(For those who read this article, please note this is an essay written primarily for the benefit of the Table of Nine Discussion Panel. Feel free to read at your leisure, and give comments regardless.)
"An unstable or crucial time or state of affairs in which a decisive change is impending, especially: one with the distinct possibility of a highly undesirable outcome..."
~ Merriam-Webster Dictionary, definition of 'crisis'
A crystal ball into the future would be the dream come true of so many on the planet, to know which stocks to choose to guarantee wealth, to have the foreknowledge of how long a marriage can last. But such an object would also show us the pain and suffering to come with the days not yet here. One such day has captured the imaginations and terror of everyone from the ancient Mayans to Hollywood producers: 21 December, 2012. Predictions going back millennia, from multiple cultures and sources, have predetermined this day to be the end of all things. But how accurate are these predictions in the first place?
To draw any form of conclusion, certain assumptions must first be put in place. First and foremost is the correlation between this date and our star system crossing what is called the galactic equator. Just as our planet, and every other object in the night sky, can be divided into both a northern and southern hemisphere, so too can our own galaxy. Our resident star, Sol, completes one full orbit around the centre of the Milky Way Galaxy once every 225 million years, at speeds of about 210-240 kilometres per second. But it's not orbiting in simply one hemisphere. Every 25,800 years, Sol crosses the galactic equator. To speak technically, our star system is already in the borderlands of the equator. The best estimates we have as to when we can officially say we have crossed from one hemisphere to the other falls on one specific date: 21 December, 2012.
Thus enters our first assumption: that the Mayan prediction of Doomsday is directly tied to this galactic event. By this assumption, we can set in place the next logical step: just as the breach of the galactic equator occurs on a constant schedule, so too can it be said that whatever event will, or may, happen, it is a cyclical event. It has happened before, long before human civilization even existed. With this framework in mind, we can begin to look at the different possible events.
1) Galactic Barrage
Scientists have been watching the magnetic fields of our resident star and source of light for some years, and have noticed a disturbing trend: the magnetic fields are faltering. One can research the importance of this, and find a terrifying fact. A star's magnetic field drives the so-called 'solar winds' that blast constantly through our system, creating what is known as the heliosphere. Just as the magnetic fields of Terra (or Earth, if you prefer) protect us from the solar winds in our system, the magnetic field of Sol, and resulting solar winds, protect us from the 'galactic winds' from the central hub of the Milky Way. Without this heliosphere to protect us, interstellar radiation would bombard our planet to a microwaved husk. Astronomers and scientists watching this phenomenon estimate the solar winds will reach their lowest point in the latter half of 2012.
But will this really destroy all life on the planet? Keeping in mind that this potential event is cyclical, you can therefore say it has happened before. It has happened before, and there is still life in our world. So this possible event can be all but ruled out. While it is still a possibility, it can be believed to be so unlikely that for the sake of this arguement, it can be ruled out.
2) Nemesis Theory
One need only watch enough television to eventually come across the old story of the 'evil twin,' the one who seeks to undo all the good their twin brings to the world. One such belief of an evil twin draws back to the first formation of our star system. Several have posited that our star is a loose binary to what is now little more than a black dwarf, and that at one time every 25,800 years, this twin returns to wreak havoc upon its twin's satellites: the planets of our system. But studies into numerous stars around our galaxy have shown that the minimum time required for a star to become a black dwarf rests around 40 billion years - far more than the estimated lifetime of our universe.
Others have said that it would not be a black dwarf, but a black hole, rotating lazily nearby, ready to pounce at a moment's notice. This, too, can be debunked. The first black hole ever detected was Cygnus X-1 in 1964. At a distance of 6,000 light-years, it is the closest black hole recorded. As it is having no major effects on our system, it would have to be much closer - and well within modern detection range - to cause widespread damage.
3) Gravimetric Shear
On the topic of black holes, there is indeed one which is strong enough to affect our planet: the Milky Way Galaxy. As absurd as it may sound, our galaxy is indeed the accretion disc of a three million solar mass black hole, whhich rests comfortably within the galactic hub. As a black hole has never, and by definition, can never be visually observed, we can only infer the rotation period of this monster, but it is believed they rotate so quickly that the effect of their gravity is spun out into a flat disc around them. Some have stated that when we cross the galactic equator, the force of gravity from the galactic hub will pull on the surface of our planet, shifting tectonic plates and causing widespread earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
For this possible event alone, there is a myriad of potential evidence. For several years, there has been a steady increase in volcanic and seismic activity, most notably the Boxing Day Tsunami, and the re-awakening of Mount St. Helens. Several have stated previously that this is direct evidence of what is to come, a belief that cannot be entirely dismissed by the most credible of sources.
