'Time to dial back the crazy': Internet abuzz as solar eclipse conspiracy theories sweep across US

UNITED STATES: The impending total solar eclipse set to grace the skies across parts of North America on April 8 has ignited a firestorm of conspiracy theories and wild speculations across the Internet, as per The Sun.

From claims of a five-day global blackout to assertions of biblical prophecies being fulfilled, the celestial event has become a breeding ground for outlandish narratives that have left netizens both amused and puzzled.

Wild theories flood social media ahead of eclipse

One particularly bizarre theory claims that the eclipse will engulf the entire Earth, plunging it into darkness for a staggering five-day period. Clearly defying astronomical facts, this claim has been widely ridiculed by those with even a basic understanding of celestial mechanics.

Another theory, rooted in religious interpretations, suggests that the eclipse's path will pass through eight cities named Nineveh, a reference to the ancient city described as "evil" in the Bible's Book of Jonah.

Proponents of this theory insist that the eight cities represent a message of a "new beginning" or a "born again" event, quoting verses from the Book of Luke to lend credibility to their claims.

"Oh, did you know there was a total eclipse the very day Jonah preached a warning to Nineveh? Nineveh repented. Will America?" wrote one user on X (formerly Twitter), fueling the narrative.

However, fact-checkers have swiftly debunked these claims, noting that only two cities named Nineveh fall within the eclipse's path, while others will merely catch a glimpse of the cosmic spectacle.

Snopes, a renowned fact-checking website, shed light on the matter, revealing that many of the individuals propagating these theories are Christians who view the eclipse as a sign of bad luck.

Solar eclipse conspiracy theories set Internet abuzz

Reacting to the wild and weird theories, an X user expressed a sentiment of concern, stating, "Sad; it's time to dial back the crazy and shift toward reality."

Another questioned the prevalence of conspiracy theories in modern discourse, remarking, "Why is it that everything is a conspiracy theory nowadays? A solar eclipse is the result of the alignment of the earth, moon, and sun. Nothing more. Prehistoric logical reasoning, heretical zealots, superstitious beliefs, and ignorant minds will forever be a hindrance to mankind."

Meanwhile, a third user highlighted the absurdity of the claims circulating online, writing, "Americans are saying the solar eclipse coming up next week is fake and staged. Although it dumbs me down, conspiracy theory/flat earth TikTok entertains me soo much."

Another individual expressed frustration with those who reject scientific explanations, stating, "I love those who don't believe in Science. Everything is a conspiracy theory....CERN to search invisible particles that secretly power our universe with world's most powerful particle accelerator - and the next experiment will happen during April's solar eclipse."

A fifth user humorously lamented the consequences of engaging with conspiracy theory content, saying, "Oh no, I read through a couple of these hilarious solar eclipse conspiracy theory tweets and now my feed is all messed up."

Someone else commented, "Every time I learn about a new conspiracy theory I lose a few brain cells. Whatever you do don’t look up the ones about the #SolarEclipse."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.