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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.

2 of 637 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Friday the 13th by peragrin · · Score: 0, Redundant

    >>Volcanic ash, when mixed with crushed limestone, makes some of the best concrete. At least, the Romans thought so. That's what they used.
    Of course, they're dead now.

    2,000 years does that everyone but mummy's.

    --
    i thought once I was found, but it was only a dream.
  2. Re:Um, was this by any chance an April Fools paper by anonymous_echidna · · Score: 0, Redundant

    The ESA (European Space Agency).

    --
    In most times, most places, by most people, liars are considered contemptible. - Ursula Le Guin