NASA Debunks Viral Conspiracy About Earth Losing Gravity and Secret Billion-Dollar ‘Project’ to Help Humans Survive

Desiree AnelloWed, August 12, 2026 at 6:25 PM UTC

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View of Earth from spaceCredit: NASA/NASA/AFP via Getty -

NASA is pushing back on a conspiracy about “Project Anchor” and the supposed possibility that Earth would be gravity-less for seven seconds on Wednesday, Aug. 12

“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,” the agency explained

An official said such claims, which conflict with basic principles of science, circulate regularly

Despite what some on the internet may tell you, Earth has not — and will not — be losing its gravity anytime soon.

That’s according to the fine folks at NASA, who are publicly pushing back on a viral conspiracy about the so-called “Project Anchor” and the supposed possibility that due to an anomaly, the Earth would be gravity-less for seven seconds on Wednesday, Aug. 12.

For example, one user wrote on X earlier this month that NASA knew the “world will lose gravity” and the agency was “preparing” for the event through a secret project without telling the public.

“The project’s budget is $89 billion, & its goal is to survive a 7-second gravitational anomaly expected on August 12, 2026,” this post continued.

View of Earth from spaceCredit: Tim Peake - ESA/NASA via Getty

In response, NASA this week assured the public that while there will be a total solar eclipse across parts of Europe, the Earth will not lose gravity. That’s based on simple principles of science.

“Earth’s gravity, or total gravitational force, is determined by its mass,” an agency spokesperson explained in a statement to PEOPLE.

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“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,” the spokesperson said.

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“A total solar eclipse has no unusual impact on Earth’s gravity,” they continued.

“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,” the spokesperson said, “and is predictable decades in advance.”

A NASA official, Karen Fox, put it more directly to Newsweek — noting that the same rumor “comes around every year.”

on People

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Breaking”