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NASA Tells Us Why The World Won't End With The Mayan Calendar Next Week

by Kraig Becker (RSS feed) on Dec 13th 2012 at 8:00AM

December 21, 2012, is a day that has been circled on the calendars of conspiracy theorists and doomsday soothsayers for quite some time now. That's the day that the Mayan Calendar comes to an end, which has led some to believe that the world will be snuffed out along with it. If you buy into any of these theories, you're probably already preparing for the end in whatever way you find most suitable, whether that means finding peace with your maker or preparing to party like it is literally your last day on Earth.

Before you do anything too rash, like go on a "there is no tomorrow" shopping spree or give away all of your worldly possessions, you may want to have a look at this video. It comes our way courtesy of NASA and explains in four short minutes exactly why the world isn't coming to an end next week. It turns out that much like our own modern calendar, the Mayan version isn't actually ending so much as it's just rolling over to begin again. The rocket scientists (no, really they are!) at the space agency are so confident that we'll all be here the day after the predicted cataclysmic event that they've even post-dated the video for December 22.

This is good news for anyone who has been reluctant to make any long-term plans for post 12/21/2012. If you've been holding off on booking that trip for next year or even buying gifts for the holidays, I think it's safe to say you can feel free to go out on a limb. NASA has you covered.

[Photo Credit: Kraig Becker]

Filed under: Arts and Culture, History, Learning, Video, News

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Reader Comments (Page 2 of 3)

Jackie Dec 17th 2012 1:01AM

I know for a fact that the world won't end on the 21st of December because there are shows scheduled to come back after the new year. ;-)

KAREN Dec 17th 2012 2:06AM

Nasa, first you tell us to put FOOD and WATER aside because the SOLAR FLARES will be SEVERE and the ELECTRIC GRIDS, ETC. will go down for weeks or months. Now, you are telling us nothing much will happen. I guess the NEW extra heavy concrete BUNKER at the WHITE HOUSE did not have to be built before 2012 ???

dougie monty Dec 18th 2012 3:26AM

And if nothing does happen, I can trust the NASA people's heads to swell even bigger while they take ujp the chance to gloat...

sheila barr Dec 17th 2012 9:44AM

Big grin here! You couldn't possibly be the clone of my wandering super literate wandering the world vintage America's Cup captain son, could you. You 2 have GOT to meet!! We'll be in Cozumel on the day. What fun.

Maddog Dec 17th 2012 2:42AM

As we all now know, the End of Times starts the 21st at 0:01 am sharp. Since I'm but a simple sailing bum who has been known to swear, drink rum, lust in my heart after scantily clad women with heaving bosoms and even took the Lord's name in vain that time I got my finger caught between a turning block that blew out in a gale gust and a back spinning failed winch (not wench), I'm pretty sure I'll be left behind.

The good news is that I'll be glad to take care of all your precious worldly possessions, which of course you can't take with you when you of the SEML, as those of the pure and innocent souls, are spinning off up into space. Please immediately send me appropriate conveyances of all your really good stuff so I can catalogue each item properly. Well found, heavily built sailboats, gold, silver and jewels are priorities. (Your cash, stock and tax free municipals won't be of any consequence.) You don't want just anyone on the street putting their grimy little fingers on your precious items. You want someone who has the ability to appreciate them.

The second bit of good news is that the 21st begins at 180 degrees west longitude, which, because of some unusual treaty is the Island of Tonga which actually lies east of 180 degrees. (Don't ask me, I ain't no International law expert.) Incidentally 180 east and 180 west are the same line. Weird, no?

This being said, we here in America can sit on our verandahs sipping juleps under the shade of the live oaks, festooned with Spanish moss and the magnolias, still in magnificent bloom at the Coast, enjoying the wafting scent of gardenias, pull out a small TV and watch the world end in succession of time zones.

Thus you can see the necessity of quick action. You only have two weeks to get all the paper work to me. Get a move on, people. And remember, I'm only thinking of you.

ANTMAN Dec 17th 2012 3:10AM

Can you use a first mate?

Zimba Dec 17th 2012 2:38AM

So in what time zone will the end start on Dec 21? If it starts in the land of the Maya, in Australia it might already be Dec 22, or, if the end starts in New Zealand on Dec 21, it would only be Dec 20 for most of the rest of the world!
Has anybody figured that one out yet?
Get real, people, what occurred on Dec 31, 1999 - the sun came up the next day and the next, etc. no major meltdown.
Man invented the calendar and to this day, there are still more than 30 versions out there - we, in the European-centric world changed from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar and somehow lost 10 "days" back in 1752. A date on a calendar is just a means of giving a name to a particular cluster of 24 hours (here on Earth) for religious, commercial, social, or administrative purposes.. What calendar is used on in other parts of the various universes where a "day" is not 24 hours? Who knows - we've not yet found anybody living there to answer that question!
There still are in use in various parts of the our world, the Jewish calendar, the Chinese calendar, Japanese, Coptic, Persian, Balinese, Baha'i, Islamic, Indian, Buddhist, Korean, Armenian, Thai, Bengali, Berber, Ethiopian, Hindu, etc.
So sleep well on Dec 21, whereever you live.

jamacattack Dec 17th 2012 4:28PM

According to what I've seen it is 11:11am UTC (universal time)... you can find a converter on the internet to find your exact time. For example it says 5:11am in my time zone. Ahhh... at least I won't have to worry about oversleeping! The world will end before I get up! :)

singermhg Dec 17th 2012 6:02AM

It really doesn't matter. Either the world will end or it won't. Either there will be a major disaster or there won't. Either the human race will go on or it won't.

Either way, we have no control of the future only of our own present.

Tony Cutrufello Dec 17th 2012 6:51AM

First of all it is not 2012, it is 2008.
The calender we use had a 4 year mistake due to a Gregorian Monk's miscalulations.
And secondly, if Nasa is wrong, who cares, we wont be around.

Dana Dec 17th 2012 7:15AM

So if NASA is proved to be wrong, what's the downside?

Jim Dec 17th 2012 8:19AM

New Find On Mayan Calendar. After doing some cleaning on Calendar they found a small Mayan 2 at top and at the bottom a small line of Mayan words that says "see 3"

jay cee Dec 17th 2012 8:45AM

December 21st came a little early for 20 little children....how sad.

Scott Dec 17th 2012 9:26AM

Nothing to fear here my friends. Not the end of the world at all. End of a cycle that starts all over again. However their is a cosmic event that goes along with this, a planetary alignment and along with this alignment comes an upgrade to our DNA. We move forward to become a more spiritual people here on good ole planet earth ( her ancient name is Gaia ). Be thankful you are presently living in these times for you are a great part of human history, peace to humjan kind.

williamg Dec 17th 2012 10:29AM

Please send all of your valuables and money to me. I have arranged passage to the next dimension and there I will re distribute all back to the previous owners. Understanding that because of our past we may not all reach the same destination, so after checking the list some money and valuables will be wrapped in fire retardant, others will be returned on a white cloud..Thank you for letting me help.