On December 21, 2012, the Mayan calendar comes to a shuttering end. To many people this symbolizes the end of the world, to others it’s going to start the beginning of an enlightening period for mankind.

One theory suggests a galactic alignment which would create chaos on Earth because of the gravitational effect between the Sun and the Black hole called Sagittarius A, which is located at the center of our galaxy.

Another common theory is the the magnetic poles will spontaneously reverse their directions. Although any number of things are a possibility in this crazy world we live in, according to NASA scientists December 21st is just going to be another day in December. NASA scientists have said that there is no substantial evidence or physical proof that the world is going to end on December 21, 2012.

NASA Official, Brian Dunbar, dispels any myths associated with December 21st.  He says, “The story started with claims that Nibiru, a supposed planet discovered by the Sumerians, is headed toward Earth. This catastrophe was initially predicted for May 2003, but when nothing happened the doomsday date was moved forward to December 2012 and linked to the end of one of the cycles in the ancient Mayan calendar at the winter solstice in 2012  hence the predicted doomsday date of December 21, 2012.”

In response to theories about planetary alignments leading to an apocalypse on Earth, scientists say no planetary alignment is likely to occur in the next few decades. And even if they did, the effects on our planet would be inconsequential.

According to Dunbar, “NASA scientists also claim that the polar shift theory is totally impossible. Although continents move slowly throughout time, a magnetic reversal is very unlikely to happen in the next few millennia and would not cause any harm to life on Earth.”

The scientists’ conclusion is that the end of the Mayan calendar does not imply the end of the world, only the end of the Mayan long-count period. The long-count period is a part of the Mayan calendar shaped like a wheel. When we reach the end of the wheel, it will turn to the beginning again, just like our modern Gregorian calendar starts again every January 1. Every 12 months we start a beginning of a new year, and so far, we have only had 2012. The Mayan long-count period ending will be the first turn in Mayan long-count period calendar and just another step towards the future.

Bethel Park High School students and teachers had thoughts to offer on the topic as well.  Student Anastasia Kopriva stated, “I don’t really believe that the world is going to end on Friday, but if it did, it would be a pretty sweet thing to see”.

Mrs. Eisel, a Biology teacher among us at Bethel, said, “There are a couple theories that I have heard. I’ve heard that the planets are going to align for the first time in recorded history, and there are going to be a lot of catastrophic geological events that occur.”

In response to the Mayan calendar’s culpability for the many scientific theories that are circulating about December 21st, Mrs. Eisel said,  “Well these theories were already being stated previously, but I think the fact that the Mayan calendar is ending on the 21st of December was the link that would give people a specific date.”

In conclusion, the world as we know it is most likely not going to end due to the lack of evidence and the fact that there is no reason for the world to end other than the fact that the Mayan calendar is ending on December 21, 2012. Hopefully, I will see you all in the near future, if there is one…