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Fact check: No, Earth did not ‘lose gravity’ briefly during today's solar eclipse; NASA debunks claim
NASA debunked viral claims that Earth would briefly lose gravity during the August 12 solar eclipse, saying gravity depends on Earth’s mass.
As millions tuned in to catch a glimpse of the total solar eclipse on Wednesday, August 12, a wild theory has gone viral on social media. Such has been the panic sparked by it that it has prompted NASA to put out a response.
Starting this weekend, social media has been rife with theories that the Earth will purportedly "lose gravity" briefly during the solar eclipse on Wednesday. The eclipse started between 1:30pm EDT and 2:32pm EDT.
For instance, here's a viral TikTok video that claims earth will lose gravity for seven seconds during the solar eclipse. “It is said that today around 9:30am CST, we will lose Gravity for 7 seconds. Let me know what y'all experience!” the user wrote.
Thus, as daylight began waning again with the sun slowly being covered by the moon, many began wondering again whether a brief loss of gravity would take place. However, as NASA has clarified, the claims are false, and there will be no loss of gravity. Everything is expected to be normal as the sun is fully covered by the moon, drenching the world in a brief darkness, before again returning to daylight.
No, Earth Will No Lose Gravity, NASA Confirms
The hoaxes of the Earth losing its gravity stem from an alleged NASA project called the "Project Anchor" - purportedly s an initiative focused on developing advanced technologies and strategies to support future human exploration of space. Similar claims had emerged earlier too, and NASA had debunked them.
“The Earth will not lose gravity. Earth's gravity, or total gravitational force, is determined by its mass," a statement from ASA read. "The only way for the Earth to lose gravity would be for the Earth system, the combined mass of its core, mantle, crust, ocean, terrestrial water, and atmosphere, to lose mass.”
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What Is Project Anchor - NASA's Debunked Conspiracy Theory
Project Anchor is the name attached to a viral conspiracy theory that has been circulating since late 2025 and early 2026 in relation to Wednesday's solar eclipse. It states that the Earth will lose gravity for seven seconds during the eclipse.
The propagators of this theory claim that NASA spent $89 billion in the top-secret Project Anchor to prepare for the gravity loss allegedly caused by intersecting gravitational waves. However, besides the NASA statements, there is also no credible NASA document, budget record, scientific paper, or government announcement supporting any of this.
