The day will mark just another ‘winter solstice’ Sorry Mayan Doomsday believers – the world is not going to end in two days, on the 21st of December, 2012, whatever anyone told you. Fine, don’t believe us, but you’ll be hard-pressed to refute US space agency Nasa’s elaborate debunking of the rumour that may soon be finding its way to your UAE smartphone or mailbox, if it hasn’t already.“The world will not end in 2012. Our planet has been getting along just fine for more than 4 billion years, and credible scientists worldwide know of no threat associated with 2012,” says Nasa in its full-length feature on the subject, titled ‘Beyond 2012: Why the World Won’t End’. “For any claims of disaster or dramatic changes in 2012, where is the science? Where is the evidence? There is none, and for all the fictional assertions, whether they are made in books, movies, documentaries or over the Internet, we cannot change that simple fact. There is no credible evidence for any of the assertions made in support of unusual events taking place in December 2012,” Nasa insists. “December 21, 2012, won’t be the end of the world as we know, however, it will be another winter solstice,” says the agency. “Contrary to some of the common beliefs out there, the claims behind the end of the world quickly unravel when pinned down to the 2012 timeline,” Nasa explains. Nasa maintains that the story of the so-called prediction started with claims that Nibiru, a supposed planet discovered by the Sumerians, is headed toward Earth. “This catastrophe was initially predicted for May 2003, but when nothing happened, the doomsday date was moved forward to December 2012 and linked to the end of one of the cycles in the ancient Mayan calendar at the winter solstice in 2012 – hence the predicted doomsday date of December 21, 2012,” Nasa says. As for why the Mayan Calendar ends on December 21, 2012, Nasa has a clear answer: “Just as the calendar you have on your kitchen wall does not cease to exist after December 31, the Mayan calendar does not cease to exist on December 21, 2012. This date is the end of the Mayan long-count period but then – just as your calendar begins again on January 1 – another long-count period begins for the Mayan calendar.” There still have been rumours, some of which squarely blame Nasa for predicting a “total blackout” on Earth from December 23 to December 25, 2012. Nasa, however, takes pains to trash such runours. “Absolutely not. Neither Nasa nor any other scientific organisation is predicting such a blackout. The false reports on this issue claim that some sort of ‘alignment of the Universe’ will cause a blackout. There is no such alignment. “Some versions of this rumor cite an emergency preparedness message from Nasa Administrator Charles Bolden. This is simply a message encouraging people to be prepared for emergencies, recorded as part of a wider government preparedness campaign. It never mentions a blackout. (Watch that video here). Okay, so doomsday aside, is there any real danger of an asteroid or a meteor hitting us anytime soon? “The Earth has always been subject to impacts by comets and asteroids, although big hits are very rare,” says Nasa. It has happened before, the space agency admits, but millions of moons ago. “The last big impact was 65 million years ago, and that led to the extinction of the dinosaurs. Today, Nasa astronomers are carrying out a survey called the Spaceguard Survey to find any large near-Earth asteroids long before they hit,” it says. “We have already determined that there are no threatening asteroids as large as the one that killed the dinosaurs. All this work is done openly with the discoveries posted every day on the Nasa Near-Earth Object Program Office website, so you can see for yourself that nothing is predicted to hit in 2012.”
