Signs of 2012

Will December 2012 simply mark the end of the Mayan long calendar, or the end of life as we know it? With a little help from Hollywood, 2012 seems more pseudoscience than reality ... but it's hard to ignore the signs. We're pretty cheeky, mixing potentially disastrous matters with 'speculation.' If you're offended, suggest you move on with our apologies. Otherwise, comment and share with us. Subscribe

[signs2012]

"It's the end of the world as we know it..."

Congratulations for making it to 12.21.12. Hope to see you tomorrow.

[signs2012]

Earth has just one day left - make it a good one.

The Mayan calendar "ends" on December 21, 2012. But keep in mind how many ways we've changed the calendar over the years - daylight savings time, leap years, etc. It is possible we'll be breathing a sigh of relief on Saturday only to be unpleasantly surprised in a few days, weeks or short months.

NASA continues to say NOTHING out of the ordinary will happen on Friday. Let's hope they're right. 

More: Why the world is not ending

Video from the future - NASA on December 22

[signs2012]

Two days left. Can you believe it?

[signs2012]

Earth has just three days left. At least that's what believers of the Mayan apocalypse tell us.

Recent signs include a relatively major earthquake off the coast of California on Friday morning. The 6.3 magnitude quake was quickly followed by a 4.7 aftershock - and the state continues to shake. 

There's also a town in Chile who has been hit by 170 earthquakes over the past 5-6 weeks. The strongest strike registered 5.9 magnitude. Residents of the coastal town of Navidad - which means Christmas - must know they're heading into the ocean one way or the other.

More: 6.3 magnitude quake strikes off California coast

170 tremors hit town in Chile

[signs2012]

There are only eight days left until the end of the world. And guess who is taking note? Aliens. 

Over the past few weeks there has been a drastic increase in the number of UFOs reported by people around the world.

Here in the U.S., a fireball passed over Texas last week, while an unidentified object hovered over San Francisco. That was quickly followed by a series of UFOs sighted over Brooklyn, New York. Denver has also been reported a mysterious flying object showing up on a daily basis.

Are the sightings actual aliens, or just end of the world hype? Given the widespread sightings, we're not immediately dismissing the alien theories.

More: Meteor flashes through sky over Texas

Texas fireball: A sign of the end of days?

Denver UFOs still abuzz

UFO over San Francisco (and Brooklyn)

Mystery series of UFOs seen in California, New York

[signs2012]

Nine days left until December 21, 2012. Should we be hunkering in bunkers? 

On December 7, Japan was rattled with a 7.3 magnitude quake and is still feeling the impact of subsequent aftershocks, many recorded above 5.0 magnitude.

Yesterday, December 10, Indonesia was struck with a 7.1 felt across many parts of Australia, surprising geologists with its range.

Perhaps we should worry.

More: Recent earthquakes map

Report from Australia (audio)

[signs2012]

Common interpretations of the Mayan calendar say the Earth has just 10 days left. 

While there's definitely active signs of 2012 - Japan's 7.3 magnitude earthquake last week, Hurricane Sandy and other natural disasters striking the the East coast - the world doesn't FEEL like it's ending in just over a week.

Does it?

[signs2012]

There are just eleven days left until the end of the Mayan calendar, 12.21.12.

[signs2012]

Is 13 lucky or unlucky? Either way, that's how many days are left until 12.21.12.

[signs2012]

New Jersey continued to receive Mother Nature's wrath Monday, Nov. 5,  when it was struck by an earthquake.

Registering a magnitude 2.0, the temblor was centered near Ringwood, New Jersey, a town in the northern part of the state still recovering from Hurricane Sandy.

The USGS reported a handful of calls from residents in both New Jersey and New York who had heard a loud boom or felt the quake. The state's last quake was a 2.2 recorded in February, 2010.

Next up for the area: A midweek Nor'easter that could include gusts of up to 55 mph.

More: Magnitude 2.0 quake strikes New Jersey

Sandy, an earthquake and now a Nor'easter

[signs2012]

A superstorm is targeting the eastern United States.

Experts say Hurricane Sandy is the largest storm they've ever seen. Tens of millions of people will either evacuate or cautiously settle in.

More than 50 million people are in the path of the storm, which is expected to slam into the most heavily populated corridor in the U.S.

Sandy is expected to turn left and come ashore late Monday in New Jersey, colliding with a wintry storm moving in from the west, creating massive rains and storm surges. New York City may see the worst of it with waves up to 11 feet along low-lying areas.

