Are we three years from the end of the world? Based on an actual ancient Maya calendar that will end on December 21, 2012, NGC asks, “What truths lie behind the fears?” National Geographic 2012: Countdown to Armageddon aired on NGC Nov. 8, 2009. The documentary chronicles the investigation of Princeton University scientist Adam Maloof on three continents. Essentially it is a detective tale on a grand timeline of thousands of years, with clues to be found embedded in some of Earth’s oldest rocks.