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Schoolboy Corrects NASA's Math On Killer Asteroid

Posted by kdawson on from the little-child-shall-lead-them dept.

spiracle writes "A German schoolboy, Nico Marquardt, has revised NASA's figures for the chances that the Apophis asteroid will hit earth. Apparently if the asteroid hits a satellite in 2029, its path could be diverted enough to cause it to collide with Earth on the next orbit, in 2036. NASA had calculated the chances as 1 in 45,000 but the 13-year-old, in his science project, made it 1 in 450. NASA agreed." Update: 04/16 16:47 GMT by Z : This is not entirely accurate, it turns out — more details.

5 of 637 comments (clear)

  1. New 3 R's by Free_Meson · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    I don't think the three R's are taught in American schools anymore.
    Of course they are. The current administration just redefined them to better position the U.S. to compete in the post-2037 world:

    1. Religion
    2. Righteousness
    3. Regressive taxation
  2. If it's from AFP you have to check it thrice. by mrmeval · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Why:
    http://www.thedissidentfrogman.com/blog/link/like-a-suppository-only-stronger/

    Article elsewhere
    http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/04/16/2218782.htm?section=world

    --
    I'd go on a Vegan diet but the delivery time from Vega is too long. --brownkitty
  3. Re:Other news stories on this by Talderas · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    I'm pretty sure Vash the stampede could do it..... right?

    --
    "Lack of speed can be overcome. In the worst case by patience." --Znork
  4. Re:Other news stories on this by Optic7 · · Score: 0, Offtopic
    Not trying to be a grammar nazi, but hilarity tends to ensue when "affect" is mixed with "effect":

    n. (Äf'Äkt')

    1. Feeling or emotion, especially as manifested by facial expression or body language: "The soldiers seen on television had been carefully chosen for blandness of affect" (Norman Mailer).

  5. Re:Friday the 13th by AJWM · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Re. your sig "Ayn Rand is a bloody socialist compared to me." - Robert A. Heinlein": got a cite for that? It doesn't sound like something he would have said, either in tone or the use of the word "bloody", but then I only met him a couple of times.

    --
    -- Alastair