Any doubts on how serious this storm is? Watch forecasters give on-air updates, and you'll see how freaked out they are.

If you're in the path of the storm, stay safe. We're all hoping it decides not to be a distinct sign of 2012.

[signs2012]

In scary disease news, the Ebola virus is quickly spreading in northeastern Congo.

Last week the death toll there doubled to 31, with another 38 suspected cases.

The Ebola virus causes internal bleeding and is spread through human contact. It has no cure and can be deadly up to 90% of the time.

The image shows one of four strains of the Ebola virus.

A spokesperson for the World Health Organization said the outbreak is unusual and a serious situation that is not yet under control.

The first known case of the Congo outbreak was a healthcare worker so authorities are searching for the origin patient to stop the spread to the general population.

There was an outbreak of Ebola in Uganda in August, but so far officials say the two incidents are not related.

Like we said, scary.

More: Outbreak of Ebola virus worsening

WHO puts out warning about Ebola outbreak

UN agency says the Ebola death toll has doubled

[signs2012]

A new "super-volcano" has been identified in Italy and experts fear it's nearing eruption.

Located near the neighboring cities of Naples and Pompeii, the volcano includes the site of the ancient city buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.

Scientists fear a growing bulge in the ground around the Italian volcano indicates an eruption is nearing. To determine if that's true they'll drill on the site, a move that has many people worried about the unintended consequences, such as the growth in earthquakes seen with fracking.

According to the USGS, A super-volcano is a volcano that has had an "eruption of magnitude 8," or a measured ash and lava deposit greater than 240 cubic miles.

The most infamous super-volcano is the Yellowstone Caldera here in the U.S., but Italy's may be a stronger concern due to the dense surrounding population.

As far as we know, 47 super-volcano eruptions have plagued the planet over time. Are we due for another?

More: Italy struggles with a potential super-volcano

Super-volcano is a global danger lurking near Pompeii

What makes a super-volcano so super?

[signs2012]

A potential category 5 typhoon is headed directly towards Japan.

According to NASA satellite tracking, Tropical Storm Sanba exploded in intensity between September 12 and 13.

Sanba's sustained winds were 155 miles per hour by Thursday evening, with even stronger gusts. This puts the storm at the dangerous category 4 hurricane level and on the cusp of a highly-destructive category 5.

Sanba is expected to travel a northwesterly track through the North Pacific and move through the East China Sea, passing near Okinawa, Japan on Sept. 15, which may find itself dealing with category 4 conditions.

The storm is predicted to maintain this intensity for up to 36 hours. Yikes.

More: NASA sees Sanba become a super typhoon

Monster super typhoon aims at Okinawa and South Korea

Sanba: Gusts over 190 MPH recorded in the Philippines Sea

[signs2012]

Guatemala's Volcan del Fuego erupted Thursday, hurling ash two miles into the sky.

The volcano is 12,346 feet high and has been showing signs of activity for a while; it last erupted in 2011.

Over 30,000 people were evacuated from 17 surrounding villages, while visibility was reduced to less than 10 feet. Smoke could be seen from the country's capital about 46 miles away.

The AFP reported that the explosion was larger than any seen from this volcano in decades. Now that sounds like a real sign of 2012.

More: Guatemala volcano erupts near tourist center

33,000 people flee as massive "Volcano of fire" erupts

Guatemala volcano triggers evacuations

[signs2012]

There's a sinkhole in Louisiana, and it's over 400 feet deep.

The growing hole has swallowed dozens of 100-foot trees in its path and forced the evacuation of about 200 residences. Located about 50 miles south of Baton Rouge, authorities are still uncertain what is causing the massive sinkhole, but they believe it may be a nearby salt cavern shut down last year.

The sinkhole started in July and continues to grow. But that's not the only problem; surface bubbling in different parts of the surrounding bayou continue to grow, and radiation and fumes emanating from the area are increasing.

Disconcerting, to say the least.

More: Mysterious sinkhole raises concerns in Louisiana

Massive 400 foot sinkhole swallows 100 foot trees

Frequently asked questions - Current sinkhole status

Daily updates from Assumption Parish

More bubble sites found around Assumption Parish

[signs2012]

Okay, folks, we're down to the final 100 days.

While our planet is definitely changing, we're growing more skeptical: Will the world as we know it really end in such a short time?

Like you, we'll just keep watching the signs.