Conspiracy Theories Surrounding the 2024 Solar Eclipse
CERN and the Higgs Boson Particle
As the highly anticipated eclipse-through-a-square-hole-is-it-possible/” title=”Viewing a Round Solar Eclipse Through a Square Hole: Is It Possible?”>solar eclipse of 2024 approaches, conspiracy theorists are concocting wild tales about the event. They claim that the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) experiments at CERN were merely a prelude to the real show. According to them, the spotlight will be on the Higgs boson particle, often erroneously referred to as the “God particle,” during the eclipse.
NASA’s APEP Mission and the Devil’s Comet
To add fuel to the conspiratorial fire, NASA is launching three satellites as part of its Atmospheric Perturbations around Eclipse Path (APEP) mission. Conspiracy theorists have latched onto the fact that Apep is also the name of an ancient Egyptian snake god associated with darkness and destruction, deeming it a significant coincidence. Furthermore, a celestial body known as the devil’s comet will be visible to the naked eye during the eclipse, adding to the ominous atmosphere.
Red Heifers and the Third Temple
Many have also connected the eclipse with the impending sacrifice of red heifers in Israel, a ritual that some Jews and evangelicals believe will herald various events, such as the construction of a Third Temple in Jerusalem, the return of the messiah, or the end of the world. As one prominent conspiracy channel operator on Telegram claimed:
“Red Heifers from Texas have arrived in Israel where they will be sacrificed during the Solar Eclipse. At the same time, CERN will be opening up demonic portals.”
Viral Videos and Speculation
These coincidences have been cited in numerous videos posted by conspiracy theorists, Christian evangelical pastors, and churches, garnering millions of views across YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. A well-known UK-based QAnon promoter even suggested to his Substack subscribers that the eclipse could mark the beginning of something monumental, hinting at the possibility of extraterrestrial encounters or DNA activation.
Operation Balloon and Eclipse Path Coincidences
Sovereign-citizen guru David Straight has proposed a bizarre conspiracy called Operation Balloon, alleging that the government will use the eclipse blackout as a cover to deploy balloons filled with poisonous gas. However, he failed to explain why the government wouldn’t simply carry out such an operation at night when it’s already dark and people aren’t typically looking at the sky.
An image depicting the eclipse path passing over more than a dozen significant landmarks has also been widely circulated online. These landmarks include the birthplaces of former president Bill Clinton and former vice president Mike Pence, the site of the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, the location of the 1993 massacre in Waco, Texas, and the spot where former president John F. Kennedy was assassinated. As one UK-based conspiracist remarked on X:
“That’s a hell of a lot of coincidences right there.”
The Lack of Evidence
Despite the fervor surrounding these conspiracy theories, there is no evidence to support any of the claims made by these individuals and groups. Perhaps, instead of concocting far-fetched stories, they should take a moment to appreciate the awe-inspiring celestial phenomenon that has captivated humans for centuries.
5 Comments
Eclipses surely turn every conspiracy thread into a festival of wild theories!
Solar Eclipse season is basically Christmas for conspiracy theorists, lots more “gifts” of wild ideas to unwrap!
Ah, the Solar Eclipse, where logic takes a holiday and the conspiracies throw a parade!
Eclipse time, when the moon decides to give the conspiracy theorists their moment in the limelight, huh?
Solar eclipses really bring out the tin foil hats, don’t they?