Claim: Will the earth lose gravity for 7 seconds on August 12?

First requested: August 6, 2026 at 6:56 PM
3%

IsItCap Score

Truth Potential Meter

Not Credible

AI consensusMedium

Grader consensus is moderate.
Range 0%–10% (spread Δ10).
The graders lean in the same direction but differ on strength. Skim the summary and sources.
Read analysis summary

OpenAI Grade

0%
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80%
10%

Perplexity Grade

0%
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80%
2%

Google Gemini Grade

0%
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0%
Shareable summary
Verdict: Questionable
  • BBC says there is absolutely no evidence for it.
  • NASA has denied the claim, citing gravity's dependence on mass.
/r/fact-check-earth-lose-gravity-august-12

Analysis Summary

The claim that the Earth will lose gravity for 7 seconds on August 12 is false. Mainstream sources, including NASA and reputable media outlets, have debunked this rumor, stating that gravity is a constant force dependent on the Earth's mass. There is no scientific basis for such an event occurring, and it has been widely dismissed by experts. Some alternative sources may perpetuate this myth, but they lack credible evidence to support their claims. All three graders point in the same direction, with minor differences. OpenAI comes in highest (10%), while Gemini is lowest (0%). While there are some discussions in alternative media about the possibility of gravity fluctuations, these claims do not hold up against scientific scrutiny. The consensus among scientists and reputable sources is that gravity cannot simply disappear for a brief period. The absence of credible evidence supporting the claim reinforces the conclusion that it is false. Therefore, the existence of opposing views does not alter the overall verdict, as they are not backed by scientific fact.
Jump to source analysis

Source quality

Truth (from sources)1.00 / 10
Source reliability9.00 / 10
Source independence8.00 / 10

Claim checks

Fits established facts10.00 / 10
Logical consistency10.00 / 10
Expert consensus10.00 / 10
Related fact checks

Source Analysis

Common arguments
Supporting the claim
  • Viral posts cite a supposed leaked NASA document.
  • Some articles mention a rumored 'Project Anchor'.
  • The date is being repeated widely online.
Against the claim
  • BBC says there is absolutely no evidence for it.
  • NASA has denied the claim, citing gravity's dependence on mass.
  • Coverage describes it as a debunked social-media rumor.

Mainstream Sources

Publication

bbc.co.uk

Title

Is gravity going to ‘switch off’ for seven seconds this summer? - BBC Bitesize

Summary

<strong>There is absolutely no evidence to suggest that the Earth is going to lose gravity on 12 August</strong>, nor is there any public record that NASA is working on something called Project Anchor.

Source details

Type: Major Media

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Publication

snopes.com

Title

Will Earth lose gravity for 7 seconds on Aug. 12, 2026? The truth about alleged NASA doc | Snopes.com

Summary

<strong>A secret NASA document named &quot;Project Anchor&quot; leaked in November 2024, revealing the agency believed the Earth would &quot;lose gravity&quot; for seven seconds on Aug.</strong>

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Publication

newswest9.com

Title

Seven Seconds of Zero Gravity? Not So Fast! Local astronomy official debunks social media rumors of Earth losing gravity | newswest9.com

Summary

<strong>NASA has denied the claims</strong>, explaining that Earth’s gravity depends on its mass and cannot simply disappear. Experts confirm the only astronomical event on August 12, 2026, is a total solar eclipse visible from parts of Europe and the Arctic ...

Source details

No Date

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Alternative Sources

Publication

vice.com

Title

Will Earth Really Lose Gravity in 2026?

Summary

No. <strong>No, that absolutely will not happen</strong>. The claim quickly spread across social media in a video that has since been removed but was originally posted by Instagram user @mr_danya_of on December 31.

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Publication

newsnationnow.com

Title

NASA denies claim that Earth will lose gravity for 7 seconds in August of 2026

Summary

<strong>NASA officials debunked</strong> a viral rumor spread on social media recently warning of a brief loss of Earth’s gravity Aug. 12.

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Publication

uniladtech.com

Title

NASA speaks out on theory Earth will lose gravity for seven seconds on August 12

Summary

NASA has spoken out against a popular internet theory that Earth will lose all gravity for just seven seconds on August 12 as it could have big consequences

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Analysis Breakdown

True/False Spectrum (1.0)Source Credibility (9.0)Bias Assessment (8.0)Contextual Integrity (10.0)Content Coherence (10.0)Expert Consensus (10.0)80%

How to read the breakdown

Weakest areas
Truth1.0/10Independence8.0/10
  • Truth: how well sources support the core claim.
  • Source reliability: whether the sources have a strong track record.
  • Independence: whether coverage looks one-sided or recycled.
  • Context: missing details (timeframe, definitions, scope) that change meaning.
  • Tip: if graders disagree, rely more on the summary + sources than the single number.

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Methodology