Kirschner, Carolyn. 2024. 'A Landscape of False Information: Myths and Models of the Earth's Magnetic Field'. In: Narratives and the Social Sciences: Interdisciplinary Perspectives. University of Palermo, Italy 26 - 29 June 2024. [Conference or Workshop Item]

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Abstract or Description

Abstract:
The Earth’s magnetic field has long been a site of cultural and scientific speculation. This paper will unpack a history of storytelling practices surrounding the Earth’s magnetism and will then explore how these narratives interface with scientific study today.

Ancient stories across Europe, China, and the Arab world once presumed the source of the Earth’s magnetic field to be a distant star, until a widely held belief emerged that in fact its source were magnetic mountains on Earth so powerful they could pull the nails from a ship at sea. Early cartographic maps formalized these ideas and were accompanied by other myths which infiltrated the everyday: from tales of the effects of garlic on magnetic field strength, to a belief in magnetism as an animating life force.

Although scientific study of the Earth’s magnetic field today has undoubtedly advanced beyond these early theories, it is a geophysical phenomenon which remains surrounded by mysteries. Scientists to this day are unable to explain the origins of the Earth’s magnetic field, produce reliable models, or accurately predict its movements - despite countless attempts over the past decades. In its wake, in turn, accumulates a long history of errors, false predictions, and miscalculations.

This paper will explore the role of storytelling in navigating tensions between human desires to explain the mysteries of the universe, and the protracted and messy processes of building conceptual and computational models of complex Earth systems. Drawing on an ongoing design and research project titled ‘A Landscape of False Information’ (2018-2024), I will draw parallels between the cultural function of myths and failed scientific models, focusing on their ability to offer momentary assurances and a shared framework for reality.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Related URLs:	Organisation
Departments, Centres and Research Units:	Design
Dates:	Date Event 2 May 2024 Accepted 27 June 2024 Completed
Event Location:	University of Palermo, Italy
Date range:	26 - 29 June 2024
Item ID:	37421
Date Deposited:	27 Aug 2024 08:57
Last Modified:	27 Aug 2024 08:57
URI:	https://research.gold.ac.uk/id/eprint/37421

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