The future is vague at the very least and usually a blinding surprise in most cases, especially when speaking of cycles lasting millions of years.
Raup and Sepkoski1 have recently reported evidence fora 26-Myr periodicity in the occurrence of mass extinctions based on a study of marine
fossils. The data baseline of 250 Myr suggests events of variable amplitude, with some of the strongest peaks associated with boundaries between major
geological periods which have been defined by previous palaeontological studies. In a more limited quantitative study, Fischer and Arthur2 earlier
cited evidence for a 32-Myr period of major extinction events. Hatfield and Camp3 were among the first to suggest that mass extinctions might be
correlated with periodic galactic phenomena, noting intervals of 80−90 Myr between major mass extinctions with an exceptionally strong mass
extinction every 225−275 Myr. Here we point out a possible correlation between the 26-Myr extinction period and the Sun's oscillation about the
galactic plane.
www.nature.com...
Hmmm... mass extinctions happening in cycles? Not too lovely a view for a species of humans only on this planet for 2 to 300,000 years.
Harvard is looking into it...
A possible correlation between the 26-Myr extinction period reported by Raup and Sepkoski (1984) and the sun's oscillation about the galactic
plane is pointed out. The extinction level for electromagnetic radiation in the 2 keV-01 eV range and the galactic cosmic ray distribution both change
with distance from the galactic plane, and their possible role as agents of mass extinctions is briefly examined.
adsabs.harvard.edu...
More reading material to confuse ourselves with:
The period and amplitude of the Sun's motion perpendicular to the galactic plane are important parameters in some explanations of the
terrestrial mass extinctions and cratering records1−5. Here we have calculated the range of periods and vertical excursions that are consistent
with the distributions of tracer stars in the Galaxy and have also evaluated the probable phase jitter in the solar period. We find acceptable
half-periods for the vertical oscillation that range from 26 to 37 Myr (including the range of periods that have been inferred from the terrestrial
records on mass extinctions and on cratering), maximum heights above the plane from 49 to 93 pc, and an average phase jitter per half-period of the
order of 6−9%. The largest uncertainty in all these calculations is caused by the unknown distribution of the unseen mass that must be postulated to
explain the distribution of observed stars6−7. For all the models we consider, the most recent passage of the Sun through the galactic plane
occurred in the past 3 Myr provided only that the present position of the Sun is between 0 and 20 pc above the plane. We extend the argument of
Thaddeus and Chanan8 to show that the apparent periodicity in the mass extinction and cratering records cannot be caused by an population of
objects (observed or unobserved) that contributes a major fraction of the total mass density at the solar vicinity.
www.nature.com...
So, the BIG question, out of all that, should be- "Does our solar system cross the Galactic Plane on or about 2012?"
Answer: *shrug* We don't know. We don't know exactly
where that galactic plane is because we've only guessed at it. Maybe those human
sacrificing ancient Mayans knew something we don't or they were just as much in the dark as we are. One thing I do know is that they referred to the
Milky way as the Sacred Tree and a marker of note. Why...(?) no idea.
The periodic dips through the 'galactic plane' are once every ~33 million years and an ELE occurs on a cycle every 60 odd million years.
(?)
About those Maya:
The Maya used several calendars simultaneously. One of them called the "long count", is a continuous record of days from a zero date that
correlates to Aug. 13, 3114 BC, and is more precise than the Julian calendar revised in Europe in 1582. The Maya were great astronomers and kept track
of the solar and lunar years, eclipses and the cycles of visible planets. To carry out their calendric and astronomical calculations they developed a
sophisticated mathematical system where units are written with dots and bars are used to represent five units. They discovered and used the zero as
well as a vigesimal positioning system, similar to the decimal positioning system we use today.
www.mayacalendar.com...
A starting date of 3114 BC, eh? Around 5126 of our Julian years for the total Long Count. Definitely NOT 33 or 60
millions of years. Question
then should be - "What happened on the last Mayan Year Zero?" Obviously the world didn't
totally end then either.
So, what DID happen around then?
3200 BC - Narmer Palette, world's earliest known historical document
www.spiritus-temporis.com...
The beginning of the third millennium BC was characterized with the emergence of the old empires in the east accompanied by the discovery of
writing and the start of writing history. From here, historical ages started in Palestine.
[...]
The era that extended from 3200 BC to 2000 BC is called the Ancient Bronze Age. It was characterized by the emergence of the fortified defending towns
built on high hills.
library.thinkquest.org...
It's sounding a bit like something started right around that time. Or was it old 'somethings' that had been almost completely destroyed and yet
bits of knowledge survived to be used once again?
Anyways, it doesn't really match with 60 million year cycles for ELE's, does it? Tempting evidence, though, that in around year zero of the Mayan
calendar, the first 'book' appeared in Egypt and a new age had begun which, to my mind, symbolized a new kind of civilization.
Newgrange (Brú na Bóinne) is an ancient neolithic passage tomb that dates back to 3200 BC, making it older than the Pyramids of Giza.
realtravel.com...
The precise age of the pyramids of Giza has long been debated because, until now, there has been little evidence to prove when the pyramids were
built. The history books generally point to 3200 B.C. as the approximate date when the pyramid of Khufu was under construction.
www.pbs.org...
Ancient structure building fight!!!
But, really, things were popping around and after the Mayan year zero.
Bottom line:
I don't, and neither does anyone else, know what happened back then, nor does anyone
know what will happen in 2012. Only one thing stands
out... SOMETHING happened the last time around. There seems to be a burgeoning of a New Age *chuckle* in 3200 BC. What brought it on is anyones
guess.
As to the crossing of the galactic plane, the line is WAY too fuzzy because no-one ever really got the big ruler out and inscribed it accurately.
Did the Mayans know something we don't? I think they did because their study of the stars gave them knowledge of time earlier and, in some ways, even
more accurately than we ever did. Same with the ancient Egyptians in that they knew the cycles of precession.
As Zahi Hawass, director General of Giza says:
No single artifact, no single inscription, or pottery, or anything has been found until now, in any place, to predate the Egyptian civilization
more than 5,000 years ago.
www.pbs.org...
OK...
[edit on 13/10/09 by masqua]
