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Stopping Killer Asteroids

Drog writes "Earth has had a few near misses with asteroids recently (although "near hits" would be more accurate). It's just a matter of time, though, before we detect one with our name on it. In this New York Times article, experts discuss the various ways that we might go about saving our planet. Remarkably, nuclear detonations are not a good option, as they would break the asteroid into many pieces and merely increase our odds of being hit. And a detonation some distance away may simply be absorbed by the asteroid with virtually no effect. Instead, say scientists who study asteroid hazards, a gentle sustained push is what's needed (slow and steady wins the race). Some of the approaches have been discussed in science fiction for years--a mass driver, an electromagnetic machine which hurls dirt from the surface, an orbiting parabolic mirror to heat up the surface and create a plume of vaporized material. All of these methods require one thing, however. Time. At least several decades warning."

3 of 606 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Carlin quote by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    You have to have a pretty poor grasp of the English language not to grasp this one. It's called a near miss because it's a miss that was near its target. So calling it a near hit is obviously wrong. 'Nearly a hit' or ('nearly hit' if you like) is right. Not too tricky, is it?

  2. G. H. W. Bush - Not Much; G. W. Bush - Even Less by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    These two thieves pose a much more dangerous threat to the United States Of America than any
    asteroid.

    If you don't believe me, please visit:

    The White House

    Thanks in advance,

    Woot

  3. Re:Can't test a nuke in space by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    well its not that strange that every country hates you....

    even if i dont like osama he certainly has point, its not arabs having troops in your country its you having troops in their country (what the fuck are american troops doing in saudi arabia anyway), then you support all these murderous arab & latin american regimes that opress their own people, you support israels occupation of palestinian territories and you are even guilty of killing thousands of children in iraq through economic sanctions against iraq and so on, you are supporting dictators in various parts of world and you are even overtrowing or trying to overtrow democracy in various parts of world (chile in 70-ies, venezuela last year....) and install petty dictators....

    > we'll be able to more safely ship that stuff off planet, assuming nobody blows it up because they don't like McDonalds

    you are just showing your ignorance once more here. how about usa shooting down iranian civilian plane in 1989 (if i remember correctly). over 200 ppl got killed and then when iranians do something you just assume that "they hate you because you have mcdonalds". get a fucking clue.....