With the upcoming eclipse on April 8, 2024, it can be seen that there’s some buzz about the upcoming astronomical event. However, through all the excitement and eclipse-viewing glasses sold in gas stations around the country, there are some that theorize the end of the world. Now, if you were to take these claims at face value, perhaps there could be some truth. Though this possibility can be related to religious beliefs, which not everyone follows the same ones. Regardless, one question continues to eat at the minds of the American population; will the world end following this eclipse?

The simple and rational answer is this: no. There have been countless eclipses for years and years, the last one being in 2017, and we’re still here aren’t we? Apocalypse scares like these are no stranger to humanity, some examples being Y2K and 2012, so if we lived through those, we’ll certainly live through this one.

Supposedly, the connection between this eclipse and a possible apocalypse has to do with the path of totality going through two towns named Nineveh. Biblically, Nineveh was associated with sin and vice, so some have theorized that these towns will play some significance regarding the eclipse and the end of humanity. There have been some saying that the eclipse will pass over around six to eight towns of the same name, and while there are some that barely scrape into the path of totality, it would be a stretch of the truth to say they play a part in this apocalyptic connection.

This is not the only theory that has been circulating. Some have pointed out how the path of totality in 2017 intersects with the upcoming path of totality, the point of intersection being St. Louis. While this may seem like a spectacle, it must be noted that we can see the eclipse paths from the past and the future, along with the orbits of the moon and earth around the sun. Intersecting paths have happened, and will continue to happen. This one in particular doesn’t mean anything in terms of humanity’s continued survival.

There have been some other concerns regarding power grids and electricity going down, however this has to do with tourism influxes in small towns. If a small town gains a large amount of visitors all at once for an event like this, electrical grids and cell towers may be overworked and shut down briefly.

So, to put things simply, the world will not end following this eclipse. While you can believe these theories all you want, there is evidence to back up their falsehood. There will be no need to panic, and everything will be okay. So sit back, relax, and enjoy this astronomical event.