As the celestial spectacle of a total solar eclipse approaches on April 8th, some corners of the internet are swirling with outlandish claims. Conspiracy theorists are promoting the idea that this cosmic event will herald a “massive human sacrifice event,” citing dubious connections and cherry-picked information.
One such theory, gaining traction on the r/conspiracy subreddit, hinges on the supposed significance of overlapping the paths of totality from the 2017 and 2024 eclipses. This arbitrary overlay, they claim, forms an “X” near the New Madrid fault line in the United States.
Image credit: Ernest Wright/NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio
The theorist alleges that “they” – an unspecified group with nefarious intentions – could trigger a devastating earthquake on this fault line during the eclipse, disguised as a natural disaster. This theory lacks any credible evidence and relies on a fundamental misunderstanding of both eclipses and earthquake activity. The path of an eclipse years prior holds no bearing on tectonic activity.
Delving deeper into the rabbit hole, the post identifies further Xs formed by the path of the Ring of Fire eclipse, conveniently near a Tesla factory. This nonsensical connection is then woven into a narrative involving Elon Musk’s name change for Twitter and a social media post by his partner Grimes, which they interpret as a cryptic prediction of the eclipse and a coming “sacrifice.”
The user concludes by citing a dubious population projection – the Deagel Report – to bolster their claim of a planned mass culling. This report, however, has been widely debunked by fact-checkers.
These theories reek of confirmation bias and pattern recognition, where people see meaningful connections in random events. History is littered with failed eclipse-related doomsday predictions, including the infamous “Nibiru” planet hoax of 2017.
The reality is far less dramatic. Eclipses are natural astronomical phenomena, and the greatest risks associated with the upcoming event involve potential eye damage if viewed directly and increased traffic congestion.
Instead of succumbing to wild speculation, let’s focus on the scientific wonder of this celestial event. The total solar eclipse offers a rare opportunity to witness the awe-inspiring interplay of the Sun, Moon, and Earth. So grab your approved eclipse glasses, step outside, and enjoy the show!
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