Friday, December 21, 2012
Doomsday: Nasa busts 21/12 apocalypse myth
The day will mark just another ‘winter solstice’ Sorry Mayan Doomsday believers – the world is not going to end in two days, on the 21st of December, 2012, whatever anyone told you. Fine, don’t believe us, but you’ll be hard-pressed to refute US space agency Nasa’s elaborate debunking of the rumour that may soon be finding its way to your UAE smartphone or mailbox, if it hasn’t already.“The world will not end in 2012. Our planet has been getting along just fine for more than 4 billion years, and credible scientists worldwide know of no threat associated with 2012,” says Nasa in its full-length feature on the subject, titled ‘Beyond 2012: Why the World Won’t End’. “For any claims of disaster or dramatic changes in 2012, where is the science? Where is the evidence? There is none, and for all the fictional assertions, whether they are made in books, movies, documentaries or over the Internet, we cannot change that simple fact. There is no credible evidence for any of the assertions made in support of unusual events taking place in December 2012,” Nasa insists. “December 21, 2012, won’t be the end of the world as we know, however, it will be another winter solstice,” says the agency. “Contrary to some of the common beliefs out there, the claims behind the end of the world quickly unravel when pinned down to the 2012 timeline,” Nasa explains. Nasa maintains that the story of the so-called prediction started with claims that Nibiru, a supposed planet discovered by the Sumerians, is headed toward Earth. “This catastrophe was initially predicted for May 2003, but when nothing happened, the doomsday date was moved forward to December 2012 and linked to the end of one of the cycles in the ancient Mayan calendar at the winter solstice in 2012 – hence the predicted doomsday date of December 21, 2012,” Nasa says. As for why the Mayan Calendar ends on December 21, 2012, Nasa has a clear answer: “Just as the calendar you have on your kitchen wall does not cease to exist after December 31, the Mayan calendar does not cease to exist on December 21, 2012. This date is the end of the Mayan long-count period but then – just as your calendar begins again on January 1 – another long-count period begins for the Mayan calendar.” There still have been rumours, some of which squarely blame Nasa for predicting a “total blackout” on Earth from December 23 to December 25, 2012. Nasa, however, takes pains to trash such runours. “Absolutely not. Neither Nasa nor any other scientific organisation is predicting such a blackout. The false reports on this issue claim that some sort of ‘alignment of the Universe’ will cause a blackout. There is no such alignment. “Some versions of this rumor cite an emergency preparedness message from Nasa Administrator Charles Bolden. This is simply a message encouraging people to be prepared for emergencies, recorded as part of a wider government preparedness campaign. It never mentions a blackout. (Watch that video here). Okay, so doomsday aside, is there any real danger of an asteroid or a meteor hitting us anytime soon? “The Earth has always been subject to impacts by comets and asteroids, although big hits are very rare,” says Nasa. It has happened before, the space agency admits, but millions of moons ago. “The last big impact was 65 million years ago, and that led to the extinction of the dinosaurs. Today, Nasa astronomers are carrying out a survey called the Spaceguard Survey to find any large near-Earth asteroids long before they hit,” it says. “We have already determined that there are no threatening asteroids as large as the one that killed the dinosaurs. All this work is done openly with the discoveries posted every day on the Nasa Near-Earth Object Program Office website, so you can see for yourself that nothing is predicted to hit in 2012.”
More Indians using healthcare apps on smartphones
More Indians are turning to the ubiquitous mobile phone for quick advice on how to treat common aches and pains, as scores of new utility applications are developed for smartphones across the country. From migraine to toothache to the best options on plastic surgery, consumers are downloading specialised apps that offer advice on demand from qualified doctors.
Struck by a bout of migraine recently, 23-year-old Natasha Menon downloaded an application for her Android phone from a Bangalore-based company Healthcare Magic instead of visiting a neighbourhood doctor. “I could get a doctors advice in just a couple of hours, a hospital visit would have taken longer for sure,” says Menon, who is a Bangalore-based content writer.
As more consumers such as Menon turn to their phones for advice, it is creating a growing market for startups developing such applications. This year, the mobile apps industry in India is estimated to grow to Rs 1,804 crore, according to the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI).
Healthcare Magic started three years ago with a web-based healthcare advisory service, where users could post disease related queries, choose a doctor they wanted and get advice on possible treatments. Six months ago, the company founded by former IBM employee Kunal Sinha unveiled a free Android app and now plans to launch an iPhone app by Christmas.
Sinha estimates that his company draws over 65,000 daily users, with nearly a quarter of them accessing healthcare services on a mobile phone. The company’s mobile app has seen ten thousand downloads on the Android store and will soon be launched in overseas markets. “This technology is aimed at people who do not find time to visit hospitals. The mobile app is great for a user who wants advice on toothache at 11 pm,” he said.
