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Rand Expert Says To Keep Mum About Killer Asteroids

crashnbur writes "NASA is conducting a survey of the sky to find asteroids large enough that a collision with earth could 'extinction-type impact', and none studied so far will threaten us in the next 200 years. Of course, if a doomsday asteroid is discovered, the current policy is not to say a word: 'If you can't do anything about a warning, then there is no point in issuing a warning at all', says Dr. Geoffery Sommer. The issue may be making its rounds because an asteroid was discovered orbiting the sun between Venus and Earth earlier this week. Space.com presents a lengthy, four-part 'Impact Debate' (next three parts coming next three Tuesdays). Apparently we are just as likely to die by asteroid impact as in a plane crash."

6 of 411 comments (clear)

  1. fp by CowboyTodd · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    ohhhh well I guess my karma can take anouther hit, I just can't resist first post

  2. wow by reelbk · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    That was the most coherent post I've ever read.

    --
    - A real programmer uses $ cat > a.out
  3. Ah, don't worry... by larien · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    It'll burn up in our atmosphere and what's ever left will be no bigger than a chihuahua's head...

  4. Thats pretty much my attitude towards extinction. by TXP · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    I don't really like the overcrowed planet we live on. I don't like cities, I don't like towns. I would be willing to live underground or in a sterile self contained enviroment growing hydroponics powered by wind, water, geothermal or even nuclear energy. As long as I had a computer I would be ok ;) hehehe.

  5. IN SOVIET EGYPT... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    EARTH hits ASTEROID.

  6. We interupt this thread for a special announcement by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic



    Pattern Recognition?

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