4) Blackout
Along with possible gravity forces spreading from the galactic hub, there is another possible effect that could come with crossing this boundary. Earlier, it was stated that the chance of intersteller radiation charbroiling our planet is remote to the point of laughable. But there is one thing that, in many minds, has become a wild card issue: electromagnetic radiation. This is not the typical radiation that can be studied by watching documentaries on nuclear incidents such as Chernobyl or Three Mile Island, but it does derive from the use of nuclear weapons.
When a nuclear warhead is detonated, along with gamma ray radiation and temperatures rivaling a solar corona, is a pulse wave of electromagnetic radiation. Harmless to humans on its own, it does have one interesting, and devastating, effect: it literally shorts out both electronic circuitry and anything requiring some form of magnetism to function. Everything from a digital sports watch to a national power grid to your average portable generator, should we encounter a galactic EM pulse, would immediately become so many useless paperweights and relics. Now here's the catch: this is the one possibility that no one can give odds on. The last time this cyclical event occured, mankind had not yet discovered agriculture and language, much less computers. It is a very real chance this could have struck our planet before in the time of our species, and there would be no way of knowing.
Taking this effect into account, look at the time of year this potential event would be set to happen: 21 December, 2012. The northern hemisphere of our planet would be entering into the coldest time of year, and would be greeting it without the benefit of energy, for either lighting or heating. In August of 2003, a blackout struck the lower parts of Ontario and most of the American Eastern Seaboard, during one of the hottest summers on record. Now picture the exact opposite situation, on a global scale. Our species has never before faced such a crucial fight for survival, and it is highly likely, should this event occur, that only about 5% of the global population would survive beyond three years, either from exposure to the elements, or fights over what few supplies remain.
5) A New Day Begins
Through this essay, several different hypothetical outcomes have been examined, but there is still one that is outstanding: that the planet will awaken on 22 December and find that nothing has changed. Through all the discussions and arguements this mythical date has sparked over the last several years, there has been no conclusive evidence set forth to state with absolute certainty that anything will happen at any point, anywhere.
No fully accurate historical records from the last time this event occured exist, as at that time, our species was only at the point of creating renditions of different animals on cave walls across the planet. Whatever may be due for us within the crystal ball, we can only wait and see.
"An unstable or crucial time or state of affairs in which a decisive change is impending, especially: one with the distinct possibility of a highly undesirable outcome..."
~ Merriam-Webster Dictionary, definition of 'crisis'
A crystal ball into the future would be the dream come true of so many on the planet, to know which stocks to choose to guarantee wealth, to have the foreknowledge of how long a marriage can last. But such an object would also show us the pain and suffering to come with the days not yet here. One such day has captured the imaginations and terror of everyone from the ancient Mayans to Hollywood producers: 21 December, 2012. Predictions going back millennia, from multiple cultures and sources, have predetermined this day to be the end of all things. But how accurate are these predictions in the first place?
To draw any form of conclusion, certain assumptions must first be put in place. First and foremost is the correlation between this date and our star system crossing what is called the galactic equator. Just as our planet, and every other object in the night sky, can be divided into both a northern and southern hemisphere, so too can our own galaxy. Our resident star, Sol, completes one full orbit around the centre of the Milky Way Galaxy once every 225 million years, at speeds of about 210-240 kilometres per second. But it's not orbiting in simply one hemisphere. Every 25,800 years, Sol crosses the galactic equator. To speak technically, our star system is already in the borderlands of the equator. The best estimates we have as to when we can officially say we have crossed from one hemisphere to the other falls on one specific date: 21 December, 2012.
Thus enters our first assumption: that the Mayan prediction of Doomsday is directly tied to this galactic event. By this assumption, we can set in place the next logical step: just as the breach of the galactic equator occurs on a constant schedule, so too can it be said that whatever event will, or may, happen, it is a cyclical event. It has happened before, long before human civilization even existed. With this framework in mind, we can begin to look at the different possible events.
1) Galactic Barrage
Scientists have been watching the magnetic fields of our resident star and source of light for some years, and have noticed a disturbing trend: the magnetic fields are faltering. One can research the importance of this, and find a terrifying fact. A star's magnetic field drives the so-called 'solar winds' that blast constantly through our system, creating what is known as the heliosphere. Just as the magnetic fields of Terra (or Earth, if you prefer) protect us from the solar winds in our system, the magnetic field of Sol, and resulting solar winds, protect us from the 'galactic winds' from the central hub of the Milky Way. Without this heliosphere to protect us, interstellar radiation would bombard our planet to a microwaved husk. Astronomers and scientists watching this phenomenon estimate the solar winds will reach their lowest point in the latter half of 2012.
