NASA Addresses Recurrent Gravity Loss Hoax
NASA has once again refuted claims circulating on social media that Earth will briefly lose gravity on an upcoming Wednesday. This theory inaccurately associates with a supposed leaked NASA project named “Project Anchor.”
Karen Fox, a senior science communicator at NASA, informed Newsweek that this conspiracy theory resurfaces annually. She emphasized through an official statement: “The Earth will not lose gravity on Wednesday. Earth’s gravitational force is determined by its mass. The only way for Earth to lose gravity would be if it lost mass from its combined structure, including its core, mantle, crust, oceans, terrestrial water, and atmosphere.”
Previous Claims and Fact-Checking
Assertions similar to these have been historically addressed by NASA. Despite this, they have gained attention again as a specific date approached. In January, Snopes, a fact-checking platform, investigated the “Project Anchor” claims that suggested a supposed NASA document had leaked in November 2024. The rumor claimed a brief gravity loss on August 12, 2026, leading to mass casualties. Snopes labeled the claim as false, noting no credible evidence of such a project.
Snopes reported that such rumors spread through social media posts, including an Instagram video alleging a seven-second “gravitational anomaly,” with dramatic claims like an $89 billion budget and predictions of deaths. These posts falsely suggested select officials would be sheltered in bunkers.
Clarification on Solar Eclipse
Coinciding with these claims, a total solar eclipse is anticipated along a path crossing Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, parts of the Atlantic Ocean, Spain, and Portugal. Other areas in the Northern Hemisphere, including parts of the U.S. (from Alaska to North Carolina), most of Canada, Europe, and northwestern Africa, will witness a partial eclipse.
NASA clarified: “A total solar eclipse does not affect Earth’s gravity. The gravitational forces of the Sun and Moon affect tides, not Earth’s gravity. These effects are well-documented and predictable.”