How Earth Got Its Name Just Read it !
Today I found out how ‘Earth’ came to be called so. Firstly, it’s important to understand that nearly every language has its own name for the planet. It’s called ‘terra’ in Portuguese, ‘dünya’ in Turkish and ‘aarde’ in Dutch, just to name a few with their own etymology. However, the common thread in all languages is that they were all derived from the same meaning in their origins, which is ‘ ground’ or ‘soil’.
The modern English word and name for our planet ‘Earth’, is said to go back at least 1,000 years. Just as the English language evolved from ‘Anglo-Saxon’ (English-German) with the migration of certain Germanic tribes from the continent to Britain in the fifth century A.D, the word ‘Earth’ came from the Anglo-Saxon word ‘erda’ and it’s germanic equivalent ‘erde’ which means ground or soil. In Old English, the word became ‘eor(th)e’ or ‘ertha ‘. There is speculation that the origins of the word may be from an Indo-European language base ‘er’ which produced more modern adaptations of the word used in languages today. What is certain though is of all the Planet’s names, Earth is the only one in our solar system that does not come from Greco-Roman mythology. All of the other planets were named after Greek and Roman gods and goddesses.
- Translations of the Bible into English was one of the earliest recorded use of the name Earth – ” God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good. “(Genesis 1:10)
- Earth is the only planet in the Solar System with plate tectonics. The outer crust of the Earth is broken up into regions known as tectonic plates. These are floating on top of the magma interior of the Earth and can move against one another. When two plates collide, one plate can go underneath another.
- Earth doesn’t take 24 hours to rotate on its axis. It takes 23 hours, 56 minutes and 4 seconds to completely rotate around its axis; If you add up that little motion from the Sun that we see because the Earth is orbiting around it, as well as the rotation on its axis, you get a total of 24 hours.
- Everyone knows that the Earth has 1 Moon. But did you know there are 2 additional asteroids locked into a co-orbital orbits with Earth? They’re called 3753 Cruithne and 2002 AA29. The first doesn’t actually orbit the Earth, but has a synchronized orbit with our planet, that makes it look like it’s following the Earth in orbit, but it’s actually following its own, distinct path around the Sun. The 2002 AA29 travels in a horseshoe orbit around the Earth that brings it close to the planet every 95 years.
- Earth is gradually slowing down. Every few years, an extra second is added to make up for lost time. In other words, millions of years ago, a day on Earth would have been only 20 hours long. It is believed that, in another million years time, a day on Earth will be 27 hours long.
Will the world end in 2012?
Well let’s break down 5 possible reasons why 2012 will not be the end of the World as we know it. Hold on to your seats as you’re taken through a scientific journey into 2012.
Remember the Y2K scare? Everyone and their momma’s were bracing for a worldwide computer crash that could’ve set off nuclear missiles, ending life on earth, but nothing happened. Why? Because of adequate planning and analysis of the situation?
NASA scientists have studied Earth long enough to know this. The world will not end on Dec. 21, 2012 despite what the Mayan calendar shows us.
Here’s 5 reasons why:
1. Just like Y2K, 2012 has been analyzed as well and the science of the end of the Earth has been studied thoroughly. So when asked if the Mayan calendar is true, here’s what scientists at NASA have to say:
“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.”
2. When asked could some kind of phenomena occur where planets align in a way that could impact Earth, Nasa says no, not in the next few decades anyway.
“There are no planetary alignments in the next few decades, Earth will not cross the galactic plane in 2012, and even if these alignments were to occur, their effects on the Earth would be negligible. Each December the Earth and sun align with the approximate center of the Milky Way Galaxy but that is an annual event of no consequence.”
3. Will Planet X or Eris approach the Earth and threaten our planet with destruction?
“Nibiru and other stories about wayward planets are an Internet hoax. There is no factual basis for these claims. If Nibiru or Planet X were real and headed for an encounter with the Earth in 2012, astronomers would have been tracking it for at least the past decade, and it would be visible by now to the naked eye. Obviously, it does not exist. Eris is real, but it is a dwarf planet similar to Pluto that will remain in the outer solar system; the closest it can come to Earth is about 4 billion miles.”
