Watch CBS News

It's Only A Test, Not A Doomsday Signal

DENVER (AP) — Denver emergency management officials want people to know they are testing their emergency sirens and it's not a warning that the end of the world is near.

The City and County's Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security is testing about 80 new and upgraded warning sirens on Friday, and they're well aware of all the talk about the Mayan calendar and time running out for the world's population.

A chorus of books and movies has sought to link the Mayan calendar to rumors of impending disasters ranging from black holes and solar storms to a change in the Earth's magnetic field.

Scientists say predictions of an impending apocalypse are a bunch of hogwash.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.