Is Friday the End of the World?

Don’t make any rash decisions: Experts say 12/21/12 is going to be just another typical winter solstice.

Killer solar flares aren’t expected. Another planet isn’t on a collision course with ours. And, despite the plans for "end of days" parties, the Mayan “long count calendar” ending on this date has no real significance, unless you're Mayan.

What’s' All the Fuss About?

There are a number of theories and predictions that call for earth’s demise on Dec. 21, 2012. They include:

• The ending of the Mayan calendar. The Mayans, according to a Sarasota Patch article, kept three separate but interlocking calendars. The “long calendar” ends on Dec. 21. Some say this constitutes a Doomsday prediction; most do not.
• Nostradamus. That famed French seer from the 1500s has been credited with predicting several end-of-the-world scenarios that some believe will take place in 2012. The website December212012.com points to the potential sparking of World War III on this date.
• The collision of Earth and the supposed planet Nibiru. This supposed space catastrophe was initially predicted to strike in 2003. The planet in question was supposedly discovered by the Sumerians, according to NASA. When the world didn’t end in 2003, the date was moved to December 2012 for the deadly collision with earth.

What are the Experts Saying?

The intrigue created by multiple end-of-the-world predictions has made many scholars and even NASA stand up to make statements debunking the claims. From professors at Tampa Bay, Florida’s New College to the scientific minds at NASA, they’re all saying the same thing: Go ahead and pay that mortgage bill and wrap those holiday presents.

In regard to the ending of the Mayan calendar, New College’s Gabrielle Vail says this:

There are many misconceptions about the Mayans. If you look at their calendar alone, the Mayans kept three calendars. The one that has prompted the end of the world predictions was their "long count calendar" — a 5,125-year calendar. The calendar began August 11, 3114 B.C. and ends Dec. 21, 2012.

She said the Mayans wrote about dates beyond Dec. 21, 2012 "well, well into the future, trillions of years." They also wrote about dates before the 5,125-year calendar began.

NASA is so confident the world won't end on Friday they pre-released a video explaining why the world didn't end "yesterday," dated Dec. 22, 2012. Here’s what NASA has to say about all of the collective Doomsday prophecies:

The world will not end in 2012. Our planet has been getting along just fine for more than 4 billion years, and credible scientists worldwide know of no threat associated with 2012.

Why do you think people get so caught up in end-of-the-world predictions? Tell us in the comments below.

You might also be interested in reading:

Are You Throwing or Attending an End of Days Party on 12-21-12?

End of the World: Is the Apocalypse Really Coming on Dec. 21?