Popular online theory says Earth will lose gravity for 7 seconds during 2026 solar eclipse, NASA says not the case

Rumours that Earth would "lose gravity" for seven seconds on Aug. 12, 2026, began circulating online in early January.

The claim was originally posted by Instagram user @mr_danya_of on Dec. 31, 2025, who asserted that the gravity loss will be caused by two gravitational waves from black holes intersecting, briefly shutting off gravity on Earth. The theory then claims NASA knows all this and chooses to remain silent, according to VICE.

The post added that this cataclysmic event would result in an expected casualty rate of over 40-60 million people.

The original post has since been taken down, and the user's account is no longer accessible.

NASA debunks claims

NASA has since debunked these claims via an email response to Snopes, a fact-checking website.

"The Earth will not lose gravity on Aug. 12, 2026. Earth's gravity, or total gravitational force, is determined by its mass. 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 NASA spokesperson said via email.

While the NASA website does state that a total solar eclipse is happening on the same date, the spokesperson mentioned that a total solar eclipse has no unusual impact on Earth's gravity.

"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," the spokesperson added.

Top image via Canva