Nasa Video Debunks 'End Of World' Theories

Scientists at Nasa have released a video dismissing theories that the world will end on December 21.

Experts at the American space agency are so confident of their argument, that they have posted the December 22-dated video more than a week before the supposed doomsday.

The short film, called 'Why The World Didn't End Yesterday', debunks various apocalyptic theories linked to the ancient Mayan calendar.

The video says: "If you're watching this video, it means one thing: the world didn't end yesterday.

"According to media reports of an ancient Mayan prophecy, the world was supposed to be destroyed on December 21 2012.

"But look around you. The whole thing was a misconception from the very beginning."

Dr John Carlson, director of the Centre for Archaeoastronomy , said the Mayan calendar did not end on that date and that the Mayans had never predicted the world would end then.

He explained that their calendar simply "rolls over" on December 21 2012.

The video also quotes Don Yeoman, head of Nasa's near-earth comet programme, as saying no known asteroids or comets were on a collision course with earth.

"Neither is a rogue planet coming to destroy us," he said.

Nasa astrobiologist David Morrison said: "If there were anything out there like a planet heading for earth, it would already be one of the brightest objects in the sky. Everybody on earth (would be able) to see it.

"You don't need to ask the Government, just go out and look. It's not there."

The video also dismissed suggestions that solar flares meant the sun posed a threat to human existence.