NASA has officially debunked viral conspiracy theories predicting that Earth's gravity would briefly vanish on August 12, 2026, causing widespread chaos. The agency stated that the planet's gravitational force is directly tied to its mass and would only diminish if the Earth itself lost mass, which is not expected to happen.
These theories, which gained traction online since late 2025, reached a peak as the purported date of the event approached. Online searches for "gravity" saw a significant increase, reportedly by 60% in the week leading up to the alleged event. The claims often cited a supposed leaked NASA document about a supposed "Project Anchor," a $89 billion program designed to prepare the U.S. for a gravitational anomaly.
The conspiracy narratives suggested that intersecting gravitational waves from black holes would cause gravity to cease for seven seconds starting at 10:33 a.m. EST. This, according to the theories, would lead to objects not rooted to the ground becoming suspended and buildings disintegrating, followed by a catastrophic return of gravity that would cause mass casualties and a decade-long economic collapse. The theories also included claims of government preparations with underground bunkers for essential personnel.
Investigations traced the origin of these claims to a December 2025 Instagram post from an account known for AI-generated stories. Social media platforms then amplified these narratives.
Fueling the conspiracy theories was the coincidence of several celestial events occurring on August 12, 2026, including a total solar eclipse, a planetary alignment, and the peak of the Perseid meteor shower. However, NASA also addressed these astronomical occurrences, stating that a total solar eclipse has no unusual impact on Earth's gravity. The gravitational pull of the Sun and Moon on Earth affects tidal forces but does not alter the planet's overall gravity, and these effects are predictable years in advance.