The world faces an apocalyptic threat if NASA scientists are correct in assuming that an asteroid strike “is not that far away”. NASA’s chief scientist Jim Bridenstine issued one of the agency’s most alarming warnings yet – claiming that the Earth is “about to face its biggest threat from outer space”. His doom-laden remarks came during a conference organised to better equip humans with ways to defend the planet against a meteor strike.
This week scientists from around the world have been meeting at the 2019 Planetary Defense Conference in College Park, Maryland
The exercise has become a regular event among the international community of “planetary defense” experts.
This year, the conference has been scrambling to develop methods of combating imminent asteroid impact, as well as emergency evacuation plans.
Dr Bridenstine said: ““This is about ultimately protecting the only planet we know right now to host life, and that is the planet Earth.”
vCard.red is a free platform for creating a mobile-friendly digital business cards. You can easily create a vCard and generate a QR code for it, allowing others to scan and save your contact details instantly.
The platform allows you to display contact information, social media links, services, and products all in one shareable link. Optional features include appointment scheduling, WhatsApp-based storefronts, media galleries, and custom design options.
Popular television scientist Bill Nye also warned about the existential threat to humanity during the conference.
He told reporters: “The Earth is going to get hit with another big asteroid. The problem is, we don’t know when. It’s a very low probability in anyone’s lifetime, but it’s a very high-consequence event. If it happens, it would be like control-alt-delete for everything.”
NASA Chief Scientist Jim Green echoed Bill Nye’s remarks: “It’s not a matter of if; it’s only a matter of when.”
During a role-playing simulation exercise, NASA scientists tried and failed to stop a meteor crashing into the earth – despite being given eight years to prepare in the simulation.
In this scenario, the meteor was heading for New York City, which was eventually forced to evacuate under the simulation scenario.
The asteroid blast destroyed everything within a 15 kilometer “unsurvivable” with an energy 1,000 greater than the nuclear bomb dropped on Hiroshima.
NASA is currently working with Elon Musk’s Space X company to develop a Double Asteroid Redirection Test in a bid to stop a future collision.
The American space agency hopes to detect 90 per cent of the asteroids ranging from 140 meter and above with the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope in Chile.