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Debunking Doomsday Myths
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NASA Space Scientist Dr. David Morrison tells Alan that the end of the world is NOT coming and the Earth is safe.
- Duration 6:55
- Date Dec 1, 2012
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NASA Space Scientist Dr. David Morrison tells Alan that the end of the world is NOT coming and the Earth is safe.
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This -- and I am you might you might hear -- losing my voice alike can still speak a little bit.
I want to apologize to David -- and our guests that a little -- David so.
Forgive me for it.
-- -- -- -- coming on the program.
-- -- -- -- -- -- I don't get too close the phone David Larson doctor -- -- they NASA space.
Scientists senior scientist NASA lunar space institute.
And it's your director of the Carl Sagan center for study of life in the universe.
And as CTI now express any what you're -- get here because.
We have heard and his old wives' -- going around about the main calendar meeting the world ends December 2012.
How did this whole thing gets started hadn't had this myth began.
But I don't really know if it's just absolutely critics say there's not a single element of this -- that's based in fact.
But it's become an Internet phenomenon and there are thousands of web sites and thousands of YouTube videos.
And a lot of people especially children are really frightened that could put that I'm going to come this year.
And -- -- about this because of how it might be affecting kids right but specialist -- effects on the table it is actually a story that a Chinese guy.
I -- and build an ark.
And spent about a 100000 pounds of his life savings to build an -- to escape the impending -- -- apocalypse.
And you probably heard a million stories like this right.
I haven't heard that -- but I know there are people that are trying to build.
Background shelters them escape mountain and France from all -- the crazy thing.
I -- this makes Y two K look you know like that child's play.
So -- unit you know what the origin of this news.
Sure there there are several different -- and the thing that people keep referring to that the Mayan calendar.
Which apparently.
Also they're not sure.
Go through the end of one cycle this month and a news cycle starts beyond that.
-- thirtieth the technical calendar keeps going around and around and around forever.
-- did not expect the end of the world they expect that their world to go on forever.
And then it got connected with the this story completely independent like.
Some incoming.
Planet actor need to -- to crashed -- the -- our planet alignment.
And they all just had been packed together -- this December 20 this.
The rogue planet headed for the earth yeah.
And you know over there -- And you've made a great point that we'll have that we're in the case.
Astronomers.
Would know it it would be brighter we know it was coming you'd see it.
Astronomers would've known about for a decade right now would be bright enough to be seen in the daytime and everybody in the world could go -- must.
And I just find it amazing that somebody is very good their computer and then -- it's coming it -- part of it -- look at the sky.
Is there any kind of plan -- alignment that takes place -- from.
No in fact it's kind of very useful on December 21 the planets are scattered all over this -- And so that was not a good prediction -- So that's not gonna happen and then we have as you pointed out I mean some of the old wives' -- here.
Increasing disasters.
-- now we've kind of share of the battle could lately.
And they've gotten a lot more public debate.
You know -- -- is an example of the earthquake.
But the -- look at the statistics.
There's no difference in the past we've had this same frequency of -- that same frequency about -- Our our planet it's okay we're doing fine and there's nothing coming from Latin -- so what's left to worry about.
Within their people who think that day you know the apocalypse is coming because of what's happening in the Middle East which is the beginning of the of Armageddon so you -- those people who probably complete that -- -- main calendar to.
-- and I can't deal with them.
You may remember that there left from the year ago it was supposed to be the rapture occurred to this one guy that gets people -- -- going to be going to happen.
And none of my friends disappeared so I don't think it was bill that maybe that says something about my friend.
What is -- beer -- That is the -- -- frequently given to this.
Mysterious planet that doesn't exist.
If that's -- Marion name from ancient Mesopotamia.
And they've dragged about it but from the planet it was a god at least through here.
But that's the main frequently people -- is it's entirely.
Fantasy planet that obviously -- -- we could put it.
What is NASA's involvement in any of this just a device.
I'll think about what my involvement as I've been answering questions.
From the public about astronomy and after biology that are Central America web site after -- by -- -- For about a decade in the -- and I am real science questions.
About four years ago -- record for the first time about that.
This 2012 thing and I thought that was crazy.
And I -- my fellow that none of them have ever heard -- but.
Both quick and start coming in -- right now I get fabric and questioned today it completely overwhelm.
You're -- if you sound like you're frustrated by the whole thing.
Well -- -- I'm.
I mostly upset because you're carrying pilgrims.
And I got a lot of votes from kids do say they can't sleep they can't eat some say they're considering boot times and real and -- put that put up that -- What are we know that the -- culture that does that does that play into it at all.
Well it it could accept that it's been -- this started here we go over my you have a very complex calendar.
And as I mentioned before it's -- cycle that goes on and on and on.
He it kind of starts back about 5000 years ago.
And it just continues say they have on -- solitary.
That has that ever read previous world that were destroyed but this one is the right one and it's going to go on forever.
You know the world ends on December 21 a lot of hidden -- -- I mean it's you know but you know I won't repair.
-- Where can people actually go on line and ask you questions if they wanted to didn't participate in your as the astrophysicist.
Well there's certain things there is this NASA web site.
Which is called -- and after stroke.
Our our pastor bile is is -- biology is at the field.
Yeah but but that's what I am but really the best place to go to his days web -- -- -- -- you're -- twelve hope.
Yeah that one straight 321.
You'll want to hope.
And it is really it's not I don't have anything to do with the but it's really authoritative.
And -- -- all your questions.
All right sir appreciate your coming on in the straighten -- efforts here tonight thank you very much for your time thank you -- and thank you so much doctor David Larson senior scientist NASA lunar.
-- institute NASA space scientist.