# Mayan calendar and earth's magnetic pole reversal. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 13, 2012, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayan-calendar-and-earths-magnetic-pole-reversal/618621 "2012-04-13T00:28:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayan-calendar-and-earths-magnetic-pole-reversal/618621/21 "2012-04-13T18:44:28Z")
> [@mangeorge](#): > > I’ll never learn to [look](http://www.ancient-mythology.com/mayan/2012.php) before I leap. Guess I let those “reporters and pundits” lead me astray. > Interesting though. That link offers a more sanguine view than the Apocalypse Now clique: > [@](#): > > One inscription, for example, puts the creation date at > 13.13.13.13.13.13.13.13.13.13.13.13.13.13.13.13.13.13.13.13.0.0.0.0. By this date, the calendar won’t end until 4.134105 × 10[SUP]28[/SUP] years into the future, a span of time three quintillion times the scientifically-accepted age of the universe. By that time, the sun will have long-since devoured the Earth and been destroyed itself, and the universe may have drifted apart, condensed or otherwise reconfigured itself in some unrecognizable way. If you’re concerned about the fate of mankind, there are more pressing issues than the end of the Mayan calendar. > > **No cause for alarm** Whew. I’m going to keep buying green bananas. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayan-calendar-and-earths-magnetic-pole-reversal/618621/22 "2012-04-13T19:26:05Z")
[QUOTE=Anne Neville] Gravity does not require a magnetic field to work. [/QUOTE] Gravity needs only mass, and is a function of it’s mass, right? [This](http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM1AK6UPLG_index_1.html#subhead2) is interesting. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayan-calendar-and-earths-magnetic-pole-reversal/618621/23 "2012-04-13T19:49:44Z")
> [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](#): > > The commercial says that Earth’s _gravity_ will reverse and throw everything out into space. Magnetic pole reversal wouldn’t have that effect. I believe it says that the poles will reverse, but then they show people floating off of the planet. This is why I don’t go to financial planners for my science needs. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayan-calendar-and-earths-magnetic-pole-reversal/618621/24 "2012-04-13T19:57:24Z")
I stand corrected. It says “polar shifts will reverse Earth’s gravitational pull and hurl us all into space.” Here’s the [commercial](http://slumz.boxden.com/f610/ameritrade-mayans-commercial-hint-2012-jab-mayan-people-1727218/). ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayan-calendar-and-earths-magnetic-pole-reversal/618621/25 "2012-04-13T20:54:46Z")
> [@Michael63129](#): > > Given that there have been [184 geomagnetic reversals in the past 83 million years](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geomagnetic_reversal#Geomagnetic_polarity_time_scale), an average of once every 450,000 years (FWIW, the last one occurred 780,000 years ago, so we are overdue, but millions of years have passed between some reversals), it is a pretty regular occurrence, geologically speaking; there is also no evidence that it has any significant adverse effects on life, whether by throwing off migration or radiation. Which is why I think it will be interesting to watch. If you examine the contemporary knowledge about animal migration and navigation, I believe you will find that a biological magnetic compass is frequently given credit. But if species survive across magnetic reversals, as we know they have done, then perhaps this conventional wisdom is wrong. Perhaps many species have an alternate navigation method to fall back on and we shall have to discover it. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayan-calendar-and-earths-magnetic-pole-reversal/618621/26 "2012-04-13T21:37:02Z")
> [@Pai325](#): > > I read a book in the 1970s by some psychic claiming the poles would shift shortly into this century, and the result would be that the oceans and lakes would shift, also, placing some populated areas under the sea, and drying up what is now rge ocean floor to become land. I live in southern Illinois and am waiting for Lake Michigan to come rushing down the street. Is what the OP is talking about something like that? That’s yet another doomsday scenario; in _that_ one, the Earth physically changes its tilt relative to the Sun. Not likely to happen, since the Moon’s tidal forces stabilizes our tilt. And of course even if it was likely, a “psychic” wouldn’t have a clue as to if and when it would happen. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayan-calendar-and-earths-magnetic-pole-reversal/618621/27 "2012-04-13T22:37:16Z")
Does the fossil record show any correlation between geomagnetic reversals and mass extinctions? ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayan-calendar-and-earths-magnetic-pole-reversal/618621/28 "2012-04-13T23:25:07Z")
