Laura Venner, a science educator and NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador in the New York area (and—full disclosure—a Volunteer for the Hayden Planetarium), has devised a timely resource for parents and educators. A product of children's questions and consternations, Laura has written a primer on how to address a child's concerns about the 2012 doomsday deception entitled The Simple Truth: Doomsday 12/21/2012 - Deception Revealed.

I was approached by a mother whose seven year old daughter was frightened about the world coming to an end in 2012, says Venner, who talks to children from the New York metropolitan area. She adds, It's always difficult to hear a young child ask if they are going to die in 2012. Over the years, she has noticed an increase in questions about, and accompanying stress related to, the 2012 doomsday deception.

Teachers and parents are not equipped to address children's concerns about the world ending in 2012, so I created an easy-to-read guide which will enable them to quell their fears, stated Venner. Her guide is designed to address the various events that some believe will contribute to the end of the world. A few of these events are scientifically valid, but will not have any effect on the world at-large, others are pure nonsense dreamt up by the latest in a long line of people who desire to see the world end (and often gain from it).

With 2012 upon us, we want to alert you of this valuable resource and we hope that, as this doomsday nonsense comes to a crescendo, you'll help spread the word so that kids (and adults) do not live in fear of the falsehood that the world will end in 2012.

Download: The Simple Truth: Doomsday 12/21/2012 - Deception Revealed

Visit: Laura Venner's Website

Welcome to our new series of blogs from the Hayden Planetarium.

With this blog, we aim to bring you our opinion and expertise on Earth science, astronomy, and astrophysics. Not only will we cover activities at the Hayden Planetarium and the Rose Center, but we will also bring you news from the Division of Physical Sciences at the American Museum of Natural History.

The blog will focus on topics that range from scientific research, to the latest offerings from the Digital Universe atlas. We'll also showcase the activities of Science Bulletins, AMNH's science news service, and include an occasional note on an unusual astronomical event.

Most of all, we hope you will be compelled to add your thoughts by logging on and posting comments. We want the new Hayden website to foster more dialogue, so your participation is essential to our success.

Be sure to visit us often, or subscribe to our feed to see the latest articles.