I love all the hype about the "world ending" and the Mayan calendar hysteria that's coming our way in the next couple weeks... it just cracks me up! I really don't believe in conspiracy theories or any of that, but I love seeing other people who do.

NASA did a Q&A to explain that NO, the world is NOT ending on December 21, and NO, you don't have any reason to be afraid. But they did explain the origins behind the rumor:

Q: What is the origin of the prediction that the world will end in 2012?

 A: The story started with claims that Nibiru, a supposed planet discovered by the Sumerians, is headed toward Earth. This catastrophe was initially predicted for May 2003, but when nothing happened the doomsday date was moved forward to December 2012 and linked to the end of one of the cycles in the ancient Mayan calendar at the winter solstice in 2012 -- hence the predicted doomsday date of December 21, 2012.

Q: Does the Mayan calendar end in December 2012?

 A: Just as the calendar you have on your kitchen wall does not cease to exist after December 31, the Mayan calendar does not cease to exist on December 21, 2012. 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.

For the full article, click here!

Photo credit to Flickr: NASA