4. When asked if the Earth is in danger of being hit by a meteor in 2012? It is unlikely.
“The Earth has always been subject to impacts by comets and asteroids, although big hits are very rare. 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. 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 NEO Program Office website, so you can see for yourself that nothing is predicted to hit in 2012.”
5. Is there a danger from giant solar storms predicted for 2012? Uhh uhh.
“Solar activity has a regular cycle, with peaks approximately every 11 years. Near these activity peaks, solar flares can cause some interruption of satellite communications, although engineers are learning how to build electronics that are protected against most solar storms. But there is no special risk associated with 2012. The next solar maximum will occur in the 2012-2014 time frame and is predicted to be an average solar cycle, no different than previous cycles throughout history.
Convinced yet?
NASA says, “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.”
There you have it. Five reasons why the world will not end in 2012!
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Most Mysterious Places in the world.
When archeologists uncover a newly discovered city or artifact they look at other tangible evidence near the site to uncover what the artifact was used for or what life was like in the ancient city. They will look at records, cave paintings, or art to determine a way of life or they will do a sort of reverse engineering on the artifact to see what it was used for. This unfortunately is not always an option. There are some things left over from the ancient world and no evidence exists to suggest what the purpose of these artifacts were. This leaves the door wide open for multiple theories which often include human sacrifice, long lost religious ceremonies, or even visitors from outer space. Here are 5 such places. These are five of the most mysterious places in the world.
When archeologists uncover a newly discovered city or artifact they look at other tangible evidence near the site to uncover what the artifact was used for or what life was like in the ancient city. They will look at records, cave paintings, or art to determine a way of life or they will do a sort of reverse engineering on the artifact to see what it was used for. This unfortunately is not always an option. There are some things left over from the ancient world and no evidence exists to suggest what the purpose of these artifacts were. This leaves the door wide open for multiple theories which often include human sacrifice, long lost religious ceremonies, or even visitors from outer space. Here are 5 such places. These are five of the most mysterious places in the world.
1. Nazca Lines
The Nazca Lines are sort of like ancient crop circles that are located in the middle of the Nazca Desert in Peru. The lines are believed to have been created between 400 and 650 AD and depict hundreds of different figures including sharks, monkeys, spiders, lizards, llamas, and much more. Scholars have theorized that the lines were used for rituals, spiritual monuments, or to map astrological locations. These three leading theories all have some evidence to support them, but not enough to be conclusive. Others say that these theories ignore one important element of the Nazca Lines. How did the ancient Nazca people create these massive works of art without the ability of flight to see what they were creating?
Some have suggested that we have underestimated ancient man and that the ancient people of the Nazca Desert had the ability to fly. Jim Woodmann was able to create a hot air balloon using only the technology that was available to the Nazcas. He believes that this is how the Nazcas constructed such wonders. Others have suggested that the lines were runways for advanced craft either from a long lost advanced civilization or from an alien culture. Visually some of the lines do resemble modern day runways and the others could just be murals created in respect to this advanced alien or Earthly civilization with the ability to fly. Proponents of the alien culture theory also point to one Nazca drawing in particular that they say depicts an ancient astronaut (as seen above).
2. The Great Sphinx of Giza
The Great Sphinx of Giza is located on the west bank of the Nile River in Giza, near modern-day Cairo, Egypt. It is the oldest known monumental sculpture and is still considered the largest monolithic structure in the world. It stands near its sister ancient wonders of the world The Great Pyramids of Giza. It is generally believed that the Sphinx was constructed around 2500 BC around the same time as the second great pyramid and was built as a monument along with the pyramid as part of the funeral service for Pharaoh Khafra, but archeologists cannot come to a consensus as there is evidence to suggest that it was built much earlier.
