Episode 19: The end of the world (myths)

In this final episode of the first season, Liz and Bill reassure you that the world isn’t ending in December.

To help debunk more crazy astronomy-related myths, visit www.astronomy.com/myths.

Questions, comments, or ideas for future episodes? Contact Liz and Bill at
cosmicadventures@astronomy.com

And be sure to check out more episodes of Cosmic Adventures!

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BRANDYN WEATHERLY from NORTH DAKOTA said:

It didn't end!
I knew it wouldn't.
:)

Submitted: 1/21/2013 3:28:00 PM (CST)

LIZ KRUESI from WISCONSIN said:

Ack! VICTOR BAZAN SR is correct — the image we call the Mayan calendar is actually the Aztec calendar. We fell into the same trap as many other media outlets, and sadly didn't do enough research about the image. However, our reason for discussing the Mayan calendar is still accurate (that the end of the Mayan Long Count calendar does not equal the end of the world). So, please, don't let this small error take away from the point of this video.

Submitted: 12/17/2012 9:42:38 AM (CST)

GRANT REGEN from CALIFORNIA said:

Hey Liz and Bill, can you tell me about the new theorized Y-class stars? I looked back and saw you did not talk about them back in the stellar family video. You did talk about L and T stars but not Y stars. Is there just not enough information about them? Also, you talked about their relations to gas giants. Do these stars turn into gas giants or some how, come from them? Lastly, you could do an episode on neutron stars; they seem really cool.

Thanks,
Grant

Submitted: 12/1/2012 7:10:52 PM (CST)

VICTOR BAZAN SR from MEXICO said:

Dear friends.

The picture you shown as a Mayan calendar is completely wrong, that is the Aztec calendar, another culture, maybe with more cultural differences than the Americans have with English people, and not related with any Mayan predictions, they never did apocaliptic predictions, that calendar was an agricultural calendar.

The "end of the world" is an occidental concept that was no present in those cultures, the saw the nature in a very different way, and there is no evidence of those predictions in any Mayan code or calendar, the Mayan calendar was done for cropping proposes based astronomic observations and natural cicles, the end of the world is more close to the Jewish concepts of apocalypsis, very suitable for Hollywood movies and media propaganda, than for the Mayan civilization.

Regards
Victor Bazan.

Submitted: 10/19/2012 9:37:53 AM (CST)

ERIC LIPPER from NEW YORK said:

OMG, the guy handing Bill the calendar!..... How about an episode on all the cool possible things we could see in the future, like this great comet, or Betelgeuse exploding!

Submitted: 10/14/2012 11:09:00 PM (CST)

KENNETH E EBELING from IOWA said:

If NIBIRU was actually coming, wouldn't the amature astronomers have discovered it by now? Or is this palnet so dark you can't see it. In which, how was it discoverd in 1982??? Love this episode.

Submitted: 10/11/2012 7:12:04 PM (CST)

OSCAR SIFUENTES from FLORIDA said:

I have to share it with all my friends. As a joke we posted that date in our Brevard Astronomical Society (BAS) Out-Reach events calendar at www.brevardastro.org

Submitted: 10/7/2012 4:42:38 AM (CST)

RICHARD MCNALLY from VIRGINIA said:

Some people I know are getting ready for the looters and cultists who'll self-fulfill a 2012 apocalypse scenario. I'll be the guy out by the lake trying to get my annual M42 glimpse. If it turns out to be the last thing I see, I'm content.

Submitted: 10/5/2012 3:31:07 PM (CST)

ANTHONY BARREIRO from CALIFORNIA said:

Thanks for setting my mind at ease regarding the Mayan calendar, galactic alignment, and Niburu. Now if you could make a video reassuring us all about increasing CO2 levels, global warming, ocean acidification, habitat destruction, species extinction, mega-storms, drought, and famine, I would sleep better at night. Seriously, this is part of what irritates me about the 2012 hysteria -- there are real threats right here on planet Earth, and we need to deal with them if humanity is going to survive.

Submitted: 10/5/2012 2:34:11 PM (CST)

THOMAS STURDIVANT from MISSISSIPPI said:

Thank you for addressing these issues, I know some folks that need to see this video.

Submitted: 10/1/2012 4:37:06 PM (CST)

	Sun	Sun	Moon
RISE	—		—	PHASE	—
SET	—		—	DISK	—