No danger of earth exploding

Washington: Scientists have nailed an alarming prediction about the cataclysmic destruction of earth in 2012.

An erroneous doomsday theory doing the rounds is that a supernova explosion, which releases energy equivalent to that produced during the sun's entire lifetime, could happen in 2012 and harm earthly life.

However, given the vastness of space and the long light years between supernovae, astronomers say with certainty that there is no threatening star close enough to hurt earth.

According to a statement by NASA-Goddard Space Flight Centre, astronomers say that the closest gamma-ray burst on record, known as GRB 031203, is 1.3 billion light years away from the earth.