Overview
- NASA issued an official denial on Aug. 12, 2026, saying the agency has no secret “Project Anchor” and that the Earth will not lose gravity during the total solar eclipse.
- Fact-checkers including Snopes traced the claim back to an Instagram account that posted AI-generated fictional stories in late 2025.
- Scientists explained that Earth’s gravity is set by the planet’s mass, that eclipses only change sunlight and predictable tidal forces, and that gravitational waves are far too weak to cause perceptible effects.
- The false narrative spread across TikTok, Instagram and X and leaned on a viral tweet that cited a supposed November 2024 leak and an $89 billion budget to gain credibility.
- The eclipse itself is a routine, well-predicted event visible along a path that includes Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, the Atlantic, Spain and part of Portugal, and observers were urged to use proper eye protection while fact-checkers monitor further misinformation.