Scientists seek ways to ward off killer asteroids

December 21, 2008 By Robert S. Boyd

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Near Earth Environment animation 2007-08. (Click Enlarge for full version). Image: NASA

A blue-ribbon panel of scientists is trying to determine the best way to detect and ward off any wandering space rocks that might be on a collision course with Earth. "We're looking for the killer asteroid," James Heasley, of the University of Hawaii's Institute for Astronomy, recently told the committee that the National Academy of Sciences created at Congress' request.

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• Doug_Huffman - Dec 23, 2008
  • Rank: 3.7 / 5 (3)
  I wonder what my freshman physics instructor missed when we investigated pushing, pulling and blasting asteroids? Even getting the mass of an effective motor to Apophis will be beyond our capabilities for some time to come - longer now with the Obamination.
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• Arkaleus - Dec 23, 2008
  • Rank: 2.7 / 5 (3)
  I wouldn't pass judgment on Obama yet, he's intellectual enough to understand it and that may be enough to invigorate its progress.
  
  Bush's aggressive ignorance was quite harmful to scientific endeavor - the brightest gems of American achievement were beyond his ability to grasp and as a result our space sciences floundered and lay fallow.
  
  If Obama understands enough science, then the amazing synergy of national scientific endeavor will respond positively. If not, we'll see defections of talent and resources to foreign powers eager to overtake us.
  
  It really does suck when you're stupid.
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• barkster - Dec 30, 2008
  • Rank: not rated yet
  Arkaleus,
  
  The "amazing synergy of national scientific endeavor" does not orbit around the intellect or ignorance of a president... unless you have a political agenda behind it.
  
  http://corner.nat...ZWE5NDQ=
  
  Wake up from your Obama wet dream.
  
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