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| Paper: |
Cosmophobia, Nibiru, and Doomsday 2012 |
| Volume: |
431, Science Education and Outreach: Forging a Path to the Future |
| Page: |
121 |
| Authors: |
Morrison, D. |
| Abstract: |
Stories about the fictional planet Nibiru and predictions of doomsday in December 2012 have blossomed on the Internet and are beginning to creep into the more traditional media. There are now (September 2009) more than 200 books listed on Amazon.com dealing with the 2012 doomsday. Publicity for the science fiction film “2012” seem to be marketing Hollywood disasters as reality. As this hoax spreads, many more disaster scenarios are being suggested. Every week I receive dozens of questions sent to the NASA website “Ask an Astrobiologist” from people who are afraid that the world is about to end. Most of this fear is directed at astronomical phenomena being characterized on the Internet as threats. Following is a list of the most popular “Twenty Questions” sent to Ask an Astrobiologist, organized in a logical succession and answered in some detail. The questions are mostly composites, but they are based on real messages sent to NASA by the public. |
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