The volume of misinformation pertaining to “verified” scientific evidence supporting a 2012 disaster is astounding. References to 1000 year old civilizations, such as the Maya, predicting everything from solar flares to Milky Way galactic gravity are made without any regard for logic or sources. The following is the anti-pseudo-science section. I have tried to hit the main fabrications but have undoubtedly missed some.
Sun Spot Cycle
NASA has confirmed an approximate 11-year period between cycles of solar sun spot activity. Disaster zealots predict cataclysmic levels of solar energy output for December 2012. The extremes on record vary from a minimal measurement in 1805 to a “solar maxima” measured in 1958, which resulted in power outages and northern lights in Mexico. A recent theory suggests that a “conveyor belt” of electrically-conducted gas moves below the sun’s surface in a similar way to the Earth’s great oceanic conveyor belt, which moves cold and warm water around the planet. But regardless of the cause, it is a fact that a cyclic minimum was reached in March 2006 and a maximum is forecast for late 2011.
Planetary Alignment
It has been predicted that forces from our solar system neighbors will rip our planet apart. The Mayans’ only reference to 2012 on this subject is for Venus (the Mayans’ favorite celestial object) to transition in front of the sun, which would have an absolutely negligible effect on anything gravitational. Likewise, according to NASA and many other scientific websites, none of the other planets are even closely aligned within this time window.
Galactic Alignment
This theory suggests that the December solstice (the first day of winter) will be aligned with the center of the galaxies in the Milky Way, which will cause a huge gravitational upheaval on the planet. Beyond the fact that this suggests that gravity “travels” at the speed of light, a concept every physicist on the planet might enjoy discussing (i.e. some galaxies are thousands of light years away), the position of our solar system within the flat galactic plane is the result of 13 billion years of gravitational tug-and-pull and cosmic chaos. The twice annual solstice and equinox events have been happening every March, June, September and December for billions of years and the impact of a “galactic alignment” is irrelevant.
Comet Returns
Chunks of space debris can hit us at any time but predictions of a comet striking earth in December 2012 are simply not valid. NASA and other scientific institutions track known comets and asteroids and they are constantly looking for new ones. According to reliable sources, there is nothing scheduled for arrival in 2012.
Earth Reverses Polarity
This event is referred to as a “geomatic reversal” and refers to a flipping of the magnetic field to the opposite pole, for example from the North Pole to the South Pole. This occurs somewhat randomly on a frequency of somewhere between a few hundred years and 40 million years. The last occurrence was 780,000 years ago. Although not fully understood, it is likely a result of the fluid movement of metals within Earth’s molten core and is not only completely unpredictable, is not considered a global threat.
Sun Reverses Polarity
The flipping of the sun’s polarity is an anticipated event that coincides with the 11-year cycle of the sun spot maximum. It too is forecast for 2011 and is not expected to be out of the ordinary. Basic math assures us that this has happened 464 times since the start of this particular phase of the Mayan Long Count calendar. So, 465th time’s a charm, then?
Polar Axis Shift
A polar axis shift is when the rotation of the planet is flipped 90 degrees. For example, the earth would start spinning on an east-west axis versus the established north-south axis. A polar axis shift is not related to the sun’s or earth’s polarity and although it is a devastating occurrence, it is random, unpredictable and highly unlikely. The event is possible as the result of either 1) an extraterrestrial impact or 2) extraterrestrial gravitational forces. In the 5 billion year history of our solar system, it is likely that both Venus and Uranus were subjected to such an event as both exhibit unusual rotational behavior. A popular theory regarding the creation of the moon involves a Mars-sized object striking our planet 4.55 billion years ago sending much of Earth’s crust into space where gravitational forces and time amassed our moon. Now THAT would have created a polar axis shift, and it happened a mere 1,660,750,000,000 days ago.
Gravitational Wave and Gravity Wave Activity
The theory of gravitational waves is mentioned in Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity. Gravitational waves are loosely described as ripples in space-time possibly caused by colliding black holes. Research is ongoing but direct observance of the phenomenon remains elusive. Gravity waves, on the other hand, are simply the resultant stabilizing activity between different density mediums, such as waves on water or weather activity caused by rising hot air. Neither of these has any relationship with the year 2012.
It is important to stick with the facts and avoid the piled-higher-and-deeper method of myth creation.
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