La Condamine

S6, E16: In 1735, the French scientists are arguing if the earth has the shape of a potato, or rather an apple or even a pear. It is decided to make an expedition to make the measurements that are necessary to answer this question. Isaac Newton, the great British scientist, had calculated that the earth would have a bulge at the equator due to the turning. Charles Marie de la Condamine, next to Godin and Bouguer, receives the task to travel to the equator and investigate. He is joined on the expedition by mathematicians, botanists, doctors, animal scientists and sailors…