Is it ture are we all going to die in 2012? But how you ask?
2012 Theory 1: A giant Meteor or Asteroid
Millions of years ago, when our planet was still one big melted glowing ball of magma, it was continuously being bombarded with meteors and lose bodies from outer space. Later on, less and less meteors hit planet Earth, though several large ones have had severe consequences, like the one that once extinct the dinosaurs.
There is a chance that a meteor or asteroid of that size could crash on earth hear again. Could be in five thousand year, but it could also be tomorrow. If the meteor is over 10km (about 6.2mi) in span, it would destroy most of the life on our planet. Everything within a range of around one thousand kilometres would be incinerated immediately. But the worst effect of the impact would be a sort of nuclear winter. The crash sends huge amounts of debris into the atmosphere. These will block the suns rays, causing a temporary ice age that will kill all remaining life forms.
2012 Theory 2: A gamma ray burst
Though this is a very realistic theory, not many people know about it. When a huge stars dies, it will implode in its own core, creating a black hole), they emit an enormous amount of gamma radiation. Currently, this phenomenon only occurs in distant galaxies, however this may change. If a star within 10,000 light years dies and sends out a gamma ray burst, and if that star's axis is tilted towards our planet, we die instantly. The side of the earth that is disposed to the radiation directly will incinerate completely within 10 seconds. Next, the radiation (try imagining a million of nuclear power plants without the concrete around them) will change very single atom in the atmosphere and on the ground, turning them radioactive. Shortly after, everything on the other side of the earth dies of the huge amount of radioactive atoms degenerating and emitting radiation themselves.
Theory 3: A super volcano
Several super volcanoes have erupted in history, for example during the Permian Triassic era. The eruption destroyed 95% of all life on Earth. An area comparable to the United States would be covered in lava. Next to that, the volcano would pump huge amounts of volcanic ash into the atmosphere. This also causes a nuclear winter, just like the meteor did. But, in addition, the volcano will spew out chlorine compounds.
These break down the ozone layer, exposing us to the sun's deadly UV rays. It's quite interesting that there is actually a super volcano underneath Yellowstone National Park. It erupts every 600,000 years on average, and surprisingly, the last eruption was about 640,000 years ago. To make things even scarier, scientists have seen Yellowstone's ground level rise several centimetres over the past century.
How can we survive?
In case of a gamma ray burst, don't mind, there's absolutely no chance of survival since everything is radioactive. The only chance you would have is when you are in a bunker whose walls are about a mile thick. And you would never be able to surface.
In case of the meteor, get yourself to a bunker on the right side of the planet straight away. Take water, food and other supplies for five years. After those five years, the atmosphere should be cleared a bit, enough for plants and trees to grow. Now the problem is that everything is dead. Luckily, there is one place where you will be able to get your seeds. Norway has built a bunker over 400 feet under the Earth and stacked it with seeds from all plant species all over the world. Go to that bunker, get the seeds, learn how to be a farmer and replant the world. Next you might want to start communicating and repopulating with other groups of survivors. The bunker is located on the island of Spitsbergen and is built next to an airport. You can try taking an airplane, there's not really going to be anyone needing it anyway.
Lastly, in case of the volcano, if it destroys the ozone layer, you don't even stand a chance. If it does not, or only partially, destroys the layer, best is doing the same as with the meteor impact.
From the sun-scorched sands of the Kalahari to the snake-infested jungles of the Amazon, Les Stroud has made a life of surviving in the harshest—and most remote—regions on Earth.
Now, the creator, producer, and host of the hit television program Survivorman transfers his decades of knowledge and experience to the pages of Survive!, a practical guide that gives everyday readers a no-nonsense look at the real world of survival.
Stroud offers readers the essential skills and tactics necessary to endure in any corner of the globe, along with a wealth of insider information born of his own experiences in the outdoors and unavailable in any other book. Readers will learn:
How to make a survival shelter and why a lean-to is largely a waste of time.
Why survival kits are important, and why you should make your own.
Where to find water and why drinking contaminated water is sometimes warranted.
How to locate and trap small animals and why the notion of tracking and hunting large game is largely a pipe dream.
Whether seasoned in the outdoor arts or new to adventuring, all readers will learn something from Survive!. Stroud's many colorful anecdotes and cut-to-the-chase philosophy not only make for an entertaining read, but also enhance anyone's ability to focus on the main goal when everything else has gone wrong—survival.