Gaston Maspero, a French Egyptologist, concluded after his survey of the sphinx that there is empirical evidence to suggest that the sphinx was all ready buried in the sand at the time of Pharaoh Khafra. This is based on a hieroglyphic that Maspero says tells the story of the excavation of the sphinx, not the building of it. This controversy has led to many fringe theories on the creation of the sphinx. There are already theories that suggest that the Ancient Egyptians did not have the technology to build the Great Pyramids and here is an object now thought to predate the pyramids. How was this massive monument created?
3. Stonehenge
Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument located in Wiltshire County, England. It is undoubtedly one of the most mysterious sites in the entire world. It is seeped in tradition, folklore, and the Nordic religion, but no one is for sure what the ancient people of England used these stone monoliths for. Were not even sure who actually built these mysterious structures. Some have suggested that the site was an observatory, other believe that it held some sort of religious significance, and some believe it to be more supernatural in origin.
There is a folk story that tells the origin of at least one stone, the Heel Stone. The Heel Stone lies just outside the main entrance to Stonehenge and leans towards the stone circle as if it is directing the way to the monument. The story goes that the devil built Stonehenge in a devious plot to preoccupy human beings using their own curiosity against them, but a holy man saw the devil building the monolith and swore to tell the world of the devil’s evil plot. The devil hurled one of the stones at the holy man as he ran away. The stone struck the holy man’s heel and then stuck in the ground. This story is obviously just folklore, due to all the judeo-Christian elements as the structure is dated back before the rise of Judaism and Christianity in Europe.
Along with other theories of aliens and living Nordic gods, is a macabre theory that suggests that the site was used as a place of human sacrifice and sexual rituals by a heathenistic pagan civilization. This theory though has very little evidence to support it and seems to be based more on prejudices of early humans before modern religion than anything else.
It seems that the purpose of this structure can only be theorized. The true purpose of Stonehenge seems to be lost to time.
4. Easter Island
On a tiny Polynesian island in the southeastern Pacific Ocean stands a large group of monolithic structures that, by comparison to some of the other places on this list, are young. The Easter Island Heads, referred to as Moai, were built sometime between 1250 and 1500, but their purpose and the reason for their construction still remains a mystery. Most believe that these statues were erected to honor the ancestors of the tribes that once inhabited this island, but the true purpose of these statues have been lost to time as the original inhabitants of the island lost their lives to either European slavery or European disease.
The island is home to so much tragedy that many claim that it has ghostly inhabitants. Current residents on the island claim to see the ghosts of the original natives of Easter Island traveling along the ancient roadways that they carved out centuries before. Combine these stories with the eerie statues always watching you and Easter Island is not only mysterious but an incredibly frightening place.
5. Mayan Civilization
In the South American wilderness, a place that humanity today would find nearly uninhabitable lays an ancient civilization that managed to master mathematics, understand the stars, and developed a writing system. Along with all these amazing accomplishments many believe that the Mayans had another special gift. The ability to see into the future and that their calendar and other structures and writings have foretold and continue to foretell what the future holds for us.
The Mayans developed a very long calendar that ends on December 21, 2012. This has led many to believe that the Mayans with all their astrological and mathematical know how believed that this would be the day that the calendar would no longer be necessary as that would be the day that time itself would stop and the world would end. Many doomsday theories including black hole alignment, massive solar flares, and polar shifts are theorized to occur on December 21, 2012. Though almost all scientists disagree with these doomsday theories they still persist.
I believe that the doomsday hysteria that is leading into 2012 is unnecessary hysteria, but it does illustrate the massive amount of respect that we all have for this advanced, yet fallen civilization. The ruins of their once great cites symbolizes the biggest mystery of all and one that needs to solved before we meet a similar fate: Why do such fantastic civilizations fall?
Looking at photos like these scares and fascinates me in equal doses. The sheer scale of these holes reminds you of just how tiny you are. Here is the Name of 7 amazing Holes on the World.
the red arrow in the photo below is pointing to a huge truck.
