NASA Debunks Viral Gravity Blackout Hoax - Evrim Ağacı
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A viral claim said Earth would lose gravity for seven seconds on August 12, 2026 — so NASA had to explain why that's physically impossible.
Misinformation DiffusionIllusory Truth EffectArgument from AuthorityProportionality Bias
Theory Briefing
- A hoax dubbed 'Project Anchor' claimed Earth would lose gravity for seven seconds on August 12, 2026, timed to a total solar eclipse for added credibility.
- NASA was compelled to issue a public debunking, showing how a dramatic-sounding date made the fiction spread far enough to demand an official response.
- Gravity loss lasting even a fraction of a second would be catastrophic — the claim's specificity made it feel plausible despite being physically impossible.
- Tying the hoax to a real astronomical event, the solar eclipse, gave the false claim a factual anchor that turbocharged its spread.