A rumour circulating online claims that Earth will lose gravity for 7 seconds on August 12, 2026, resulting in 40 million deaths and widespread destruction. The rumour alleges that NASA has a secret project called ‘Project Anchor’ to prepare for this event, with an $89 billion budget.

However, NASA has denied these claims, stating that Earth’s gravity is determined by its mass and cannot be lost without a significant change in mass. The agency also confirmed that a total solar eclipse will occur on August 12, 2026, but it will not affect Earth’s gravity. 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.

Searches of Bing, DuckDuckGo, Google and Yahoo found no reputable results about a ‘Project Anchor’ leaking online during or after November 2024. Similar searches of Facebook specifically during 2024 and 2025, as well as on X, uncovered no posts where users discussed a ‘Project Anchor’.

The origins of the rumour

The rumour appears to have originated from an Instagram post by user @mr_danya_of on December 31, 2025. The post featured a video with overlaid text claiming that NASA knows about the gravity loss but is withholding information. The user’s account was later removed, and searches found no credible evidence to support the claim.

What will really happen on August 12, 2026?

A total solar eclipse will occur on August 12, 2026, visible from parts of the Arctic, Greenland, Iceland and Spain. This event is predictable and poses no threat to Earth’s gravity.