In Mumbai, facial plastic surgeons Debraj Shome and Arbinder Singal have launched Mediangels, a healthcare-technology firm where people share photographs, videos and documents related to their health. They are planning to launch an app to access these facilities. “It’s a lot more convenient to connect on a virtual platform, when everyone has less and less time,” says Shome.
The startup, which has revenues of Rs 1 crore, currently charges between Rs 250-5,000 for consultation with doctors around the world and has built up a client base of 10,000. This brisk growth is attracting investor attention as these ventures are seen as solutions to lack of quality healthcare in smaller towns and cities. “We are excited about these ventures. There are about 8 to 10 companies in this space now,” said Rajesh Raju, managing director of Bangalore-based venture capital firm Kalaari Capital.
Hyderabad’s eHealth Access, which provides web-based healthcare services to companies such asHCL and Hartex, is currently testing an Android-based mobile health application that is expected to be launched next month. India has 59 doctors for every thousand people, the lowest among emerging economies , according to consulting firm, Pricewaterhouse Coopers.
However, the country ranks second highest in adopting mobile healthcare services. “The advantage is that apps and web services simply the whole process. It’s a young space as of now, but there is a huge opportunity for startups,” says Akhilesh Tuteja, executive director at KPMG.
More Indians are turning to the ubiquitous mobile phone for quick advice on how to treat common aches and pains, as scores of new utility applications are developed for smartphones across the country. From migraine to toothache to the best options on plastic surgery, consumers are downloading specialised apps that offer advice on demand from qualified doctors.
Struck by a bout of migraine recently, 23-year-old Natasha Menon downloaded an application for her Android phone from a Bangalore-based company Healthcare Magic instead of visiting a neighbourhood doctor. “I could get a doctors advice in just a couple of hours, a hospital visit would have taken longer for sure,” says Menon, who is a Bangalore-based content writer.
As more consumers such as Menon turn to their phones for advice, it is creating a growing market for startups developing such applications. This year, the mobile apps industry in India is estimated to grow to Rs 1,804 crore, according to the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI).
Healthcare Magic started three years ago with a web-based healthcare advisory service, where users could post disease related queries, choose a doctor they wanted and get advice on possible treatments. Six months ago, the company founded by former IBM employee Kunal Sinha unveiled a free Android app and now plans to launch an iPhone app by Christmas.
Sinha estimates that his company draws over 65,000 daily users, with nearly a quarter of them accessing healthcare services on a mobile phone. The company’s mobile app has seen ten thousand downloads on the Android store and will soon be launched in overseas markets. “This technology is aimed at people who do not find time to visit hospitals. The mobile app is great for a user who wants advice on toothache at 11 pm,” he said.
In Mumbai, facial plastic surgeons Debraj Shome and Arbinder Singal have launched Mediangels, a healthcare-technology firm where people share photographs, videos and documents related to their health. They are planning to launch an app to access these facilities. “It’s a lot more convenient to connect on a virtual platform, when everyone has less and less time,” says Shome.
The startup, which has revenues of Rs 1 crore, currently charges between Rs 250-5,000 for consultation with doctors around the world and has built up a client base of 10,000. This brisk growth is attracting investor attention as these ventures are seen as solutions to lack of quality healthcare in smaller towns and cities. “We are excited about these ventures. There are about 8 to 10 companies in this space now,” said Rajesh Raju, managing director of Bangalore-based venture capital firm Kalaari Capital.
Hyderabad’s eHealth Access, which provides web-based healthcare services to companies such asHCL and Hartex, is currently testing an Android-based mobile health application that is expected to be launched next month. India has 59 doctors for every thousand people, the lowest among emerging economies , according to consulting firm, Pricewaterhouse Coopers.
However, the country ranks second highest in adopting mobile healthcare services. “The advantage is that apps and web services simply the whole process. It’s a young space as of now, but there is a huge opportunity for startups,” says Akhilesh Tuteja, executive director at KPMG.
Friday, September 14, 2012
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