Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Earth's Asteroid Risk Downgraded

Posted by simoniker on from the i-was-worried-for-a-while dept.

xanthines-R-yummy writes "Relax, everyone - the risk of a gigantic asteroid colliding with Earth just got smaller! Nature reports: "A new survey revises down the likelihood of a massive asteroid hitting the Earth by 20-30%. We're only due to collide with rocks larger than one kilometre across roughly once every 600,000 years, it concludes." Whew! What a relief!"

15 of 231 comments (clear)

  1. Hmm by Bigthecat · · Score: 5, Funny

    Will this finally put an end to all those damn asteroid-hitting-the-Earth movies?

    Please?

    1. Re:Hmm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      No, but an asteroid hitting the earth certainly would.

    2. Re:Hmm by Zork+the+Almighty · · Score: 2, Funny

      Will this finally put an end to all those damn asteroid-hitting-the-Earth movies?

      No, but internet piracy will! Thank you internet piracy.

      --

      In Soviet America the banks rob you!
  2. Okay, so we don't have to worry... by Dimwit · · Score: 2, Funny

    I mean, there hasn't been a rock that large hitting us in, like, 599,000 years...

    Aw FUCK!

    --
    ...but it's being eaten...by some...Linux or something...
    1. Re:Okay, so we don't have to worry... by MochaMan · · Score: 5, Funny

      >>I mean, there hasn't been a rock that large hitting us in, like, 599,000 years...

      >That still gives you 100 yrs, right?

      Glad to see the future of science and engineering is in good hands!

    2. Re:Okay, so we don't have to worry... by geekoid · · Score: 3, Funny

      must be metric years.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  3. I can't help but think... by NightWulf · · Score: 5, Funny

    That the dinosaur version of Slashdot released that same story on the Jurassicnet just 48 hours before they left the earth.

  4. LIES! by Lord_Dweomer · · Score: 4, Funny
    This is just what they want you to think. They just don't want everybody panicking right up until we do get hit! LIES! ALL LIES!

    (The preceding text is brought to you by the Tin-Foil Society for Public Awareness, have a nice day.)

    --
    Buy Steampunk Clothing Online!
  5. Re:What would our strategy be if ..... by Danse · · Score: 3, Funny

    World leaders would retreat to their shelters deep within the earth where they have been hoarding food, fuel, HDTVs, and Playboy Playmates. They'll start a new civilization consisting of moderately attractive people that don't know how to do anything except lie, cheat, steal, and make a fantastic raspberry smoothie.

    --
    It's not enough to bash in heads, you've got to bash in minds. - Captain Hammer
  6. Re:More importantly... by Dark+Lord+Seth · · Score: 3, Funny
    Some folks think that painting it is a better solution. You see, if you paint part of it white, it will deflect the asteroid by about 1 earth-radius 20 years ahead of time. (Less than the margin of error in our guess, most likely. Might knock it into us.) And, to paint a 100-meter or 1-kilometer rock takes A LOT of paint.

    That, and hiring a small army of painters to actually paint the damn thing would cost a fortune! They charge a fortune for coming over here even if they are from the same town, can you imagine what they would charge for going to an object somewhere between Mars and Jupiter?

    --
    Hate me!
  7. Re:I wouldn't worry by freeweed · · Score: 2, Funny

    For some reason your post reminded me of this:

    Smithers: Oh Mr. Burns, we'll thaw you out the second they discover the cure for... seventeen stab wounds in the back. How are we doing boys?

    Professor Frink: Well, we're up to fifteen!

    It also reminds me of the mentality a lot of people still have re: the environment. Destroy it now, because by the time it really matters we'll either be dead from something else, or we'll have such good technology we can fix the damage.

    --
    Endless arguments over trivial contradictions in books written by ignorant savages to explain thunder in the dark.
  8. We only have to watch out for 'brane' collisions by RenHoek · · Score: 4, Funny

    After watching 'The elegant universe' (<--- torrent links)I can trade in my fear for an continent sized asteroid hitting earth for the more bleeding-edge fear of a new 'Big Bang' occuring. :) No rest for the paranoid.

  9. Re:I feel so safe by swordboy · · Score: 4, Funny

    If you haven't seen the End of the World, then have a look at what you are missing.

    --

    Life is the leading cause of death in America.
  10. Re:More importantly... by RabidStoat · · Score: 5, Funny
    Depends on the advance warning. With 30-40 years notice, we'd probably have time to send out a scout team to characterize the asteroid. Then, we could send a follow on team with the proper explosives and nukes.

    Couldn't we send in a team of negotiators to try reasoning with it ? Maybe offer it a bribe to hit the next planet along ? If all else fails we could try mocking it.

  11. Re:These statistics mean very little in reality by mrjah · · Score: 2, Funny

    Yeah, to hell with history! It's 50%.

    By remarkably similar logic, the chances of Jesus' arrival back on Earth tomorrow is also 50%.

    So don't worry about the asteroid, as chances are that Jesus will arrive before or very soon after it hits. But before the bank closes tonight, you'd better stop by and cleanse yourself of the sin of usury, or you're going to burn in hell forever!

    Oh, and please post here to confirm that you've withdrawn your money from all interest-bearing investments. See you in line at St. Peter's place!