B.o.B, launched a crowd-funding campaign to send satellites into orbit to determine the Earth’s shape. Also, Tila Tequila has said she thinks the planet is flat. Even UK celebrity Freddie Flintoff has come out in support of the outlandish theory. On his BBC Radio 5 show, that he co-hosts with Robbie Savage and Matthew Syed, Freddie Flintoff had previously said he thought the moon landings could have been staged.

GETTY Even Freddie Flintoff spoke in support of the theory

The presenters carried on the conversation after the show and decided to bring in their favourite conspiracy theories to the next broadcast. The cricket hero said he has recently been persuaded by a podcast called The Flat Earthers. Although, he does not think the Earth is completely flat but “bulbous, like a turnip”. Research suggests the worst way to change the minds of the conspiracy crowd is to criticise or mock their beliefs. This is because it puts them on the defensive which makes them less likely to change their minds. When B.o.B sparked an argument on Twitter about the shape of the Earth in 2016, NASA chose not to weigh in.

GETTY Conspiracy theories are appealing because they provide a simple explanation for complex phenomena