Viral claims suggesting that Earth will temporarily lose gravity for seven seconds on August 12, 2026 have been dismissed by NASA as baseless and misleading.
The rumour, widely circulated on social media, warned of a supposed “global catastrophe” caused by a brief gravitational disturbance. Some posts even referenced a so-called secret NASA programme, alleging the existence of an underground survival initiative linked to the predicted event.
NASA officials have categorically rejected the claims. A spokesperson confirmed that there is no scenario in which Earth would suddenly lose gravity on the stated date, calling the theory false.
What will occur on August 12, 2026, however, is a total solar eclipse. On that day, the Moon will align directly between the Earth and the Sun, temporarily blocking sunlight in parts of the world. Such eclipses are well-documented astronomical events and pose no threat to the planet’s structural stability or gravitational force.
According to NASA, the gravitational pull exerted by the Sun and the Moon on Earth is thoroughly understood and can be calculated decades in advance. While their alignment influences ocean tides, it does not weaken or interrupt Earth’s overall gravity.
Scientists explain that Earth’s gravity is determined by its mass. For gravity to decrease in any meaningful way, the planet would need to lose a significant portion of its mass — something that cannot occur through planetary alignment or eclipses.
The clarification comes amid heightened public interest in space-related phenomena. Recently, a strong solar storm produced auroras visible at lower latitudes and caused minor technological disturbances. Experts have stressed that such space weather events are unrelated to the gravity hoax circulating online.
Authorities are urging the public to rely on verified scientific sources when evaluating extraordinary claims about planetary events.
