Why is the Snowfall Killing Everyone in The Eternaut, Explained

‘The Eternaut’ is a Spanish post-apocalyptic show, in which the protagonists find themselves faced against an unexpected and formidable adversary: snowfall. In Buenos Aires, in the dead of the summer, crisp white snow falling from the sky already makes for a peculiar image. However, things get infinitely more mystifying when the same snow begins killing people instantly on contact. Juan Salvo survives alongside a handful of his friends who happen to be inside a house, while hundreds of others die out on the streets. Nonetheless, that doesn’t mean the survivors are safe, especially not when the father decides to look for his missing daughter, Clara, in the midst of this deadly change in the weather. Although many other dangers await Juan and others beyond the horizon, the snow remains their foremost enemy. Therefore, its unnaturally lethal properties become a natural source of intrigue. SPOILERS AHEAD!

Favalli’s Magnetic Theory on the Snowfall

As soon as the reality of the events sinks in, following the first few deaths caused by the snowfall, characters like Juan and Favalli instantly have their priorities in order. While the former remains eager to contact his family and ensure his daughter, Clara, is safe, his friend goes into full survival mode. He’s wary about the tap water, worrying about rationing, and trying to find ways to travel in the deathly outdoors safely. Thus, it’s no surprise that it’s Favalli, the electrical engineer, who comes up with the first viable theory to explain the otherwise inexplicable environment. It all begins when the engineer notices all his compasses have somehow simultaneously gone out of order.

Once Favalli realizes that there is nothing wrong with his compasses, only one explanation remains: something must be wrong with the Earth’s magnetic field. A compass naturally reacts to the planet’s magnetic north. However, if that stops being true, that means something must have gravely affected or destroyed the natural magnetic field. In turn, this would end up having adverse effects on the Van Allen radiation belts. These Van Allen radiation belts are zones in the magnetosphere that trap energetic charged particles, the electrons and protons. By doing so, it essentially forms a shield of sorts around the planet that keeps it safe from solar winds, which can be very damaging.

Consequently, if something happens to Earth’s magnetic field, theoretically, it would take the Van Allen belt along with it. As a result, the radioactive particles, previously acting as a shield, would begin falling onto the surface of the Earth. Favalli imagines it would look something like snowfall, only far more deadly to the touch. Although it would hold grave initial danger, the particles would likely cool down in time and become virtually unharmful. Currently, this remains the running and most plausible theory about the origins of the snowfall. However, the change in the magnetic field and the subtle weaponization of its reactions aren’t simple coincidences. Instead, as Juan eventually discovers, there’s a more menacing presence pulling the strings behind the curtains.

Radioactive Snowfall: An Alien Invasion’s First Line of Attack

While Favalli’s observations provide some scientific background on the snowfall, the reason why such an adverse weather change is triggered remains ambiguous for some time. However, as soon as Juan learns about the mobilized alien organization currently infesting the planet, things begin to come together. The aliens range from monstrous, beast-sized beetles to one mind-controlling being represented only through one Hand, with an unnatural number of fingers. Their arrival comes on the heels of the snowfall, helping them terrorize any number of survivors and turn them into mindless, brainwashed soldiers.

Furthermore, at one point, once the Alien visitors’ plans are in place, the snowfall even stops, allowing the survivors to roam about in freedom. However, this is only a false sense of safety that the aliens lure the humans into moving forward with the second phase of their plans. As such, it remains evident that the Hand and their minions had something to do with the interruption of the planet’s magnetic field. In theory, as the aliens invaded the planet, they messed with the magnetic poles to weaponize the Van Allen belt radioactive particles to their advantage. Not only did this aid in the mass genocide of the unwitting human race, but it also kept the survivors distracted long enough for the alien troops to assemble and put down the roots of their deadly plan. Ultimately, the snowfall, a result of the Earth’s shifting magnetic fields, becomes a great weapon in the wrong hands.