What "proof" did they gather?

[islander]

When Eloise explained the Lamppost to Sun, Des and Jack the conversation went like this: "Yes, the island," Eloise says. "They'd [the DI] gathered proof that it existed. They knew it was out there somewhere, but they just couldn't find it. Then, a very clever fellow built this pendulum on the theoretical notion that they should stop looking for where the island was supposed to be and start looking for where the island was going to be."

This might be the first time since the show began that someone addressed the existence of the island as an entity unto itself and gave us a glimpse into the very beginning of the DI's knowledge of it. Generally we see the island as it relates to the characters, or the DI or the Blackrock, etc... Dan conducted his experiment on the island, but he hasn't addressed its very existence.

Any ideas what proof they'd gathered or how they knew the island existed?

[Jeremy]

Well, we do know that Others can leave and go back to the island as they please, though without the submarine I'm not too sure whether they still would be able to. Of course if they could do without it, Ben could go back just like that...unless the island really wouldn't let him go back unless he did a favor for it/getting the O6.

But if the Others can go and leave as they please, maybe someone found out about their group and figured that they must be going somewhere when they dissapear.

[etfrompo]

Well, we do know that Others can leave and go back to the island as they please, though without the submarine I'm not too sure whether they still would be able to. Of course if they could do without it, Ben could go back just like that...unless the island really wouldn't let him go back unless he did a favor for it/getting the O6.

But if the Others can go and leave as they please, maybe someone found out about their group and figured that they must be going somewhere when they dissapear.

We know Ethan and Richard were off the island to recruit Juliette. Tom was off the island as well. Is there anyone else we can be sure was shown on the island then off the island and then back on it?

[notsolost42]

When Eloise explained the Lamppost to Sun, Des and Jack the conversation went like this: "Yes, the island," Eloise says. "They'd [the DI] gathered proof that it existed. They knew it was out there somewhere, but they just couldn't find it. Then, a very clever fellow built this pendulum on the theoretical notion that they should stop looking for where the island was supposed to be and start looking for where the island was going to be."

This might be the first time since the show began that someone addressed the existence of the island as an entity unto itself and gave us a glimpse into the very beginning of the DI's knowledge of it. Generally we see the island as it relates to the characters, or the DI or the Blackrock, etc... Dan conducted his experiment on the island, but he hasn't addressed its very existence.

Any ideas what proof they'd gathered or how they knew the island existed?

I think the military found it first and the DI was a cover for them. It may have alot to do with the h-bombs they played with in the south pacific. Maybe Jughead did create the exotic mattter as the plutonium trigger eroded. I had posted about that before. I look at it this way. Either the exotic matter is something outer worldly, like a black body, or it was caused by the plutonium switch on Jughead. Either way, theoretically, they both could cause the same results. I want it to be outer worldly but think the military evidence will begin to show more and more. Oh well, can't have everything! IDK!

[LissaMarie]

The wheel looks very ancient so we can assume that the "portal" to Tunisia from the island has existed for a long time. We know that it existed prior to the D.I. building the Orchid, as we saw in the Season 5 opener. My best guess would be that something or someone was discovered when they popped up and that was the proof of the island's existence.

[MrEchoLives]

Perhaps the military found the island, then got booted off by the powers in charge on the island and thats when someone from DI or someone who would later form DI caught wind of the project and ran with the ball....
But i tend to think that A.Hanso found out about the island somehow thru Magnus Hanso (some type of old time manuscripts or somethin) and formed the team to find the island

[Monkey-Hands]

We know Ethan and Richard were off the island to recruit Juliette. Tom was off the island as well. Is there anyone else we can be sure was shown on the island then off the island and then back on it?

Didn't Tom said that only a few were able to leave the island? So, what made these few so special that they could come and go like they wanted?

[abcd1234]

DI was started by alvar hanso, who was the great grandson of the blackrocks captain.

[islander]

I like the Hanso connection too. Assuming one of them was on the Blackrock, the Hansos would have knowledge of the island's existence but difficulty in locating it. Later on Alvar and his military connection/expertise allowed the DI to find it.

Anyone wanna bet there is a EM source under Brother Campbell's Eddington Monastery?

Hmmmm...EM under Hawking's 'church'....EM under Campbell's 'Monastery'....EM near the 'Temple' on the island.....what's next EM near a mosque? ;-)