According to the plot of a new film being released on November 13, the world will come to an end on December 21, 2012. Supposedly based on the fact that the Mayan calendar "runs out" after that date, there has been a slew of books, articles and websites devoted to this phenomenon - as well as the aforementioned film 2012. So what's it really all about? If you want the perspective of a scientist then you should check out the Cornell University site Curious About Astronomy? or the one at the Astronomical Institute at Utrecht University one of the oldest universities in Europe. If not, you can just see the movie! Just for the record, today's Mayans insist there's nothing to it.