If I were to tell you that the world could end around 2040, you would probably laugh at me and write it off as another one of those gullible individuals who believed that the world was going to end in 2000, and is subsequently going to end on December 21st, 2012. December 21st 2012 is the end date of the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar, used by the Mayans, which is non-repeating, unlike most calendars which are cyclical. The supposed ‘start date’ of the calendar was August 11, 3114 BCE, in comparison to the Gregorian calendar. 

2040 is different in comparison. NASA has identified a 460ft wide asteroid in space which has a 1 in 625 chance of hitting the earth, and whilst it would not end mankind, it could cause millions of deaths, especially if it landed on a city. Even if it were to land on an ocean one would think that it could cause devastating tsunamis and earthquakes. To put it into perspective, the asteroid which wiped out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago was nine miles wide, a significant amount more than the 460ft for this one. 

Despite it’s small frame it is still troublesome, and NASA have consequently decided to try and divert it, with the UN team debating options, including using a probe to steer it away and utilizing nuclear weapons. Scientists do not have much information on the asteroid other than it’s size due to the fact they have only been able to observe it for half its orbit. 

Whilst it won’t mean the end of the world for all of mankind, it could potentially mean the end of the world for millions of us. Whereas the last few Apocalypse theories have been made by misinformed individuals and based on no scientific evidence, this one has some credibility. Let’s keep our fingers crossed and hope NASA know what they’re doing. 

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