A modern myth is that the calendar of the Mayans (or in some versions, the Aztecs) ends abruptly in 2012. While this is controversial, a slew of recent natural disasters are making many wonder whether the end of the world is steadily approaching. Despite arguments against the 2012 prophecy, it is clear that what is going on right now is either a spectacular coincidence or a grim warning of disasters to come.

In reality, the myth only said that some kind of general societal change would arise in 2012. As a matter of fact, Mark Van Stone, a Mayanist scholar from the Foundation for the Advancement of Mesoamerican Studies, Inc. said, “There is nothing in the Maya or Aztec or ancient Mesoamerican prophecy to suggest that they prophesied a sudden or major change of any sort in 2012” (www.famsi.org).

Additionally, skeptical freshman Aditya Thakur chided the believers, saying, “If weathermen can’t predict the weather for tomorrow, people can’t predict what’s coming in 2 years.”

However, the current data pertaining to natural disasters is surprising. Only this past week, thousands of dead birds mysteriously fell from the sky in Arkansas, Kentucky, and Louisana (www.murrayledger.com). To make matters worse, tornadoes ripping through Mississippi, Arkansas, and Missouri killed over seven people (www.kwch.com).

As if this dark news isn’t enough, near Paraná, Brazil, “100 tons of sardines, croaker, and catfish have died” (www.care2.com). The final straw has been a large flood covering a section of Australia the size of Texas (www.abc.go.com).

Junior John Kulp was also skeptical, saying “It’s just a coincidence. Plus, it’s only 2011.”

Erik Potts introduced a new theory, saying “I think it’s nature protesting Barack Obama’s healthcare reform.”