Tag Archives: Earth

Will Rare April 8 Solar Eclipse Last For 3-5 Days?!

Claim : Rare April 8 Solar Eclipse Will Last For 3-5 Days!

People are sharing a TikTok video which claims that the rare solar eclipse of April 8, 2024, will cause total darkness for 3-5 days! Here is a transcript of the viral video:

April 8, 2024

3 days of darkness will occur when the earth passes through the photon belt. This is as the earth enters and passes through this belt. There will be no sunlight nor moonlight on the earth’s surface.

Photons are electromagnetic particles that travel at the speed of light and will act as a barrier or temporary shield around the earth preventing the light of the sun or the stars from passing through it.

This is expected to last 72 hours or 5 days. There are no breaks or periods of light during the three days, only darkness.

Recommendations. Stock up on food, water, candles, other essential items. All sunlight will be blocked, and solar panels will not generate energy. Stay at home and avoid travelling for safety reasons.

The sunlight will return on the Earth, marking the beginning of the golden age.

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Truth : Rare April 8 Solar Eclipse Will Last For 7.5 Minutes!

This appears to be yet another example of fake news circulating on WhatsApp and social media, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : April 8 Solar Eclipse Will Only Last 7.5 Minutes

Let me start by simply pointing out that the April 8 solar eclipse will not last 3 days as claimed by the viral video. It will only last 7.5 minutes.

Even though it’s only 7.5 minutes long, that is actually an incredibly long period of total darkness, and a very rare event. The last one happening in 1973, and next one will not happen again until 2150.

Fact #2 : April 8 Solar Eclipse Mainly Affects North America

The April 8 solar eclipse does not encompass the entire globe, but mostly North America – covering Canada, United States, and Canada. Hence, some of the media are calling it the Great American Eclipse.

Even then, only a tiny strip of North America will be covered by path of the total solar eclipse. The rest of North America will be covered by varying degrees of darkness, as shown by the map below.

There will be a partial solar eclipse of some parts of Europe, Central America, South America, and Oceania. But the rest of the world is not affected by the April 8 solar eclipse.

Fact #3 : Photon Belt Does Not Exist

The Photon belt does not exist. It is a pseudoscientific myth based on the belief that Earth will soon pass through an immense ring of photos orbiting the Pleiades star cluster, or more specifically – its largest star, Alcyone. Hence, its alternate name – The Rings of Alcyone.

As the myth goes, after Earth passes through this photon belt, the world will end, or humanity will be elevated to a higher plane of existence. This idea was first described in 1950 by German scientist Paul Otto Hesse. However, it has never been shown to be remotely plausible, never mind actually proven.

In any case, the Pleiades cluster is over 400 light years away, so it is impossible for any photon belt surrounding it to affect Earth. In addition, the Pleiades cluster currently moving away from Earth.

Fact #4 : Photons Cannot Block Photons

Now, I’m no physicist, but as far as I know, photons cannot block other photons. So it would be impossible for a photon belt (if one did exist) to block sunlight and starlight from reaching Earth.

Photons are massless particles of electromagnetic energy. Visible light, for example, generates photons, and as you can tell, light does not get cancelled if two people shine a torchlight at each other!

Similarly, heat (thermal energy) also produces photons through thermal radiation and light. But as you well know – placing two lit candles next to each other won’t block the amount of light or heat each candle produces!

In short – even if Earth passes through a band of photons, sunlight and starlight will continue to shine on us.

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Does Viral Video Show Super Moon At Arctic Circle?!

Claim : Super Moon At Arctic Circle Causes Total Eclipse Of Sun!

This video, which has gone viral on WhatsApp and social media platforms, claims to show how the moon comes super close to the Earth at its perigee, and actually causes a total eclipse of the sun, at the Arctic circle!

The moon, seen from the Arctic Circle, between Russia and Canada. It only lasts a few seconds, but it’s worth seeing. It’s a spectacular sight.

Imagine that you are in a location between Canada and Russia and suddenly and for just 30 seconds, the moon appears in all its splendor and disappears before your eyes. It looks like the moon is going to collide with the earth.

