An update for Google Maps rolled out over the weekend and it’s not going to make Flat Earth theorists particularly happy.
The rest of the population that believes in logic and science will be glad to know that if you zoom out far enough on Google Maps that the Earth will now be shown in its proper spherical form, as opposed to the flat version it was previously.
It’s a small change, but at least one that those who enjoy accuracy will be pleased by.
Google took to Twitter last week to announce the change, highlighting that Greenland is no longer larger than Africa on the map, which was inaccurately portrayed in the previous version of the app.
With 3D Globe Mode on Google Maps desktop, Greenland's projection is no longer the size of Africa.
Just zoom all the way out at https://t.co/mIZTya01K3 ?? pic.twitter.com/CIkkS7It8d
— Google Maps (@googlemaps) August 2, 2018
In that specific iteration of Google Maps, Greenland was shown to be larger than Africa, when the latter is in fact 14 times bigger than the Nordic country.
Furthermore other elements on the map are also to scale, with The Verge noting that objects at the equator in particular are now to scale with one another.
Google had previously used a Mercator projection of the globe for its Maps app, which took the spherical version of the globe and laid it flat, which created some distortion.
The system was favoured at the time as it helped the company ensure that angles for streets were kept the same regardless of the zoom.
This latest update a series of recent ones that Google has been making to the Maps app, having added a battery status in locations, as well as more restaurant info in the Explore section.
The only thing left to see is how Flat Earthers will try to argue their way around this one.