If you were to check out the success of most Hollywood blockbusters, you would conclude that mankind has an inexplicable attraction towards apocalyptic scenarios. While we cannot explain why we are so fascinated with the end of days, it is impossible to overlook the number of people who have tried to speculate on how and when the world will end.
Considering that we’re currently in 2012, a year which most doomsday prophets have associated to the end of days, we thought it was a good idea to review the apocalyptic theories involving this moment as well as the ones further in the future.
1. World War III
Over the past decades, each international conflict brought to the public’s opinion more and more information about the military capabilities of the most powerful countries in the world. Currently, a great number of theorists strongly believe that a conflict between two super-powers will inevitably mean the start of WWIII and the utilization of nuclear force, which will make the planet inhabitable. However, while a nuclear war is highly unlikely, WWIII is actually a possibility because of several factors: the scarcity of fresh water supply across the globe, the reduced crop production due to harsh meteorological conditions, the economic depression and the limited supply of resources (oil and other fossil fuels).
2. Galactic alignment
The theory of the galactic alignment that will bring forth the end of the world has its roots in the Mayan cosmology interpretation. To summarize, this prediction states that at the winter solstice on 21st of December 2012 the crossing point of the ecliptic (the location of your solar system) will align with the dark center of the galaxy. While this phenomenon takes place once every 36 years, this time it is special as the sun will appear in front of the center of the galaxy. Supporters of the theory claim that the alignment will cause several disturbances on Earth, the most fearsome being that the planet will be sucked in by the black hole located at the center of the Milky Way.
3. Geomagnetic reversal
As geologists observed a dramatic change in the Earth’s magnetic field (it dropped by 6% each century), some believe that the geomagnetic reversal of the poles is inevitable. However, the supporters of this theory cannot calculate the time when this will occur given the fact that the reversals tend to vary from a few thousand years to millions of years. While the effect cannot be predicted, one thing is for sure: if the process were to occur, the planet will be completely exposed to the charged particles emitted by the sun.
4. Solar storms
Once every 11 years, the Sun experiences changes in the magnetic field resulting in massive coronal ejections, solar flares and spots, which combined will send charged particles towards the Earth. As NASA announced in 2012, the solar storms will reach a peak, which can cause severe disturbances on our planet. Currently, the planet is protected by the magnetic field and hence, the solar storms will not make the Earth burst into flames or anything. However, NASA warns that power grids and electric devices can be seriously affected.
5. The super volcano threat
With the help of various sophisticated calculations, scientists have been able to determine an eruption pattern of the planet’s super-volcanoes. Essentially, the eruption of such a volcano will destroy all life on Earth (as it is estimated the sunlight will be blocked out for several years) and will cause the earth to enter a nuclear winter. Among the four super-volcanoes on the planet, Yellowstone has been showing several signs on unrest and, according to calculations, it can erupt at any point.
Planning for parties for 31st December starts roughly around the end of October. People make sure that every detail is in place and that their guests have nothing to complain about when the clock strikes twelve!
Those who believe in God or follow a particular religion like to send a little prayer in God’s direction as soon as 1st January of the new year rolls around. Many families like to come together and carry out these ceremonies with the help of soft music and dozens of candles.
We all make new year resolutions. It is always good to make a fresh start and leave all our old problems and worries behind. There is no better time to do this than 31st December when the year is ending and a new one is starting. Even though most of us forget all about them by about 7th January, it is fun to believe that we will stick to them at the time!
This tradition is followed by Europeans all over the world. They believe that the first person that enters their house when the clock strikes twelve should not only have dark hair but should also be male. He should come bearing gifts which should be symbolic of good luck or good health.
Many people believe that if they enter the new year laughing or smiling, they will spend the rest of the year the same way. Therefore, even if they are not particularly happy when the clock starts chiming, they start laughing just to keep up with the tradition.
If a giant meteor was to fall through the sky and onto the Earth, life as we know it would end pretty quickly. It would result in the formation of a massive dust cloud and the rubble that would be created would prevent the sun rays from entering the Earth’s atmosphere. The vegetation would die within a short period of time and a brand new ice age would begin.
There is a new strain of flu that is discovered every year. If not chicken flu, it’s bird flu and if not that, it’s swine flu- it’s never ending. It is not difficult to predict that a strain may be discovered in the near future that may kill the human race altogether because a vaccine for it would not have been created yet.
Super volcanoes calderas like the Yellowstone National Park are potentially very dangerous. This super volcano erupts after 600,000 years and according to statistics, it erupted last 640,000 years back. Therefore, it goes without saying that the next eruption is long overdue.
Humans are far from perfect and they make mistakes quite often. They also have urges to do bend and break rules and do what they are told not to. Let us take the example of military or nuclear weapons of mass destruction. These weapons either have codes or buttons that instruct humans not to press them. One mistake and a long chain of disasters will be unleashed onto the world and life on Earth would end.
The Earth’s Magnetic field protects the Earth from harmful solar winds. However, this shield will soon deteriorate completely. According to research, this magnetic field reverses after every 250,000 years and the last time it reversed was 780,000 years ago. Therefore, this too is overdue. Naturally, without this shield, life on Earth would end quite rapidly.