Even more impressive AND for just 5 seconds, a total eclipse of the sun takes place. It’s unprecedented and spectacular!

The video was shot in REAL-TIME. The phenomenon happens at the “perigee”: the closest point of a heavenly body’s orbit around the Earth, where the proximity of the moon is so evident that, suddenly, we realize the great speed at which the Earth is moving.

This effect is only visible once a year and lasts for just 30 seconds…Astronomers figured out those exact 30 seconds and had the cameras rolling. Fortunately they had a clear sky. Pls enjoy 🙏🙏🙏

Does this viral video show a Super Moon at the Arctic Circle?! 😮

Here are the facts : https://t.co/paSzXloJdu #TechARP #SuperMoon #Moon #Space #Eclipse #SolarEclipse #Arctic #Astronomy #Facts #FactsMatter #FactCheck #Hoax #Fake #FakeNews #TikTok #CGI #Animation #Viral #Video pic.twitter.com/ennVCj3r2e

— Dr. Adrian Wong (@DrAdrianWong) April 24, 2023

Truth : Super Moon At Arctic Circle Video Is Fake!

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS circulating on WhatsApp and social media platforms, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : Super Moon Video Started Going Viral In 2021

First, I think it is important to point out that this isn’t a new video. In fact, this super moon video first went viral in May 2021.

At that time, people were waiting to witness the Super Blood Moon on Wednesday, May 26, 2021, when there would be a complete lunar eclipse for about 15 minutes as the Earth passes directly between the moon and the sun.

The “blood” moon had a reddish-orange colour, because all of the sunrises and sunsets in the Earth’s atmosphere projected onto the surface of the eclipsed moon.

Fact #2 : Super Moon Video Was Created By Aleksey__nx

The viral video of the super moon perigee creating a total solar eclipse at the Arctic circle is actually a computer-generated animation created by a TikTok content creator called Aleksey__nx.

His original TikTok account is no longer around, but he has a new TikTok account aieksey__n, in which he shares similar computer-generated animation videos.

Fact #3 : Moon Distance Varies By Just 14%

The Moon orbits the Earth in an elliptical orbit, with its distance varying by 14%. At its closest point (perigee), it is about 356,500 km away, but at its furthest distance (apogee), it is 406,700 km away.

While the difference in distance can produce a noticeably smaller or larger Moon to the naked eye, it is not significant enough to produce such a large moon as seen in the viral video.

Remember – the difference in distance between the apogee (furthest point) and the perigee (closest point) is only 14%, so the size of the Moon will only vary by about 14% in diameter, and 30% in apparent area.

Fact #4 : Such A Moon Could Cause Havoc On Earth

The Moon would have to be extremely close to the Earth, for it to appear as large as shown in the viral video.

If that actually happened, the Moon would orbit the Earth much quicker. Instead of taking a month, it would take just hours to complete an orbit.

As impressive as such a large Moon would look, many of us would probably not be around to enjoy it because its gravitational pull would cause massive tidal waves that are hundreds of metres high, sweeping the globe as it goes around.

On top of that, the Moon’s gravitational pull on the Earth’s mantle would trigger apocalyptic-level volcanic activity and earthquakes as it orbits. Lakes and other large bodies of water would probably boil off, with molten lava flowing everywhere. Quite literally hell on Earth.

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Will Aphelion Phenomenon Create Cold Weather?!

Claim : Aphelion Phenomenon Will Create Dangerous Cold Weather!

A viral warning about the Aphelion phenomenon has gone viral in WhatsApp groups, as well as social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook.

It warns people that they will start experiencing dangerous cold weather that can cause flu, cough and breathing difficulties!

From tomorrow till August 22 this year, it will be colder than previous years. They call it Aphelion phenomenon.

Starting tomorrow at 05:27 we will experience the APHELION PHENOMENON where the Earth will be very far from the Sun. We cannot see the phenomenon, but we can feel its impact.

This will last until August 2022.

We will experience cold weather more than the previous cold weather, which will have an impact on flu, cough, shortness of breath, etc.

Therefore, let’s all increase immunity by drinking lots of vitamins or supplements so that our immunity is strong.

