Ponzi and I decided to pick up Apocalypse 2012 (a real book!) this weekend. At first, we took turns reading chapters to one another - but Ponzi’s brain voluntarily dropped out at the halfway point. I continued to read the rest of the book on my own, finishing up around 3AM. I was hoping for a truly scientific approach to these matters, but Joseph couldn’t quite deliver full impartiality. I’m particularly interested in the “facts” on page 114:

The next peak in the planetary tidal force, essentially the sum total of the planets’ gravitational pull on the Sun, will come in late 2012, according to [solid state quantum physicist] Burgess’s calculations. The sunspot maximum, coincidentally also due in that year, will compound the situation, subjecting the Sun to maximum stress. The Sun’s magnetic poles, which reverse every twenty-two years, at the peak of every second cycle, are also expected to switch in 2012, adding further volatility to the situation.

The resulting synergy of gravitational and electromagnetic pressure on the Sun cannot help but distort and distend its surface, releasing megabursts of imprisoned radiation, quite possibly ones that are far deadlier than any the Earth has encountered since homo sapiens has been around.

By and large, I found the book a compelling read - but it left too many questions unanswered. Numerically speaking, it’s possible that the “end of the world” will come independent of any actions mankind may take. Will it? Best to be prepared than otherwise.

[tags]2012, apocalypse[/tags]