Page 3 - 201311 - The 'X' Chronicles Newspaper - November 2012

2012 Mayan Apocalypse - NASA Warns 2012 Mayan apocalypse rumors have dark side, NASA warns By Stephanie Pappas Space.com NASA scientists took time on Wednesday, Nov. 28, to soothe 2012 doomsday fears, warning against the dark side of Mayan apocalypse rumors — frightened children and suicidal teens who truly fear the world may come to an end Dec. 21. These fears are based on misinterpretations of the Mayan calendar. On the 21st, the date of the winter solstice, a calendar cycle called the 13th b'ak'tun comes to navigation systems on Earth, but satellites Do You Expect the World an end. Although Maya scholars agree that the monitoring the sun give plenty of warning and ancient Maya would not have seen this day as allow officials to compensate for the extra to End on Dec. 21, 2012? apocalyptic, rumors have spread that a cosmic electromagnetic activity when it hits our event may end life on Earth on that day. atmosphere. What's more, Guhathakurta said, http://smyrna.patch.com Thus NASA's involvement. The space this particular solar maximum is the "wimpiest" agency maintains a 2012 information page in some time — scientists have no reason to There are reportedly many parties planned for debunking popular Mayan apocalypse rumors, expect solar storms beyond what our planet has Dec. 20 or 21 this year, just in case. With the such as the idea that a rogue planet will hit Earth weathered in the past. "long count" calendar of the Ancient Mayans on Dec. 21, killing everyone. (In fact, Nor are any near-Earth objects, coming to an end that day, some people are a astronomers are quite good at detecting near- planetary or otherwise, threatening to slam into little pessimistic about any calendar continuing Earth objects, and any wandering planet our planet on Dec. 21, said Don Yeomans, a past that date. scheduled to collide with Earth in three weeks planetary scientist who tracks near-Earth Experts on the matter, however, say would be the brightest object in the sky behind objects at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. we've got nothing to worry about. According to the sun and moon by now.) The only close asteroid approach on the horizon an article on nbcnews.com, "Experts estimate "There is no true issue here," David is forecast to occur on Feb. 13, 2013, when an the system starts counting at 3114 B.C., and will Morrison, an astrobiologist at NASA Ames asteroid will pass within 4.5 Earth radii to our have run through 13 baktuns, or 5,125 years, Research Center, said during a NASA Google+ planet (for perspective, Earth's radius is 3,963 around Dec. 21. Experts say 13 was a Hangout event. "This is just a manufactured miles, or 6,378 kilometers). The asteroid is not significant number for the Maya, and the end of fantasy." going to hit Earth, Yeomans said. that cycle would be a milestone — but not an Other rumors — that the Earth's end." Real-world consequences magnetic field will suddenly reverse or that the Some people believe the Maya may planet will travel almost 30,000 light-years and have predicted "impending astronomical Unfortunately, Morrison said, the fall into the black hole at the center of the Milky disasters that would coincide with 2012, fantasy has real-life consequences. As one of Way galaxy — were also dismissed. (A light- ranging from explosive storms on the surface of NASA's prominent speakers on 2012 doomsday year is the distance light travels in one year, or the sun that could knock out power grids to a myths, Morrison said, he receives many emails about 6 trillion miles, or 10 trillion km.) galactic alignment that could trigger a reversal and letters from worried citizens, particularly One popular rumor that the planet will in Earth's magnetic field." young people. Some say they can't eat, or are undergo a complete blackout from Dec. 23 to 25 But according to the article, that is not too worried to sleep, Morrison said. Others say earned a "What?" and blank looks from the the case. In fact Mayan predictions go way past they're suicidal. panel of scientists. our present-day, indicating that they expected a "While this is a joke to some people and Ultimately, concerns about Earth's fate future to come even after their long count a mystery to others, there is a core of people would be better focused on slow-acting calendar came to an end. who are truly concerned," he said. problems such as climate change rather than There have been several predictions of Not every 2012 apocalypse believer some sort of cosmic catastrophe, said Andrew the end of the world, including the May 21, thinks the world will end on Dec. 21. Some, Fraknoi, an astronomer at Foothill College in 2011 biblical prediction by then 89-year-old old inspired by New Age philosophies, expect a day California. "minister" Howard Camping. At that time, of universal peace and spiritual transformation. Mitzi Adams, a heliophysicist at Patch columnist Ben Cathey made his own But it's impressionable kids who have NASA NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, agreed. prediction that it would not come to pass. officials worried. "The greatest threat to Earth in 2012, at Indeed he was right. On May 22, 2011, the sun "I think it's evil for people to propagate the end of this year and in the future, is just from rose just as surely as it had the day before. [] rumors on the Internet to frighten children," the human race itself," Adams said. [] Morrison said. Listen and Watch the WorldWide Myths and misconceptions 26 Hour LIVE Broadcast of NASA scientists took questions via social media in the hour-long video chat, The ‘X’ Zone 2012 Special debunking doomsday myths from the rogue with Rob McConnell planet Nibiru to the danger of killer solar flares. In fact, said NASA heliophysicist Lika Thursday Dec 20 2012 at 11 pm EST Guhathakurta, it's true that the sun is currently through in an active phase of its cycle, meaning Saturday Dec 22 2012 at 1 am EST electromagnetic energy has picked up. Large solar flares can impact electronics and www.xzone2012.com