Almost everything people say about eclipses is false or greatly exaggerated. NASA has debunked the claims that an eclipse poisons food or harms a pregnant woman’s baby; the United States Geological Survey (USGS) explains that the Moon’s position barely changes the odds of an earthquake, and the highest tide that day is the spring tide that every new moon brings. The only real thing is the damage to the eyes of anyone who looks at the Sun without a filter.
”Poisoned” food
This is one of the most widespread: that food cooked during an eclipse goes bad or makes you ill. NASA, on a page devoted to debunking false ideas about eclipses that was reported by NPR, the US public radio network, dismisses it with an example. If a bad potato salad makes someone ill during an eclipse, the eclipse is not to blame: food poisoning is very common and shouldn’t be blamed on a rare event in the sky.
The suspicion usually comes from some supposed special radiation. NPR points out that the opposite happens: during an eclipse, less radiation from the Sun suddenly reaches us. And NASA adds that the corona’s radiation during totality does no harm. Where these beliefs come from, and why so many cultures wait until the eclipse is over to eat, is covered in eclipse legends.
Pregnancy
NASA answers with something that passes through us every day: every second, trillions of neutrinos from the Sun pass through our bodies, whether the Sun is up or below the horizon, and that does no harm to you or, if you are pregnant, to the developing foetus. Where the myth comes from and what to plan for on the day if you are pregnant, in is the eclipse dangerous if you are pregnant? (in Spanish).
Earthquakes
The USGS says that several recent studies have found a link between earth tides (the ones the Moon raises in the Earth’s crust) and some earthquakes: with the highest tides, at full or new moon, earthquakes are slightly more likely on shallow reverse faults near the edges of continents and in subduction zones, and that probability is multiplied by about three. But the probability of an earthquake on any given day is already very small, and multiplied by three it is still very small. Earlier studies had not found a significant link with semi-diurnal tides.
A solar eclipse always falls at new moon, as we explain in our learn section, and there is a new moon every month: as far as the USGS explanation goes, 2 August is a new moon like any other.
Tides
Tides do change, but just as they do every month. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) explains that at full moon and new moon, when the Earth, the Sun and the Moon are nearly lined up, the Sun’s pull adds to the Moon’s and the difference between high and low tide is somewhat greater: that is the spring tide, which comes twice every lunar month all year round. Monday 2 August 2027 is a new moon, so there will be a spring tide, as with any other new moon. If you are going to watch it from the beach, check the tide table for your local port as you would on any other summer day.
”Energies” and bad omens
NASA has also debunked the idea that eclipses herald disasters, big changes in your life or poor health for anyone whose birthday falls on the day of one or six months later. It puts this down to astrology and confirmation bias, and explains it in one sentence: we tend to remember all the times two things happened together and forget all the other times they didn’t.
Animals
Animals behaving strangely is not a myth. The American Astronomical Society (AAS) says that when the light drops, many animals, birds and insects settle down as if night were falling, and go back to their routines as soon as the Sun comes out again. What to do with dogs and cats on the day is in the eclipse with pets (in Spanish).
The only real thing: your eyes
The Sun during an eclipse is the same as on any other day, which is why you can’t look at it without a filter; what changes is that the eclipse tempts you to stare at it for a long time, as we explain in why you cannot look at the Sun during an eclipse. The retina doesn’t hurt when it is damaged, and what you notice afterwards is in what happens if you look at the eclipse without glasses (in Spanish). You only look without glasses during totality, inside the path: the exact second for each municipality, in when to take off your eclipse glasses in totality. And to choose a pair, our glasses guide.
Sources: NPR — Solar eclipse myths and rumors bubble up, from radiation to food poisoning (NASA’s page against the myths: food, pregnancy and neutrinos, the harmless corona, the omens and confirmation bias; the drop in radiation during the eclipse); USGS — Can the position of the moon or the planets affect seismicity? (earth tides and earthquakes: about three times more likely on certain faults, on top of a very small probability); NOAA — What are spring and neap tides? (spring tides at new and full moon, twice every lunar month); AAS — Solar Eclipse Phenomena (animals settle down when the light drops and go back to normal afterwards); the new moon of 2 August: eclipseando data.
If you would like something to keep from the eclipse, the shop prints T-shirts, mugs and posters with the name of your town, the time of its maximum and its seconds of totality. See the merchandise →
Remember: never look at the Sun without proper eye protection (filters made to EN ISO 12312-2). The official reference for safe viewing in Spain is the IGN (in Spanish): eclipses.ign.es.