As I’ve said before, nightclubs and bars will make a killin’. Q ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayan-calendar-and-earths-magnetic-pole-reversal/618621/29 "2012-04-13T23:50:47Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > I stand corrected. It says “polar shifts will reverse Earth’s gravitational pull and hurl us all into space.” > > Here’s the [commercial](http://slumz.boxden.com/f610/ameritrade-mayans-commercial-hint-2012-jab-mayan-people-1727218/). This is the first time I saw the entire commercial. I don’t think it jabs anybody except flakes. I think it says “Ha ha, we’re smarter than that \. Buy our stuff.” ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayan-calendar-and-earths-magnetic-pole-reversal/618621/30 "2012-04-13T23:57:08Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > I believe it says that the poles will reverse, but then they show people floating off of the planet. > > This is why I don’t go to financial planners for my science needs. Same-o. Its also why I don’t go to scientists for financial guidance. Ever watch _Big Bang Theory_? Those characterizations aren’t that far off. 😉 Funny show, btw. ---
**Author:** ![Michael63129](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3da27b/32.png) [@Michael63129](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael63129)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2012, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayan-calendar-and-earths-magnetic-pole-reversal/618621/31 "2012-04-14T02:19:35Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > That’s yet another doomsday scenario; in _that_ one, the Earth physically changes its tilt relative to the Sun. Not likely to happen, since the Moon’s tidal forces stabilizes our tilt. And of course even if it was likely, a “psychic” wouldn’t have a clue as to if and when it would happen. Another thing about that scenario is that even if the poles physically shifted, it would just alter the seasons and the position and movement of the Sun in the sky, not cause continents to end up under the ocean and vice-versa. > [@Alessan](#): > > Does the fossil record show any correlation between geomagnetic reversals and mass extinctions? Not according the the [Wikipedia page](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geomagnetic_reversal#Effects_on_biosphere_and_human_society) (which provide two references). Although it also suggests that after very long periods without reversals there could possibly be enhanced volcanism, which could cause extinctions, but they are talking about periods tens of millions of years long without reversals. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2012, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayan-calendar-and-earths-magnetic-pole-reversal/618621/32 "2012-04-14T06:40:48Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Does the fossil record show any correlation between geomagnetic reversals and mass extinctions? No. ---
**Author:** ![MartinGulasis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/49beb7/32.png) [@MartinGulasis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MartinGulasis)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayan-calendar-and-earths-magnetic-pole-reversal/618621/33 "2012-05-29T15:56:22Z")
I read some interesting information about the magnetic pole shift here [Planet Shifting](http://www.misija.com/). ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayan-calendar-and-earths-magnetic-pole-reversal/618621/34 "2012-05-29T16:12:51Z")
> [@MartinGulasis](#): > > I read some interesting information about the magnetic pole shift here [Planet Shifting](http://www.misija.com/). This wouldn’t happen to be your own site, would it? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayan-calendar-and-earths-magnetic-pole-reversal/618621/35 "2012-05-29T16:21:32Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > This wouldn’t happen to be your own site, would it? On further checking yes, [it is.](http://goarticles.com/author/Martin-Gulasis/984943/) ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2012, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayan-calendar-and-earths-magnetic-pole-reversal/618621/36 "2012-05-29T17:22:04Z")
> [@MartinGulasis](#): > > I read some interesting information about the magnetic pole shift here [Planet Shifting](http://www.misija.com/). Since that site has sections about alien sightings, alien planets and a dire warning about chemtrails… > [@](#): > > Chemtrail spraying operations are intended for multiple purposes including low level population reduction, mind control and to foster weakness and apathy among the general population in anticipation of the New World Order takeover agenda. …I’d say it is a heap of worthless information. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayan-calendar-and-earths-magnetic-pole-reversal/618621.md?page=1)