have you ever seen
a shooting star did you make a wish
was it for a pony while i wouldn't count
on that wish being granted
we might be able to help out in another
way
that momentary streak of light may be a
beautiful sight to behold
but it could be one of many interstellar
objects hurtling toward earth
on a collision course we've been hit by
giant cataclysmic asteroids before
yet unlike the dinosaurs you can rest
assured
that we'll be better prepared
how to survive an asteroid impact
space debris falls to earth from our
solar system all the time
almost 91 000 kilograms or 100 tons per
day
travels our way so where does it all go
well most of it vaporizes in the
atmosphere leaving those trails of light
we like to call
shooting stars but on rare occasions
these shooting stars or meteoroids will
survive earth's atmosphere and plunge
into the ground
asteroids can be anywhere from 2 meters
to a whopping
940 kilometers wide
to put things into perspective an
asteroid capable of a global disaster
would have to be more than 0.4
kilometers wide
thankfully these celestial titans are
easier to detect ahead of time
but what if we couldn't stop them what
is the likelihood of us being hit by a
giant asteroid
where could you go to stay safe
could scientists prevent a giant
asteroid impact
around 800 000 years ago a significant
asteroid
powerful enough to send debris and dust
across the planet
may have plummeted into southeast asia
scientists have uncovered bizarre glassy
rocks called
tektites that were likely ejected from
the impact
these tectites have been found in asia
australia and even antarctica
this asteroid likely stirred up enough
dust to block the sun for several years
destroying crops and cooling the globe
despite the cold weather our ancestors
managed to survive this devastating
impact
if nasa identified a similar asteroid
that was heading our way
what should you do step one
pray for a scientific breakthrough
there have been many scientific
proposals to stop asteroids
we've thought of detonating nuclear
bombs nearby
drilling bombs into them and even
attaching rockets or solar cells to the
asteroid to alter its course
who knows maybe your career in science
could help us save the planet someday
whoever you are thanks in advance
step two leave the strike area
immediately
if you live within the impact radius of
the asteroid evacuate the area
as soon as possible you'll want to beat
the traffic
so i'm sorry but your comic book
collection can wait
be sure to pack lots of food and water
for the journey if you have time
if you're heading out by car you can
expect many paddock drivers
and gridlocks you might want to consider
some alternative forms of transportation
or better yet befriend a trained pilot
if you can't make it out of the impact
site in time brace yourself
for intense earthquakes steer clear of
any tall buildings
and get under something sturdy to
protect your head
if you live by the ocean you'll want to
get to higher ground immediately
colossal tsunamis will flood coastlines
leaving a path of destruction in their
wake
if you happen to be on the other side of
the planet a tsunami's waves could take
about
30 hours to arrive so be sure to use
that time wisely to prepare for the
worst
step 3 find a bunker
even if you manage to leave the blast
area safely you're still going to want
to find
shelter if you thought earthquakes and
tsunamis were bad
how about a hailstorm of flaming rocks
debris from the asteroid impact would be
absorbed in the atmosphere and then spat
back out
pummeling buildings and starting fires
everywhere
you'll want to find a shelter with
reinforced concrete walls at least 30 to
80 centimeters thick
or if the government manages to build a
biodome prior to all this
be sure to get on that waiting list
early it's time to put those schmoozing
skills to good use
step four ration your food and water
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keep a stash of non-perishable food
items and enough water to last you for a
long time
depending on the severity of the impact
you could be stuck in there for several
years
the dust and debris from the impact
would likely trigger a nuclear winter
killing off any crops in the blast area
so consider also investing in a
greenhouse for your bunker
unless you're happy eating canned peas
with every meal
in the unfortunate event you're stuck in
a busy place when the asteroid strikes
or shopping for the latest gadgets on
black friday you might need to withstand
a human stampede
don't worry we've got you covered
remember if you want to stay alive
keep watching how to survive
you