Countdown to 2012: End of the Maya calendar?

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Fueled by a crop of books, Websites with countdown clocks, and claims about ancient timekeepers, interest is growing in what some see as the dawn of a new era, and others as an expiration date for Earth: Dec. 21, 2012, reports CNN.

The date marks the end of a 5,126-year cycle on the Long Count calendar developed by the Maya, the ancient civilization known for its advanced understanding of astronomy and for the great cities it left behind in Mexico and Central America.

Speculation in some circles about whether the Maya chose this particular time because they thought something ominous would happen has sparked a number of doomsday theories, which in turn have inspired a movie set for release in the fall.

In addition, CNN points out that if you type ‘2012’ into an Internet search engine you’ll find survival guides, survival schools, predictions and ‘official stuff’ to wear, including T-shirts with slogans such as ‘2012 the End’ and ‘Doomsday 2012.’

But the hype also has mainstream Maya scholars shaking their heads.

-- Deborah Bonello in Mexico City