NASA: 2012 is the Most Absurd Science Fiction Film Ever Made
Posted on January 4, 2011
NASA has named Roland Emmerich's disaster film, 2012, as the most absurd sci-fi film ever made. Digital Spy reports that 2012 topped a list, compiled by NASA and the Science and Entertainment Exchange, of the least plausible films ever made.
Donald Yeomans, the head of NASA's Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous mission, says the 2012 movie "took advantage of public worries about the so-called end of the world."
There are certainly far more ridiculous sci-fi films than 2012, such as Santa Claus Conquers the Martians. However, 2012 is in a much different category because it confuses some people into worrying that it might really happen and thereby creates extra work for NASA by forcing them to field numerous questions and dispel rumors. Even without Roland Emmerich's film there are enough websites and rumors about 2012 and the Mayan calendar that NASA is likely to continue to field questions from now until the end of next year.
Donald Yeomans told The Times, "The agency is getting so many questions from people terrified that the world is going to end in 2012 that we have had to put up a special website to challenge the myths."
NASA has a FAQ about the Mayan calendar and the year 2012 here. The FAQ says the Mayan calendar does not actually end in 2012. The FAQ says, "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."
NASA also created this video to help ease concerns about the year 2012. Take a look: