We understand that there may be a few malingerers still digging their fallout bunkers in anticipation of the End Of The World which has been rescheduled for 2012. For that reason, here is a video snippet of astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson talking to attendees at the 2010 World Science Festival about where he stands on the issue and why we might want to stand in the same spot:
On December 21, 2012 the world is supposed to end. Well, that is what some people would have you believe. The idea that something is going to happen in the year 2012 can be traced back to the Mayans. When they devised their calendar they made it with an end date.
The Mayan calendar is divided in to time periods like our calendar. Our calendar is divided into weeks, months and years. In the Mayan calendar there is a division called b’ak’tun. December 21, 2012 just happens to mark the end of the last b’ak’tun on the calendar.
Doomsday Theories
The media is heavy with apocalyptic visions of 2012. Plain and simple, there is money to be made every time someone tunes into an “End of the World” thriller on the History Channel or surfs onto a “Run for Your Lives” website.
Of the various scenarios predicted to accompany the end of the world some of the most popular are:
Geomagnetic Reversal
The idea here is that something will cause the magnetic poles of Earth to switch polarity. Perhaps this will be the result of huge solar flares. I don’t really understand why this would be such a catastrophy. I guess it would be very difficult to read a compass if the needle was pointed south.
Planetary Collision
According to this theory, there is a mystery planet known as Nibiru or Planet X. Supposedly it will collide with Earth in 2012. We don’t really have to be afraid of a planetary collision in 2012. If an object the size of a planet was destined to hit Earth in 2012, we would already be able to see it in the night sky with the naked eye.
Alignment of Celestial Bodies
This theory purports an alignment of celestial bodies such as Earth, our Sun, black holes and the center of our galaxy. First of all there is no evidence that any type of special alignment is on the horizon.
How to Survive
So, my best advice on how to survive 2012 would be:
Keep doing whatever it is you do on a day to day basis to survive. But BEWARE, there are going to be more and more scammers out there fighting for your money as the fears increase as we get closer to the magic date.
Check out the NASA 2012 Faq page.
Watch as a NASA scientist shoots holes in 2012 theories.
