What would humanity do if an asteroid were to impact Earth?

In February 2013 an asteroid of 19 meters in diameter flew over the skies of Russia and did not hit the Earth exactly, but if it exploded over the city of Chelyabinsk, the shock wave of the explosion in the air caused the Most windows and stained glass will explode causing more than 1,500 wounded.

This event, fortunately without fatalities, served to remind the world that the Earth is continually white from small and medium-sized asteroids, and that in any moment could be reached by a devastating one, like the one that hit Siberia at the beginning of the 20th century, or apocalyptic, like the one that ended the dinosaurs and caused the last great extinction of species 65 million years ago.h2> What would humanity do if an asteroid were to impact the earth?

Although most astronomers do not believe that we are in danger of being impacted in the next 50 years by an asteroid similar to the one that I finish with the dinosaurs (9.5 km in diameter), they do not completely rule out the possibility of an unpleasant surprise.In 2004 a 274 meter wide asteroid was detected, Apophis , in progress towards the Earth and a possible impact was estimated in 2029, but later calculations indicated that it would pass more than 80,000 kilometers, which is not much distance in astronomical terms.

For several years the European Space Agency has been carrying out monitoring and evaluation through an office of observation of activities of objects close to Earth, and has made impact simulations in order to establish a protocol of activities to present the threat of an extraterrestrial impact.

The steps of this protocol include monitoring, early detection of the threat, precise description of the object (size, composition, speed, etc.), determination of date and time of impact and precise location of the place where it will collide with the Land.Having this information would allow governments and international entities to take appropriate measures both to avoid the impact, if possible, and to establish contingency plans (evacuation, medical and humanitarian care, etc.).

What would humanity do if an asteroid were to impact Earth?

Asteroid size

Of course, if the asteroid is 10 kilometers or more, the only measure to take would be to put things in order with the world and the gods, and close the eyes, as in the extraordinary movie Melancholy , from Danish Lars von Trier…

Or not? Since the 90s of last century, in organisms such as NASA, alternatives to destroy or divert any large-sized object that threatens to impact the Earth are evaluated.Options include the use of nuclear missiles (destruction of the asteroid, as in the Armagedon and Deep Impact ) movies; of a powerful laser beam (shots from the Earth and from spacecraft to make it release gases and cause its diversion); gravitational traction (a ship that harnessing the force of gravity changes the course of the object); and until the landing and installation of solar candles to change its course.

But none of these plans will work if the threat is not detected well in advance.Since 1998, following orders from the US Congress, NASA has allocated resources to detect and follow asteroids and comets of the solar system that may constitute a threat; for this it has the global network of astronomical terrestrial observatories and some of the time of some of the space telescopes.This activity requires personnel and financial and technological resources that governments are not always willing to give.It is a too abstract threat, although present, and of a type of space science that generates little profit from the political point of view …

It is estimated that there are more than 10 million asteroids and comets of various sizes in the outer solar system with which at some point we could cross.

What would humanity do if an asteroid were to impact Earth?

It should be a priority to look at those who can harm us.65 million years ago dinosaurs could not do anything to change their destiny, we could.

And you? Do you think that at some point we will see an asteroid hit Earth, will it be our end? Follow our page with the article Theories about the end of the world.

Images: andrewsrj, Eduardo Mueses, NASA Blueshift

Comments

3 Psychological experiments that went too far

Scientific knowledge and its tactics, as we conceive them today, has evolved throughout history, but in this long road, based on experimentation, not everything has been successful even leading to true tragedies as happened in the following psychological experiments. 3 Psychological experiments that went too far Little Albert The first of these rugged experiments is the one that took It was conducted in 1920 and was directed by Dr. John B.Watson of Johns Hopkins University, which sought to certify the Classic Conditioning by which the behavior of a subject through “learning by association”.That said it does not sound bad at all but to prove this theory, Dr.Watson used a baby of only 11 months, who like any baby did not have prejudices with animals, which scared again and again with strong metal strokes at the same time that showed an animal until totally traumatize the child, that after the experiment, he suffered a phobia towards anything that had hair. Landis' faci...

10 characteristics of successful people

Success is not measured by how bulky the bank account is, but by the impact of your actions, by the passion you print to what is your life engine and by the degree of satisfaction you get with the conquest of your goals.All without losing your essence or moral values, much less disrespecting others. Successful people are characterized by believing in themselves, knowing exactly what they want and their determination at the time of going after it.In Science Daily Online we tell you some traits of successful people who may inspire you to go for more. 10 characteristics of successful people Successful people they also give up If, as incongruous as it may seem at first glance, successful people give up, but in the face of what does not work for them in the course of pursuing their dreams. In Ultimately, if it is necessary to recognize that something did not work and that they must start from scratch, they will do it, because within them is the conviction that this way they will...

5 curiosities about flatulence

In Science Daily Online we talk to you once about 14 unpleasant things about your body.On this occasion we want to inform you about that «accident» that happens to us sometimes and makes us blush if it happens in public: flatulence or farts. 1.Only 1% of our farts smell bad 99% of our gases are composed of carbon dioxide, hydrogen , oxygen and methane.In fact, curiously, the exact composition of our farts is completely personal and unique in each of us, since, as a footprint fingerprint , the shape of our intestine is different in each individual.Of all our flatulence only one 1% smells bad .What causes the bad smell of the farts? The sulfuric gases such as sulfur, methanethiol and dimethyl sulfide are responsible for the different types of "aroma" (terrible!) Of flatulence. What is intrinsically related to Bad smell of our gases is the diet .The cabbage and the carbohydrates complex, such as fiber, sugar and starch they cause flatulence. 2.Int...

