NASA: "Calling Planet Earth" -Life is Not Going to End in 2012! (VIDEO)

It's official: the same wingnut segment  of American society that brought you "intelligent design" is now so ignorant rocket scientists have to interrupt exploring the universe to tell them to pack it in.  NASA's "Ask an astrobiologist" expert has been inundated with inquiries about the world ending in 2012, forcing Presidential-award-winning scientist Dr David Morrison to write an article explaining how "Hollywood sometimes makes things up."

The doomsday theories are as numerous as they are idiotic, i.e. astoundingly, but three main contenders dominate the common cretin's consternation.  The first is the idea that the Mayan calendar ends in 2012.  First, no it doesn't - there's just a synchronization of a few of the many calendars they used for various religious, agricultural and social functions.  Second, this coincidence of calendars did reset the numbers they used to describe the cycles, but it's about as apocalyptic as ending your Dilbert office calendar - the universe doesn't explode on Dec 31st every year either.

The second is the stunningly stupid concept of a conspiracy theory, the idea that not only has the government somehow suppressed knowledge of an extinction-level event, but that it's Hollywood - an organization which released "Vin Diesel in a car" on no less than four separate occasions - who broke the impenetrable web of secrecy and have decided the best use of knowledge of impending doom is to give John Cusack two and half hours of screentime.

The third is even dumber, if you can process that concept.  Some say that a secret shadow planet is on a collision course with Earth, and while we don't want to prejudice you against the theory, it's the planet "Nibiru" as predicted by a woman who claims aliens from Zeta Reticuli had the technology to implant a receiver in her brain and believe the best way to warn Earth is a single screaming woman with a website which would embarrass GeoCities (ZetaTalk). And "Nibiru" comes from "We were made by ancient astronauts" fan-fiction writer Zecharia Sitchin.  And even he says the 2012 theory is bullshit.

We are not even counting the usual Nostradamus bullshit as a legitimate bullshit theory.

Luke McKinney

Why the world will NOT end in 2012: Nasa scientist debunks conspiracy theories http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1221892/Why-world-NOT-end-2012-Nasa-scientist-debunks-internet-rumours.html

Comments

[Atrueoriginall]

If anyone here at the Daily Galaxy cares, there are ways to present a story without the condescending tones, very noticeable anger and profanity. The Daily Galaxy is a little more professional than this Luke.

Even I do not believe such, as your article conveyed, however, there are people at the other end of that belief who I know cannot be convinced until 2012 rolls around so how about you wait until then to get over it.

My readers come in here religiously from links in my site to this site so I find it offensive that you call them idiotic, stupid and dumb.

This is the second such article of yours in the past few weeks Luke, which showed a lack of respect for such individuals and as mentioned a lack of professionalism in the Daily Galaxy.

Eileen (aka: Atrueoriginall)
Alien, UFO & the Paranormal Casebook (who daily keeps her readers abreast of all new science stories).

[Mario]

Hello Luke I'm a daily visitor for this site since a couple of months and i really enjoy all this info on it, however, i do support Atrueoriginall's opinion. Anyhow, keep it up man that is one hell of a place 2 visit on the net.

[diasppointed_viewer]

Luke, don't do this again - insulting people who may be interested in your site is not beneficial to anyone. Besides, how can you know what the future holds? Change happens, theories or not, and unless you have personally gone into space and seen for yourself whether or not a planet may be in orbit toward us, or whether you trust a scientific person's predictions versus the mayan ones, you cannot assume to know what is happening. Having faith in science and those who declare what is scientific is no different than believing in aliens or intelligent design. Besides, blind faith in what 'they' tell you is incredibly ignorant.
Show some respect - if people visiting your impartial and purely 'scientific' site is important to you.

[Michael Hubbard]

Thank you Luke for not pulling any punches on the inanity of the ufo/skyfairy/conspiracy loons and the idea that an old calendar can accurately predict anything more complicated than what day it will be. As to the comments giving the notion that understanding science is somehow equivalent to belief in aliens or creationism and otherwise supporting the notion of invisible impending doom, show the evidence, tell us where to point the telescope to see your fantasy world, or otherwise go read a bit on research validation. The burden of proof is on those making outlandish claims, until you have some proof for those claims I will remain content in the knowledge that the sun will continue to rise well past 2012, just as it has for the proceeding few billion years.

[John]

I enjoyed it. The language may be a tad abusive, but not unwarranted. The eye-roll factor of those end-timer twits pretty much pegs my B.S.-ometer every time I come across one of their "revelations."

The rest of you, chill out. Private blog, private opinions, freedom of speech.

[AwesomeMan]

Great article. It got a chuckle out of me. The rest of the posters here need to loosen up a bit. It's sad.

[Alverant]

Atrueoriginall, the point of this article is that there's so much hysteria about the world ending in 2012 that professional scientists have to take the time to reassure the world that it's not going to happen. It's like when the Indian woman killed herself when the European supercollider went online. Fear is driving people away from science and Hollywood is exploiting that fear for profit. It's frustrating we have to remind people the difference between fantasy and reality. People should know better.

There's nothing wrong with mocking something stupid.

[Comfortably Numb]

So the rapture that was supposed to happen in September 1988 has been rescheduled for December 2012?
I'll be sure to mark my calendar.

[Milkman]

"The second is the stunningly stupid concept of a conspiracy theory, the idea that not only has the government somehow suppressed knowledge of an extinction-level event, but that it's Hollywood - an organization which released "Vin Diesel in a car" on no less than four separate occasions - who broke the impenetrable web of secrecy and have decided the best use of knowledge of impending doom is to give John Cusack two and half hours of screentime."

This paragraph made me laugh. Maybe the social stigma of being viewed as stupid will prevent the masses from perpetuating false claims.

