Should the world invest in protection against asteroids?

dlofnep · 06-03-2010 07:20PM #1

And if so how much? A recent paper released has confirmed that dinosaurs were stamped out by a 7.5 mile wide asteroid, releasing as much energy as 1 billion Hiroshima bombs. Does anyone ever give thought to the idea of an asteroid hitting earth? I haven't in a long while (on account of lack of movies from hollywood about asteroids pelting the shíte out of us).

bluto63 · 06-03-2010 07:22PM

Asteroids fall to earth all year round. They don't do any harm. They've never even killed a person. They did kill a dog at the start of the last century though.

Thank you QI

dlofnep · 06-03-2010 07:25PM

bluto63 wrote: »

Asteroids fall to earth all year round. They don't do any harm. They've never even killed a person. They did kill a dog at the start of the last century though.

That's cos they are baby asteroids. What happens when mommy or daddy asteroid comes to see how it's children are doing, only to find out that our atmosphere has literally burnt them from existence? They won't be happy - let me assure you.

MaybeLogic · 06-03-2010 07:25PM

Protection against asteroids.

These boys should do the trick.

galwayrush · 06-03-2010 07:26PM

Yes, i used to love the game back in the day.

rossie1977 · 06-03-2010 07:26PM

not sure what sort of weapon we would need to build to stop an 8 mile wide asteriod travelling at 50,000 mph

Saibh · 06-03-2010 07:26PM

bluto63 wrote: »

Asteroids fall to earth all year round. They don't do any harm. They've never even killed a person. They did kill a dog at the start of the last century though.

Thank you QI

What if we get hit by something this size though

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zvCUmeoHpw

bazza1 · 06-03-2010 07:27PM

We could use a giant tube of Preparation H......

Oh sorry....wrong roids:D:D

minidazzler · 06-03-2010 07:28PM

Seriously, the likelihood of us our even our great grand children dying because of a big ass asteroid is very unlikely.....then again....CHARGE THE LASERS!!!!!!

Dan I Am · 06-03-2010 07:30PM

'The dinosaurs became extinct because they didn't have a space program. And if we become extinct because we don't have a space program, it'll serve us right!' Arthur C Clarke.

Gillington · 06-03-2010 07:32PM

Saibh wrote: »

What if we get hit by something this size though
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zvCUmeoHpw

It sounds like the woman singing got hit by that asteroid!

WIZE · 06-03-2010 07:32PM

Im sure no matter what weapons that are invented in to blow up Asteroids will be used to threaten other Countries rather then Asteroids

rossie1977 · 06-03-2010 07:33PM

minidazzler wrote: »

Seriously, the likelihood of us our even our great grand children dying because of a big ass asteroid is very unlikely.....then again....CHARGE THE LASERS!!!!!!

its unlikely, we are lucky that jupiter acts as a giant vacuum cleaner in our solar system, now had Shoemaker-Levy 9 hit the earth back in 1994 not even bacteria would have survived

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zNuT4dbdjU

Mint Sauce · 06-03-2010 07:36PM

ah now OP, do you not watch the movies, we're fine, dublin, sorry, ireland never gets affected, its only ever parts of the US and france that gets hit

Diabhal Beag · 06-03-2010 07:37PM

One day it will happen and we will be well and truly ****ed

WIZE · 06-03-2010 07:39PM

I always wanted to go with a bang . I guess you will all be joining me

mikom · 06-03-2010 07:40PM

dlofnep wrote: »

Should the world invest in protection against asteroids?

A huge tube of Preparation H aimed skyward.
Well it works on hemorrhoids.

Joey the lips · 06-03-2010 07:42PM

I read this as hemeroids. Mind you most of what comes out of me looks like an asteroid and as for my farts they would wipe out the dino's again

WIZE · 06-03-2010 07:43PM

mikom wrote: »

A huge tube of Preparation H aimed skyward.
Well it works on hemorrhoids.

Your not on the ball today . post 8 got there before you

fuelinjection · 06-03-2010 07:45PM

First, as far as I know, nobody on earth is looking for asteroids coming at us. So it is only when they get quite close and become bright that we get a warning.

Second, even if you could hit one in space with a large enough payload to divert them, imagine if we screwed up and made a harmless asteroid go on a collision course with earth - now that would be embarrassing.

While global sterilisation and the end of our society would be a bummer, you have to look at the positives as well - no more X-factor, Big Brother, Dancing on ice, celebs in jungles and Jedward.

In fact, maybe some alien races are aiming asteroids at us as we type here. I wouldn't blame them you know.

mikom · 06-03-2010 07:46PM

Most Haunted wrote: »

Your not on the ball today . post 8 got there before you

Damn.
Writing something else at the moment.......... that's my excuse.

06-03-2010 07:59PM

rossie1977 wrote: »

not sure what sort of weapon we would need to build to stop an 8 mile wide asteriod travelling at 50,000 mph

We'd just need to build another big asteroid and send it towards it.

06-03-2010 08:02PM

Saibh wrote: »

What if we get hit by something this size though
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zvCUmeoHpw

fake

o1s1n · 06-03-2010 08:04PM

As long as Bruce Willis is alive we should be fine.

Although hopefully in reality he leaves Ben Affleck behind to die.

Archeron · 06-03-2010 08:05PM

We are on a small lump of rock and iron flying around in an ever expanding universe at 67,000 mph, and the only thing keeping us on course for life is a immense ball of unstable gases burning at five and a half thousand degrees wonderfully positioned 93 million miles away.
Unless we colonize another planet to escape to, then there is virtually nothing we could do to prevent annihilation.

Super Volcanoes though, maybe we should consider spending money looking into how to stop those. Expanding foam maybe.

bonzodog2 · 06-03-2010 08:17PM

mikom wrote: »

A huge tube of Preparation H aimed skyward.
Well it works on hemorrhoids.

Lets just hope we don't get attacked by giant hemorrhoids then
:eek:

wildefalcon · 06-03-2010 08:20PM

Dan I Am wrote: »

'The dinosaurs became extinct because they didn't have a space program. And if we become extinct because we don't have a space program, it'll serve us right!' Arthur C Clarke.

+1

Saibh · 06-03-2010 08:21PM

Deleted User wrote: »

fake

And your point is?

Super-Rush · 06-03-2010 08:23PM

Deleted User wrote: »

fake

I filmed that this morning :rolleyes:

Biggins · 06-03-2010 08:23PM

Meh!!!

Sticks and stones may break my bones but an asteroid will knock the living schite out of me!!! :eek:

ScumLord · 06-03-2010 08:35PM

minidazzler wrote: »

Seriously, the likelihood of us our even our great grand children dying because of a big ass asteroid is very unlikely.....then again....CHARGE THE LASERS!!!!!!

Is it unlikely or more likely since it's been so long since the last one. I wonder would the universe have settled more since then, that is asteroids and comets settled into uninterrupted orbits with most the ones that could have collided having collided by now.

Should the world invest in protection against asteroids?

Asteroids - Defend, yay or nay? 65 votes

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