The distance from the Earth to the Sun is 5 light minutes or 90,000,000 km. The phenomenon of aphelion to 152,000,000 km. 66% further.

Here is another version in broken English… with Aphelion wrongly written as Albelian and Alphelion.

ALERT
Strange Phenomenon

From tomorrow till August 22 the weather will be colder and colder than last year. This is called the Albelian phenomenon. It starts tomorrow morning at 5-27.

We will not only see but also experience the effects of the Alphelion Phenomenon. It will end in August 2022.

During this time we will experience cold weather like never before.. due to which.. our body aches and stuffy throat, Fever, cough and breathing problems occur. Therefore, it is better to strengthen your immune system with vitamins and other healthy food products.

The distance between Sun and Earth is 90,000,000 km. But during this Alphelion Phenomenon, the distance between the two will increase to 152,000,000 km. That is a 66% increase.

Please share this with family, friends and loved ones. STAY SAFE

Truth : Aphelion Phenomenon Will NOT Create Dangerous Cold Weather!

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS circulating on WhatsApp and social media, and here are the reasons why!

Fact #1 : Aphelion + Perihelion Happens Every Year

First, let me just point out that aphelion and perihelion are annual events where the earth is furthest away (aphelion) from, and closest (perihelion) to the sun.

In 2022 and 2023, earth will be closest to the sun (perihelion) in January, but move to its furthest point in July (aphelion).

This aphelion / perihelion phenomenon happens because the earth’s orbit around the sun isn’t perfectly circular. Instead, it is a slightly elongated ellipse.

Fact #2 : Aphelion-Perihelion Difference Only 3.3%

The viral messages wrongly claim that the distance between Sun and Earth is 90 million kilometres. It is actually about 149 million kilometres on average.

That means there is only a 5 million km / 3 million mile difference between the aphelion (furthest point) and the perihelion (closest point) of the Earth’s orbit around the Sun.

That is a minuscule 3.3% to 3.4% difference between the perihelion and the aphelion. Not 66% as claimed by the fake story.

Fact #3 : Solar Constant Changes Only 3.5%

The amount of the Sun’s energy that the Earth receives is called the solar constant, and is about 1367 watts per square meter.

This solar constant only varies by 3.5% between the perihelion (closest point) and the aphelion (furthest point) of the Earth’s orbit around the sun.

Such a small difference in the Sun’s energy received by the Earth cannot significantly change weather or the local temperature.

Just look at the difference in the sun’s size between aphelion (furthest point) and perihelion (closest point). You can barely tell the difference!

Fact #4 : It Takes Over 8 Minutes For Sunlight To Reach Earth

The viral messages falsely claim that sunlight takes just 5 minutes to reach Earth.

The average distance between the Sun and Earth is 149 million kilometres, and the speed of light is 299,792 km per second.

If you do the math, you will see that sunlight takes about 497 seconds to reach Earth. That’s about 8 minutes and 28 seconds.

Fact #5 : Cold Weather Cannot Cause Disease

While cold or hot weather can exacerbate medical conditions, they cannot cause diseases like flu, which is a viral infection.

Symptoms like fever, cough and stuffy throats suggest viral or bacterial infections, which are not caused by changes in the weather.

Flu infections increase during cold weather because the flu viruses survive better in cold air, and the low humidity helps the virus particles remain in the air.

Flu infections are also more common during cold weather because people stay indoors more often, allowing easier spread of the virus from one person to another.

Fact #6 : Supplements Cannot Prevent Diseases

Vitamins and other supplements cannot prevent viral or bacterial infections. They are not vaccines. They are supplements.

Supplements also only help if you lack the nutrients they supply in your diet. If you have a good diet, you don’t need supplements.

Fact #7 : Taking Supplements Can Be Bad / Dangerous

There are limits to which your body can absorb nutrients. Excess nutrients from supplements will just end up excreted in your urine or stool.

More worryingly, taking some supplements in excess will block the absorption of other nutrients. Or worse – they can build up in your body and become toxic.

So never take supplements in excess. They are meant to supplement a poor diet. They will not turbocharge a good one.

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

Recommended Reading

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