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THE world is definitely not coming to an end today, the winter solstice.
世界绝对不是在今天冬至日走向终结。
Jesús Galindo Trejo, a Mexican researcher in astro-archeology, plasma astrophysics and solar physics, answers questions about the end-of-the-world prediction and the Mayan calendar, which ends today. He recently addressed a conference last month at Shanghai Tonji University.
Jesús Galindo Trejo，一个研究天文考古学、等离子体物理、天体物理学的墨西哥人，回答关于世界末日预言和玛雅历法的问题，即今天是末日。他上个月最近的一次会议发言是在上海同济大学。
Q: Are there any threats to Earth in 2012?
问：2012年会有什么威胁到地球吗？
A: The only real threat to Earth is the irresponsible conduct of man in the contamination of our planet. The probability of an impact of a meteorite or comet on Earth is so low that the most dangerous situation comes from our own star, the sun billions of years hence. According to the stellar evolution theory, in approximately 4.5 billion years, the sun will become a giant red star, its distance to Earth will shrink, all liquids will evaporate, and possibly the sun will absorb Earth. Then we will return to our origin. In 2012 there is nothing dangerous for Earth.
答：唯一真正威胁地球的是在污染我们星球方面人类不负责任的行为。陨石和彗星影响地球的概率是如此之低，以至于最危险的处境来自我们自己的星球，在太阳几十亿年之后。根据恒星演化理论，在大约45亿年之后，太阳将变成一个巨大的红色星球，它和地球的距离会缩小，所有的液体会蒸发掉，可能太阳会吞噬地球。然后我们将返回到我们的起源。2012年对地球来说没什么危险。
Q: What's the origin of the prediction that the world will end in 2012?
问:什么是2012年世界末日预言的起源？
A: The so-called Mayan predictions are simply a rough extrapolation of a cultural theme from this prehispanic people. The origin of this assertion is a characteristic of the Mayan calendar, for which the date of this winter solstice could be written as 13.0.0.0.0. Some enthusiastic people in the United States think that this striking date must necessarily imply a mysterious message. They invented some prophecies that from the point of view of Mayan astronomy and culture are simply nonsense.
答：所谓的玛雅预言只是来自史前人类的一个文化主题的粗略推断。这种说法的起源是玛雅历法的特点，冬至的日期可以写成13.0.0.0.0。一些好奇的美国人认为这个引人注目的日期必须必然意味着一个神秘的消息。他们从玛雅天文学和文化的角度创造的一些预言根本是无稽之谈。
Q: Does the Mayan calendar end in December 2012?
问:玛雅历法是在2012年12月结束吗？
A: The Mayan calendar is an endless system. This situation is very similar to that in the year 2000. The next day after the winter solstice, the Mayans would have written the date as 13.0.0.0.1, and so on.
答:玛雅历法是一个无尽的系统。这种情况非常类似于2000年。冬至后第二天，玛雅人将会把日期写成13 0 0 0 1，等等。
Q: Why does the Mayan calendar indicate a world end in 2012? Mayan astronomers were accurate in other planetary predictions.
问:为什么玛雅日历会暗示世界在2012年终结呢？玛雅天文学家在其他行星方面都是预测准确的。
A: Mayan astronomy made significant achievements. For example, the determination of the synodic period of Venus, the computation of solar eclipses and the commensurability of the Venusian and solar observational periods. However, the Mayans did not say anything about the end of the world. This assertion is a foolish modern over-interpretation, which shows ignorance of the Mayan culture.
答:玛雅天文学取得显著成就。例如，确定金星的会和周期，计算日食和金星的公度以及太阳的观测周期。然而，玛雅人没有说任何关于世界末日的事。这种断言是一种愚蠢的现代深意，它显示了对玛雅文化的无知。
Q: How do you, as a senior researcher in cultural astronomy, feel about claims of the world ending in 2012?
问: 作为一个文化天文学的高级研究员，你如何看待2012年世界末日的断言呢？
A: This global social and media phenomenon is typical sign of the times. People are tired of crises, religion and so on, and they look for new emotions. What triggers emotion in people? Phantoms, the end of the world, and other mysterious or catastrophic events.
答:这个全球社会和媒体的现象是典型的时代征兆。人们已经厌倦了危机、宗教等等，他们寻求新的情感寄托。是什么触发了人们的情感呢？幻影，世界末日，以及其他神秘的或灾难性的事件。
Jesús Galindo Trejo has been a researcher for 20 years at the Astronomical Institute of the National Autonomous University of Mexico in Mexico City. He specializes in the archeo-astronomy of prehispanic Mexico and studies the influence of astronomy in ancient and contemporary cultures.
Jesús Galindo Trejo已经在墨西哥城的墨西哥国立自治大学天文研究所做了20年的研究员。他专于墨西哥特奥蒂瓦坎古城的考古天文学，以及研究天文学在古代和当代文化中的影响。
