The end of the world in 2012? Science communication and science scares

[LukeSkywatcher]

Give me a break. The end of the world next year?

TISH WASH.

[NGEddie]

Very interesting and thanks for the link. There are also many other interesting lectures on that site, though not astronomy related.

[swlloyd3]

Awesome link thank you for sharing!

Loved the bit about painting asteriods!

Ste.

[Mr Spock]

If the word does end in 2012 at least we won't have to listen to the doom and gloom merchants saying I told you so

[Stargazing_Cliff]

2012 more likely get polar shift start of ice age /path of some meteor most probably what i rekon's or is they nibiru x thats the question ?

[meteoriot]

2012 more likely get polar shift start of ice age /path of some meteor most probably what i rekon's or is they nibiru x thats the question ?

If there was such a thing as nibiru/planet x and it was on a collision course with earth in 2012 then it would have been discovered by now as it would even be visible with the naked eye.

[Hypernova]

Anyone remember the purported images of "Nibriu" that actually turned out to be the light echos from v838 Moncerotis?

[bm1980]

very interesting lecture, Thanks i have been doing a bit of research into 2012, this lecture helped answer a lot of questions that i found myself asking.

[JamesF]

Any chance of a link or what should I search as I can't find it please?

I'm afraid I have no idea. I only found it by accident myself.

James

[Macavity]

Not sure which worries me more - The "end of the world", or a whole "crusade" of blogging, lecture-touring (swearing even!), astronomers and particle physicists; determined to "protect me" from my (presumed?) aberrant thinking. [part serious]

I did laugh at one guy's observation... on the David Icke forum. He had noticed, in the run-up to 2012, that CATS had "started to become much friendlier towards him"! Argh, Don't tell 'em, Felix?

I think though, some crucial points were made at the end of JBB's lecture. There is a difference (a vast one, IMO) between random "End of the world" believers, and e.g. media-driven(?), HIV denial, anti-vaccine scare-mongering etc.

Not sure *I'd* like to live TOO close to Power Lines though...

[ZZraynj]

Regarding the Brian Cox interview on you tube. Much as I love the prof. I had to laugh when he's talking about the statistics of the "morons" walking in front of a bus; How about driving into the back of one with all that hands free driving ?

Hmmmm..