In the mean time we are creating a star this fall and the Koreans are going to try to build a star that stays alive next year.

As for the Mayans the theory of the end being in 2012 is based only on the fact that this is the last date in there calender in addition to written works by kupla kan (however it is spelled). However, over 99% of all written works by there people have been destroyed therefore data is only based on the <1% of available records. Second everything in Mayan civilization and culture operates in cycles nothing has an end only a cycle that it followed. Therefore, it is much more likely that the cycle simply restarts at this time.

Another important piece of information that also related to the Mayans is the idea of Ages that last for 2,150 years. Here is some info on the next age:
Ages are believed by some astrologers to affect mankind while other astrologers believe the ages correlate to the rise and fall of mighty civilizations and cultural tendencies. Aquarius traditionally "rules" electricity, computers, flight, democracy, freedom, humanitarianism, idealists, modernization, rebels and rebellion, mental diseases, nervous disorders, and astrology.[4] Other keywords and ideas believed associated with Aquarius are nonconformity, philanthropy, veracity, perseverance, mankind and irresolution.[5] The appearance or elevation in status of many of these Aquarian developments over the last few centuries is considered by many astrologers to indicate the proximity of the Aquarian age. There is no uniform agreement about the relationship of these recent Aquarian developments and the Age of Aquarius. Some astrologers believe that the influence of a new age is experienced before it arrives because of a cuspal effect or Orb of Influence. Other astrologers believe the appearance of Aquarian developments indicate the actual arrival of the Age of Aquarius.
The previous creation ended on a long count of 12.19.19.17.19. Another 12.19.19.17.19 will occur on December 20, 2012, followed by the start of the fourteenth b'ak'tun, 13.0.0.0.0, on December 21, 2012.[11] There is only one reference to the current creation's 13th *b'ak'tun in the fragmentary Mayan corpus: Tortuguero Monument 6, part of a ruler's inscription.
This length of time is about equal to the believed length of an Age. With the calender starting near the end of our last age and at the beginning of our current age. Considering that the Mayans entire civilization was based on the Universe it is not hard to see the connection between the new age of Aquarius and the changes in times the Mayans speak of.