[SiliconJon]

While I don't for a minute believe any sort of predicted doomsday is heading our way in 2012, unless some men in power decided to fulfill the prophecy in their own manner like a plot from a suspense flick, I found this tone to be too aggressive and condescending. I get a kick out of Luke's snide remarks sometimes, but this reeks of snobbery, hate, and prejudice.

Alas, the world is spiraling into this sort of behavior, so it will likely bring in a much greater audience for the Daily Galaxy, minus me.

[CutTheChord]

Keep up the good work, Luke. People who believe the world is ending in 2012 are seriously short a few marbles.

[Rob Bast]

CutTheChord - you are generalizing. All my marbles are present, but then again I only think it might end, not that it will. Nobody can say with any certainty that it will end, unless they have some knowledge they have kept secret... But it might, which is the whole point. We don't even know how the Sun works, and we won't see a dark comet coming...

[mparker]

We do know how the sun works. Try wikipedia-sun. Having faith in a theory with no evidence behind it is called religion, or a cult, and that's not science. It's not wrong to call dumb dumb. It's rather worse to let dumb have its say and allow it to stand there without refutation, because that's how dumb can be transmitted like a disease. Believing in Science which is based on observation and testing and evidence is not just like believing in intelligent design which is based on faith and nothing else. Science is not a religion. Good article and your tone did not give me the vapors.

[Haveyousneezedrecently]

This is good, fun, site site, mainly for interesting and thought-provoking opinions. I do think Luke has pushed the envelope in expressing his personal views this time.

However, as Arthur Dent, when checking his body for injuries, found he was bleeding everywhere, until he realised it was his hand that was bleeding, best to make sure that your judgement organ is free of rotting debris, before contesting that something you 'smell' is actually 'reeking'.

Or, to refer to an excellent book, log and splinter.

[Jerry]

Luke, and anyone else, is perfectly justified in ridiculing the ignorant. Way to go, Luke, I laughed my way through this article! You are right on the money.

[Hu]

Wow you are insulting and vulgar... what a turn off.

[xyz]

I have to agree with Atrueoriginall & others, the condescending tone is inappropriate for this site & off-putting. The style seems better suited to FoxNews.

[EvilCosmicMonkeyfrom Knoxville]

True, Luke may have gone a bit overboard in decrying the 2012 hysteria, but at the same time I & I suspect, a few million other people are tired of all the gullibility over the 2012. When they MAKE A MOVIE about that crap, it pushes the envelope.

People panicked before the year 2000 rolled around, & the global computer network was supposed to fall apart like a daisy - chain in a high wind - Nothing happened.

People were afraid that when the scientists at CERN fired up the LHC, that it would generate a black hole that would swallow the Earth - Nothing happened.

Same thing will happen when the year 2012 comes down the pike, Nostradamus will be disappointed or maybe relieved.

Maybe Luke's remarks were somewhat cutting, but I've had enough New Age pseudo - scientific B.S. & nonsense, myself.

[Gevs]

I have also had enough of these idiots.
If you choose to believe that the Mayans somehow got it right, do you now intend to convert to the Mayan polytheistic religion? Want to start the human sacrifice now or later?

It's disgusting that Hollywood is so willing to cash in on these crazies.

Also! Real science is based on real evidence and observation.

[Barrie O'Leary]

At least Luke must understand how much the blatant ignorance of the few greatly affect the terribly adverse opinions of Americans that is strong around the world to-day. Ignorance has to be stamped out. Using words is the kindest way.

[EvilCosmicMonkeyfrom Knoxville]

If we want to be caustic, condescending & cutting about the mindset of the people who believe in the 2012 idiocy, wouldn't it be fair to do likewise to the cults like ( the former ) Heaven's Gate, who believed they were all going to ascend to a starship inside a comet, leaving their earthly bodies behind ? What about the millions of people who are part of the " Rapture -Ready " movement & believe fervently in the vision of the End Times as presented in the " Left Behind " books & movies ?

Some of these folks are as on the fringe as the people who believe that everything is going to end or radically change in 2012.

I think the people that believe in this stuff ( Space Messiahs / Brethren, 2012, Nostradamus prophecies, etc. ) are deluded, but I don't go so far as to direct streams of bile, condescending remarks & insults towards them just because they appear to be ignorant.

I'm sorry, but to me, this is NOT really objective journalism. Luke McKinney is outspoken, colorful & sometimes FUN to read, but he really pushes the envelope. Fox News has a position for him, probably.

[Marty Ferguson]

BOOYA, LUKE!

Couldn't have said it better myself. You can't forget the worldwide 'panic' that some people tried to create at the end of the millennium: 'ALL THE WORLD'S COMPUTERS WILL RESET THEMSELVES TO 1900! BANK ACCOUNTS WILL SHOW A ZERO BALANCE AND YOU WERE NEVER BORN!' The world started counting down; 3, 2, 1 and.....nothing!

People may wake up Christmas Day 2012 and ask, "Wasn't the world supposed to end a couple of days ago?" and then go unwrap their presents.

[Marty Ferguson]

Another thought (if it hasn't already been mentioned): If the world DOES end in 2012 we won't have to worry about Apophis anymore, hit OR miss (or any other space rock, for that matter)!!

[woohoo]

man people get bent out of shape over the stupidest stuff. And I am not just talking about the people who think the world will end in 2012. The people who go all nutso on those people are acting just as immature. Hey it is a movie. Get over yourself. Be a human being for one day and enjoy some sci-fi.

[chelsea brunkins]

THIS IS SOO STUPID LIKE SERIOUSLY ! I HAVE 3 KIDS AND THERE LOVELY BUT I HOPE THEY DONT BELIEVE INT HIS KIND OF STUPID DAMN STUFF ,