World to end in 2012! A hoax gone too far?

There's no shortage of end-of-the-world prophecies and hoaxes, but the latest one has a slick twist. Or, some might say, a sick twist. 

In fact, just by writing about it, I'm playing into the hands of a big media company that hopes I will write about it, or at least pass the word and a link, so that they can ultimately make money. Rather, I'll try to keep a few people from being frightened.

The story starts with Mike Brown, an astronomer at Caltech who has found more planet-like objects in our outer solar system than anyone. More...

See also:

1. The world will NOT end in 2012...
2. 2012 is coming, folks! Run for your lives...
3. 2012, debunking an enigmatic year...
4. The Year 2012: Should we be afraid?