Quantcast
ZME Science
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
    Menu
    Natural Sciences
    Health
    History & Humanities
    Space & Astronomy
    Technology
    Culture
    Resources
    Natural Sciences

    Physics

    • Matter and Energy
    • Quantum Mechanics
    • Thermodynamics

    Chemistry

    • Periodic Table
    • Applied Chemistry
    • Materials
    • Physical Chemistry

    Biology

    • Anatomy
    • Biochemistry
    • Ecology
    • Genetics
    • Microbiology
    • Plants and Fungi

    Geology and Paleontology

    • Planet Earth
    • Earth Dynamics
    • Rocks and Minerals
    • Volcanoes
    • Dinosaurs
    • Fossils

    Animals

    • Mammals
    • Birds
    • Fish
    • Reptiles
    • Amphibians
    • Invertebrates
    • Pets
    • Conservation
    • Animals Facts

    Climate and Weather

    • Climate Change
    • Weather and Atmosphere

    Geography

    Mathematics

    Health
    • Drugs
    • Diseases and Conditions
    • Human Body
    • Mind and Brain
    • Food and Nutrition
    • Wellness
    History & Humanities
    • Anthropology
    • Archaeology
    • Economics
    • History
    • People
    • Sociology
    Space & Astronomy
    • The Solar System
    • The Sun
    • The Moon
    • Planets
    • Asteroids, Meteors and Comets
    • Astronomy
    • Astrophysics
    • Cosmology
    • Exoplanets and Alien Life
    • Spaceflight and Exploration
    Technology
    • Computer Science & IT
    • Engineering
    • Inventions
    • Sustainability
    • Renewable Energy
    • Green Living
    Culture
    • Culture and Society
    • Bizarre Stories
    • Lifestyle
    • Art and Music
    • Gaming
    • Books
    • Movies and Shows
    Resources
    • How To
    • Science Careers
    • Metascience
    • Fringe Science
    • Science Experiments
    • School and Study
    • Natural Sciences
    • Health
    • History and Humanities
    • Space & Astronomy
    • Culture
    • Technology
    • Resources
  • Reviews
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Anthropology
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Electronics
    • Geology
    • History
    • Mathematics
    • Nanotechnology
    • Economics
    • Paleontology
    • Physics
    • Psychology
    • Robotics
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Science

Doomsday part 1: The Maya calendar predicts the end of the world

Mihai Andrei by Mihai Andrei
December 20, 2012
in Science

mayan-doomsday-special-zmescience

Doomsday is upon us, fellow ZME Readers! December 2012, particularly 21 December 2012 marks the conclusion of a b’ak’tun—a time period in the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar which was used in Central America, most notably associated with the Maya (even though it was the Olmec people that actually invented it).

In 1966, Michael D. Coe, a man of which few doomsday believers know of, wrote that “there is a suggestion … that Armageddon would overtake the degenerate peoples of the world and all creation on the final day of the 13th [b’ak’tun]“. Translation – only the chosen ones will be saved, and the other ones will be destroyed by Armageddon.

The 5,125-year “Long Count” Mayan calendar is ending. The precise nature of Armageddon isn’t described, but it will be big, bad, and pretty much annihilate civilization as we know it. Many believe several mountains will open up literally and giant space ships will come out from there, picking up only the chosen ones, thus saving them.

Reality check!!!

Most people have a calendar on their wall, somewhere. At 31 December, the year ends and another one begins. Imagine you have a calendar with, say, 100 years. At the end of the 100th year, 31 December, the calendar will end. Conclusion – the world will end. Makes perfect sense, right ? This date is the end of the Mayan long-count period but then — just as your calendar begins again on January 1 — another long-count period begins for the Mayan calendar.

As a matter of fact, even the initial interpretation was contested, most archaeologists believing that the end of the calendar is a matter of celebration and entering a new era.

Regardless, believing the world will end because an ancient civilization’s calendar ends is really childish. But who knows, maybe some alien species will find one of our calendar and think the world ends on 31 December.

Read about other popular Mayan doomsday “prophecies” from our debunking series:

  • Doomsday part 1: The Maya calendar predicts the end of the world
  • Doomsday part 2: Nibiru (Planet X) is coming
  • Doomsday part 3: The magnetic poles are shifting!
  • Doomsday part 4: solar flares 
  • Doomsday part 5: Planetary and galactic alignment 
  • Doomsday part 6: asteroid strike 

Was this helpful?


Thanks for your feedback!

Related posts:
  1. Archaeologists find earliest evidence of Maya divination calendar
  2. A 15 year old may have discovered a hidden Maya city by studying Maya constellations… or not
  3. Doomsday part 2: Nibiru (Planet X) is coming
  4. Doomsday part 3: The magnetic poles are shifting!
  5. Isaac Asimov Predicts in 1964 What the World Will Look Like Today — in 2014
Tags: mayamayan calendar

ADVERTISEMENT
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
  • Reviews
  • More
  • About Us

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Health
    • History and Humanities
    • Space & Astronomy
    • Culture
    • Technology
    • Resources
  • Reviews
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Anthropology
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Electronics
    • Geology
    • History
    • Mathematics
    • Nanotechnology
    • Economics
    • Paleontology
    • Physics
    • Psychology
    • Robotics
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

Don’t you want to get smarter every day?

YES, sign me up!

Over 35,000 subscribers can’t be wrong. Don’t worry, we never spam. By signing up you agree to our privacy policy.

✕
ZME Science News

FREE
VIEW