The year is 2012, the date, December 21st. In houses scattered across the Earth, people wait in fear. According to a number of media sources, such as books, television, and online articles, this is the end. On this day the world will go through Apocalypse, and humanity is helpless to stop it, they say.
Of course, for the majority of people, this theory is utter bogus. The notion that the world will suddenly end has no tangible scientific evidence, and yet has proliferated to all parts of the world in the form of countless books, documentaries, articles, and a motion picture that grossed over $7 million when it was released in 2009.
The primary theory for this supposed end of the world seems to rest on the Ancient Mayan calendar. The Mayan Long Count calendar is separated into periods of about five thousand years, known as “Baktun”. According to the calendar, we currently live near the end of the 13th Baktun, which will end on the December 21, 2012. Many believers of the 2012 Apocalypse theory fear that the end of this period of the extremely accurate Mayan calendar will coincide with the end of the world.
What many fail to realize is that the calendar does not simply end on that date. Instead it starts over again with the beginning of the 14th Baktun. The date of this renewal is also the date of the winter solstice, during which the sun will align with the center of the Milky Way galaxy for the first time in 26,000 years. Some believe this event will cause disasters on Earth, but no scientific evidence exists to support this claim.
There are numerous other theories which claim to predict the end of the world in 2012. Some notable ones include a prophetic code hidden within the Bible, a prophecy by the 16th-century Frenchman Nostradamus, and a supposed pattern found within the ancient Chinese I Ching. The History Channel has aired documentaries on both the Nostradamus and Mayan theories.
The primary theory for this supposed end of the world seems to rest on the Ancient Mayan calendar. The Mayan Long Count calendar is separated into periods of about five thousand years, known as “Baktun”. According to the calendar, we currently live near the end of the 13th Baktun, which will end on the December 21, 2012. Many believers of the 2012 Apocalypse theory fear that the end of this period of the extremely accurate Mayan calendar will coincide with the end of the world.
What many fail to realize is that the calendar does not simply end on that date. Instead it starts over again with the beginning of the 14th Baktun. The date of this renewal is also the date of the winter solstice, during which the sun will align with the center of the Milky Way galaxy for the first time in 26,000 years. Some believe this event will cause disasters on Earth, but no scientific evidence exists to support this claim.
There are numerous other theories which claim to predict the end of the world in 2012. Some notable ones include a prophetic code hidden within the Bible, a prophecy by the 16th-century Frenchman Nostradamus, and a supposed pattern found within the ancient Chinese I Ching. The History Channel has aired documentaries on both the Nostradamus and Mayan theories.
Although these Apocalypse theories are backed with little to no legitimate evidence, media coverage has lead to some amount of hysteria among believers. NASA’s “Ask an Astrobiologist” website has received thousands of questions regarding the 2012 theory. Many have shown real fear of a supposed Apocalypse, and a small number have even considered committing suicide to avoid it. Some of this fear was inspired by the ad campaign for the 2009 film 2012, which set up a number of websites that were supposedly distributing scientific evidence for the 2012 theory. Sony Pictures Entertainment was criticized for the campaign.
With the first month of 2012 well under way, many will likely be reminded of the 2012 theory. Most will give little more than a passing thought to it. A small group will feel a bit doubtful, perhaps even fearful about the future. On the 21st most of us will be waiting to see either the theory debunked or proven true. In all likelihood we will still be here to chat about it with our friends on the 22nd.
With the first month of 2012 well under way, many will likely be reminded of the 2012 theory. Most will give little more than a passing thought to it. A small group will feel a bit doubtful, perhaps even fearful about the future. On the 21st most of us will be waiting to see either the theory debunked or proven true. In all likelihood we will still be here to chat about it with our friends on the 22nd.
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