The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Astrophysicist rubbishes 2012 doomsday theory

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Tuesday, Nov 10, 2009
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Astrophysicist rubbishes 2012 doomsday theory

Staff Reporter

I don’t think one should worry about it too much: Narlikar

HYDERABAD: The much-publicised doomsday prophecy that assumes an apocalypse on December 21 or 23 has come under severe criticism from noted astrophysicist-astronomer Jayant Vishnu Narlikar.

“I don’t think you should worry about it too much,” he told a member of the audience at the B.M. Birla Science Centre here on Monday. Asked for his opinion on different theories doing the rounds, he remarked, “You should ask those who threaten you like this. You will be alive on that day, I can assure you.”

Comet strike

Earlier, addressing a gathering of space enthusiasts on the topic, ‘The amazing world of astronomy’ Mr. Narlikar drew to their attention, the possibility of a comet, Swift Tuttle striking the earth on August 14, 2126, based on calculations done 10 years ago.

“If this happens, what can one do?” he asked before telling it would be of no use going to another continent, far away from the point of impact.

Any impact will generate a lot of heat and owing to combustion in the atmosphere, oxygen will be depleted and so there can be no life on earth. It is of no use even if one goes to another place, away from point of contact, he said.

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