The amount of earth removed by workers is estimated to total 22.5 million tonnes.
This is the glory hole belonging to monticello dam in california and it’s the largest in the world, its size enabling it to consume 14′400 cubic feet of water every second.
The hole can be seen at the top left of the photo above. if you were to jump in for some reason your slightly damp body would shoot out near the bottom of the dam (below).
Bingham Canyon Mine, Utah
This is supposedly the largest man-made excavation on earth. extraction began in 1863 and still continues today, the pit increasing in size constantly in its current state the hole is 3/4 mile deep and 2.5 miles wide.
At surface level the near perfectly circular hole is 1/4 mile wide, the depth in the middle reaching 145 metres. obviously the hole is a huge hit with divers.
The mine is so huge and the area so remote that it even has its own airport with a runway large enough to accomodate a boeing 737. It also looks equally as cool when the surrounding water is frozen.
These photos are of a sinkhole which occured early this year in guatemala. the hole swallowed a dozen homes and killed at least 3 people.
Officials blamed the monster of a hole on a ruptured sewage pipe.
a news report about the hole…..........
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Looking at photos like these scares and fascinates me in equal doses. The sheer scale of these holes reminds you of just how tiny you are. Here is the Name of 7 amazing Holes on the World.
1 Mirny Diamond Mine, Siberia
2 Kimberley Big Hole – South Africa
3 Glory Hole – Monticello Dam
4 Bingham Canyon Mine, Utah
5 Great Blue Hole, Belize
6 Diavik Mine, Canada
7 Sinkhole, Guatemala
3 Glory Hole – Monticello Dam
4 Bingham Canyon Mine, Utah
5 Great Blue Hole, Belize
6 Diavik Mine, Canada
7 Sinkhole, Guatemala
Mirny Diamond Mine, Siberia
i’m pretty sure most people have seen this one. it’s an absolute beast and holds the title of largest open diamond mine in the world. at 525 metres deep with a top diameter of 1200 metres there’s even a no-fly zone above the hole due to a few helicopters being sucked in.the red arrow in the photo below is pointing to a huge truck.
Kimberley Big Hole – South Africa
Apparently the largest ever hand-dug excavation in the world, this 1097 metre deep mine yielded over 3 tonnes of diamonds before being closed in 1914.The amount of earth removed by workers is estimated to total 22.5 million tonnes.
Glory Hole – Monticello Dam
A glory hole is used when a dam is at full capacity and water needs to be drained from the resevoir.This is the glory hole belonging to monticello dam in california and it’s the largest in the world, its size enabling it to consume 14′400 cubic feet of water every second.
The hole can be seen at the top left of the photo above. if you were to jump in for some reason your slightly damp body would shoot out near the bottom of the dam (below).
Bingham Canyon Mine, Utah
This is supposedly the largest man-made excavation on earth. extraction began in 1863 and still continues today, the pit increasing in size constantly in its current state the hole is 3/4 mile deep and 2.5 miles wide.
Great Blue Hole, Belize
Situated 60 miles off the mainland of belize is this incredible ‘geographical phenomenon’ known as a blue hole. there are numerous blue holes around the world but none as stunning as this one.At surface level the near perfectly circular hole is 1/4 mile wide, the depth in the middle reaching 145 metres. obviously the hole is a huge hit with divers.
Diavik Mine, Canada
This incredible mine can be found 300km northeast of yellowknife in canada.The mine is so huge and the area so remote that it even has its own airport with a runway large enough to accomodate a boeing 737. It also looks equally as cool when the surrounding water is frozen.
Sinkhole, Guatemala
A sinkhole is caused when water (usually rainwater or sewage) is soaked up by the earth on a large scale, resulting in the ground collapsing.These photos are of a sinkhole which occured early this year in guatemala. the hole swallowed a dozen homes and killed at least 3 people.
Officials blamed the monster of a hole on a ruptured sewage pipe.
a news report about the hole…..........
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