These 13 social skills are very simple, but they will make you more pleasant

Introverts or extroverts… humans, by nature, are social beings.We need to interact with others to feel that we fit in somewhere, that we feel understood, and at the same time, share with them moments that are integrated into the album of memories of our life. Either to build a new circle of friends or to introduce yourself to a new work environment, a simple key to socializing leaving a very good image in the attempt consists of be nice .And how to achieve it? Based on advice from experts in labels and civility and from authors of books on human relationships, we present 13 basic social skills that will help you improve with interactions. These 13 social skills are very simple, but they will make you more pleasant Maintain eye contact The eyes being the windows of the soul, undress our true intentions without the need to pronounce any word.Hence lies the importance of maintaining eye contact while we talk, since it is a way of saying , "I am attentive to what you say,...

Incredible places: Ruby Beach, encounter between the sea and the forest

If you are a writer and you are looking for inspiration, then your ideal place is undoubtedly Ruby Beach .But if what you need is to simply disconnect from your routine and visit a unique scenario, do not overlook this corner either Overwhelming US where you will enjoy, camera in hand, of each unique and special aspect, where nature weaves once again the greatest of beauties. Ruby Beach, where the forest intermingles with the sea To visit this unique scenario you will have to travel to the US, specifically to the Olympic National Park .It is there where suddenly a whole long unique coastal section in the world opens, in which the Forest enters spectacularly within the same sea.You can see infinity of fallen trees , or whose roots get between rocks and sand, bordering the water here and there.Occasionally the old conifers rise as curious beams, like old wooden lighthouses watching that distant ocean on the which glimpses of time and the passing of days. One of those sections...

The curious use of analgesics in the past

Through time, the history has been unraveling the way of life of our ancestors, their customs and beliefs , among them, the way they fought pain Physically using different types of analgesics, which helped them deal with their ailments. Various anthropological investigations have shown that ancient cultures developed methods to fight against the ailments of their bodies In fact, through these studies it was discovered that they coped with different pathologies ranging from dental abscesses to open fractures. The opium poppy goddess and Memphis stone in Egypt The goddess opium poppy represented in broad strokes the effects of opium , considered a gift from the gods for its sedative and analgesic effects.The goddess carries in her crown part of this seed, representing the typical cuts that are made for obtaining n of the juice of this substance. In addition to controlling pain, it is known that the Egyptians used the opium poppy so that children would not cry at nigh...

5 nightmares you sure have suffered. Do you know what they mean?

In the mysterious and fascinating world of our dreams, as in surrealist paintings, a pen is not just a pen.Symbolic and metaphorical codes are being used to analyze our subconscious world. Decipher Dreams are not an easy task, even for the most qualified psychologists.But what about nightmares? 5 nightmares that you have surely suffered.Do you know what they mean? While that common dreams usually represent our most intimate desires, our nightmares represent our inner fears and anxieties. There are not many psychologists who believe that nightmares always have a deep meaning.Most believe that sometimes they are constructions created rather at random, however, there are some general guidelines to keep in mind. 1.Fall from a great height This type of nightmare happens to people whose anxiety is linked to the feeling that they are not in charge of their own life or even of themselves. This can be caused by the person's work, intimate relationships, money, etc.After a...

The mystery of prehistoric giant mushrooms

Imagine a primitive scenario , halfway between fantasy and mystery.It is a time where Earth has only two continents: Euramerica , to the north, and Gondwana , to the south.Imagine now that you are walking on a soil almost devoid of vegetation, there are hardly any plants, and your steps explode in the thicket of a rocky stage, where they stand... The authentic giants of the Earth: the prototaxites.These giant mushrooms were like strange mastiffs that could reach almost 8 meters.The higher the height, the greater the possibility of escaping their spores, and hence their sovereignty In these scenarios of Silurico and Devonico , almost 420 million years ago... But, what were they? Trees, bushes? ...The prototaxites were fungi.If you have felt a chill or have been stung by curiosity, do not hesitate to know more about these creatures worthy of appearing in the "Lost World" of Jules Verne. The era in which the Prototaxites, giant fungi, dominated the Earth Scientist...

Monet saw something that most can't see, but animals do

Monet saw the world "with his own eyes", as a famous artistic council says, which serves any of the arts and refers to the search for one's own voice, of one's own look, of one's own style. What Monet saw was quite extraordinary, since it is usually a skill restricted only to animals. Monet saw something that most cannot see, but animals can Let's make some history. Claude Monet was a French painter born in 1840, who was one of the creators of impressionism in painting, name derived from a of his works, Impression, rising sun , from 1872.He died in 1926, but towards the end of his life he suffered from cataracts , which has led some experts to “ contextualize ”what Monet saw, and what it could have meant in his artistic process. « Impression, rising sun », 1872 In 1923, at age 82, he had an operation where the cataracts of the right eye were removed, which produced a condition called afaquia , which consists of the absence of a lens.The operati...

How does the sight of newborns improve in one year? This gif is revealing!

Attention, if you are or think you are within reach of a newly arrived child in the world, seeing this gif could open your eyes around the reach of the sight of newborns and how it evolves during the first year of life outside the womb maternal. How does the sight of newborns improve in 12 months? This gif is revealing! We don't want to go through a spoiler but we're going to tell you the gif, so it may be more convenient for you to see it first. Did you see it? It's fast and it's not that this bad, that's how children see at birth, because the visual cortex of the brain is just beginning to process the images and coordinate the movement of the two eyes to focus.You cannot focus anything beyond the ten centimeters during the first weeks , so the first face you will see clearly is that of your mother when she is breastfeeding or bottle feeding. A month can already distinguish it almost a meter away, and both parents can focus them shortly after three mo...

Science Daily Online

Search This Blog