A message claiming that Google, NASA, BBC, and CNN have warned people to turn off their mobile phones, laptops, and electronic devices between 12:30 a.m. and 3:30 a.m. tonight is being widely shared across social media platforms (here, here, & here). The message asserts that Earth will experience the highest radiation tonight as cosmic rays pass near it during this time. Through this article, let’s fact-check the claim made in this post.
Claim: Google, NASA, BBC, and CNN have issued warnings advising people to turn off mobile phones and electronic devices and keep them away from their bodies as cosmic rays pass closer to the Earth tonight.
Fact: No such warning was issued by NASA, BBC, or CNN either recently or in the past. This message has been circulating on the internet since at least 2010. The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) clarified that this message is a hoax when it went viral in 2019. Moreover, ISRO stated that there is no connection between the modulation of cosmic rays and the use of mobile phones. Hence, the claim made in the post is FALSE.
We conducted a relevant keyword search on the internet to determine whether Google, NASA, or any other agency has issued such a warning advising people to turn off electronic devices and keep them away from their bodies, either recently or in the past. However, we did not find any reports regarding such a warning from any of the agencies mentioned in the viral message. Furthermore, we examined the websites of NASA, BBC, and CNN regarding viral messages; however, we didn’t find any such warning as mentioned in the viral message. Additionally, the post also mentions Singapore TV. Upon checking, we found that there is no such news by the agency. During this search, we came across several posts (here, here, & here) with the same message circulating on social media in various countries since at least 2010.
Furthermore, we found several articles (here, here, and here) confirming this message as a hoax. Additionally, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) clarified that this information was false in a statement provided to Vishwas News in 2019. Moreover, ISRO stated that there is no connection between the modulation of cosmic rays and the use of mobile phones.
According to NASA, cosmic rays are particles from outer space that traverse the universe, originating from sources such as the sun, other exploding stars, and even black holes. Despite their tremendous speed, approaching that of light, when these particles reach Earth, they are generally obstructed by our atmosphere, rendering them harmless to humans.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cosmic radiation is emitted by stars, including our sun. Another type of radiation emitted by the sun is ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which is distinct from cosmic radiation. The amount of radiation exposure due to cosmic radiation varies depending on altitude, with higher altitudes resulting in greater exposure. Cosmic radiation is most intense in the upper atmosphere and even more so in deep space. Exposure to cosmic radiation is akin to that of a medical X-ray, yet the average annual dose is very low, unlikely to adversely affect human health.
The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) also affirms that cosmic rays pose minimal threat to humans and Earth’s systems. Furthermore, NOAA regularly monitors various solar and stellar rays that may impact electronic devices and power grids, issuing early warnings as needed.
To sum up, the viral message advising people to switch off their phones for protection from cosmic rays is fake.
