Will Earth’s Gravity Disappear for 7 Seconds on August 12? NASA Says Viral Claim Is False
A viral claim warning that Earth's gravity will briefly disappear on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, is false. NASA has dismissed the conspiracy theory circulating on social media, saying there is no scientific basis for the claim that Earth could suddenly become weightless for seven seconds.
A viral claim warning that Earth's gravity will briefly disappear on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, is false. NASA has dismissed the conspiracy theory circulating on social media, saying there is no scientific basis for the claim that Earth could suddenly become weightless for seven seconds.
The claim, which has circulated online since late 2025, alleges that gravitational waves produced by the collision of two black holes millions of years ago are approaching Earth and could temporarily switch off the planet's gravity. Some social media posts further claim that the event would cause people, animals, vehicles, oceans and other objects to rise into the air before crashing back to Earth when gravity returns.
Claim About 'Project Anchor'
Posts circulating on X, TikTok and other platforms also refer to a supposed secret NASA programme called 'Project Anchor'. According to the viral posts, the alleged programme identified a gravitational event scheduled for August 12 that would make Earth temporarily weightless for seven seconds.
Some versions of the claim allege that the US government has prepared an USD 89 billion programme involving underground bunkers to protect selected people and preserve humanity. Other posts predict millions of deaths, destruction of infrastructure and a decade-long economic collapse. Did a Man Turn Into a Dog Via Plastic Surgery Due to Dog Obsession? No, Viral Video Is Fake.
There is no credible evidence that such a NASA programme exists or that any such gravitational event is expected on August 12. Snopes reported that the conspiracy theory can be traced to social media posts and that increasingly sensational versions subsequently spread across multiple platforms.
What NASA Said About Earth's Gravity
NASA has directly rejected the claim, explaining that Earth's gravity is determined by the planet's mass.
“Earth’s gravity, or total gravitational force, is determined by its mass,” NASA said.
NASA Debunks Viral Claim That Earth's Gravity Will Disappear On August 12, 2026
“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.” Zombie Attack in Atlanta Nightclub Video: Is It Real or AI-Generated?
“The Earth will not lose gravity on Aug. 12, 2026.”
The statement makes clear that a passing gravitational wave cannot simply switch Earth's gravity off.
Can Gravitational Waves Turn Off Earth's Gravity?
Gravitational waves are real. They are ripples in spacetime produced by extremely violent cosmic events such as the merger of black holes. Facilities including the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory, or LIGO, detect these extremely small distortions using highly sensitive instruments.
However, gravitational waves do not work by removing the mass of a planet or switching off its gravitational field. There is no known scientific mechanism through which a gravitational wave could cause Earth to become temporarily weightless.
NASA also monitors Earth's gravity through scientific missions that measure variations in the planet's gravitational field.
Do The August 12 Astronomical Events Affect Earth's Gravity?
The conspiracy theory gained additional attention because August 12 coincides with genuine astronomical activity, including a solar eclipse and the annual Perseid meteor shower around this period.
However, these events do not mean Earth's gravity will disappear. NASA has specifically explained that a total solar eclipse does not produce an unusual change in Earth's overall gravity.
“A total solar eclipse has no unusual impact on Earth's gravity,” the space agency said.
“The gravitational attraction of the Sun and Moon on the Earth, which doesn't impact Earth's total gravity but does impact tidal forces, is well understood and is predictable decades in advance,” NASA added.
Conclusion
The viral claim that Earth's gravity will disappear for seven seconds on August 12, 2026, is false. There is no evidence of a secret 'Project Anchor', no known astronomical event capable of switching off Earth's gravity and no scientific basis for claims that people or objects will suddenly float away from Earth. NASA has explicitly confirmed that Earth will not lose its gravity on August 12, 2026.
Fact check
Earth's gravity will disappear for seven seconds on August 12, 2026, due to gravitational waves from a black hole collision.
False. NASA says Earth will not lose its gravity, and there is no scientific evidence supporting the viral claim.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 12, 2026 07:56 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