But will this really destroy all life on the planet? Keeping in mind that this potential event is cyclical, you can therefore say it has happened before. It has happened before, and there is still life in our world. So this possible event can be all but ruled out. While it is still a possibility, it can be believed to be so unlikely that for the sake of this arguement, it can be ruled out.
2) Nemesis Theory
One need only watch enough television to eventually come across the old story of the 'evil twin,' the one who seeks to undo all the good their twin brings to the world. One such belief of an evil twin draws back to the first formation of our star system. Several have posited that our star is a loose binary to what is now little more than a black dwarf, and that at one time every 25,800 years, this twin returns to wreak havoc upon its twin's satellites: the planets of our system. But studies into numerous stars around our galaxy have shown that the minimum time required for a star to become a black dwarf rests around 40 billion years - far more than the estimated lifetime of our universe.
Others have said that it would not be a black dwarf, but a black hole, rotating lazily nearby, ready to pounce at a moment's notice. This, too, can be debunked. The first black hole ever detected was Cygnus X-1 in 1964. At a distance of 6,000 light-years, it is the closest black hole recorded. As it is having no major effects on our system, it would have to be much closer - and well within modern detection range - to cause widespread damage.
3) Gravimetric Shear
On the topic of black holes, there is indeed one which is strong enough to affect our planet: the Milky Way Galaxy. As absurd as it may sound, our galaxy is indeed the accretion disc of a three million solar mass black hole, whhich rests comfortably within the galactic hub. As a black hole has never, and by definition, can never be visually observed, we can only infer the rotation period of this monster, but it is believed they rotate so quickly that the effect of their gravity is spun out into a flat disc around them. Some have stated that when we cross the galactic equator, the force of gravity from the galactic hub will pull on the surface of our planet, shifting tectonic plates and causing widespread earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
For this possible event alone, there is a myriad of potential evidence. For several years, there has been a steady increase in volcanic and seismic activity, most notably the Boxing Day Tsunami, and the re-awakening of Mount St. Helens. Several have stated previously that this is direct evidence of what is to come, a belief that cannot be entirely dismissed by the most credible of sources.
4) Blackout
Along with possible gravity forces spreading from the galactic hub, there is another possible effect that could come with crossing this boundary. Earlier, it was stated that the chance of intersteller radiation charbroiling our planet is remote to the point of laughable. But there is one thing that, in many minds, has become a wild card issue: electromagnetic radiation. This is not the typical radiation that can be studied by watching documentaries on nuclear incidents such as Chernobyl or Three Mile Island, but it does derive from the use of nuclear weapons.
When a nuclear warhead is detonated, along with gamma ray radiation and temperatures rivaling a solar corona, is a pulse wave of electromagnetic radiation. Harmless to humans on its own, it does have one interesting, and devastating, effect: it literally shorts out both electronic circuitry and anything requiring some form of magnetism to function. Everything from a digital sports watch to a national power grid to your average portable generator, should we encounter a galactic EM pulse, would immediately become so many useless paperweights and relics. Now here's the catch: this is the one possibility that no one can give odds on. The last time this cyclical event occured, mankind had not yet discovered agriculture and language, much less computers. It is a very real chance this could have struck our planet before in the time of our species, and there would be no way of knowing.
Taking this effect into account, look at the time of year this potential event would be set to happen: 21 December, 2012. The northern hemisphere of our planet would be entering into the coldest time of year, and would be greeting it without the benefit of energy, for either lighting or heating. In August of 2003, a blackout struck the lower parts of Ontario and most of the American Eastern Seaboard, during one of the hottest summers on record. Now picture the exact opposite situation, on a global scale. Our species has never before faced such a crucial fight for survival, and it is highly likely, should this event occur, that only about 5% of the global population would survive beyond three years, either from exposure to the elements, or fights over what few supplies remain.
5) A New Day Begins
Through this essay, several different hypothetical outcomes have been examined, but there is still one that is outstanding: that the planet will awaken on 22 December and find that nothing has changed. Through all the discussions and arguements this mythical date has sparked over the last several years, there has been no conclusive evidence set forth to state with absolute certainty that anything will happen at any point, anywhere.
No fully accurate historical records from the last time this event occured exist, as at that time, our species was only at the point of creating renditions of different animals on cave walls across the planet. Whatever may be due for us within the crystal ball, we can only wait and see.
You're a fucking genious John! I'm not kidding. Every time I read the stuff that comes out of your mind I am reminded just how much smarter you are than I am.
ReplyDeleteYou know, I may be mistaken, but it was you who first:
ReplyDeleteA) Informed me over two years ago about the theorized existence of this date in the future, and;
B) Educated me on several of the finer points behind it in the first place.
So don't sell yourself short. Besides, there's been a few times where you've caught me out on other topics, as well.