Big Picture Science: Chasing an Asteroid
REPEAT
Everyone knows
that a big rock wiped out the dinosaurs. But the danger from an
asteroid
hitting Earth is not limited to ancient history. To deal with this
threat,
scientists recently ran an experiment to deflect a potential “city
killer.”
We’ll hear the results of that experiment, and about a visit to another
asteroid. In the dusty material NASA brought back from the asteroid
Bennu, scientists found the chemical building blocks of life, including
many of the
amino acids that are found in our cells. Could an asteroid have brought
the
ingredients for life to ancient Earth? In this episode, we look at our
paradoxical relationship with the space rocks that taketh way – and may
help
giveth - life.
Guests:
- Scott Sandford - Astrophysicist and Research Scientist at NASA’s Ames Research Center
- Robin George Andrews - Science journalist, volcanologist, and author of "How to Kill an Asteroid: The Real Science of Planetary Defense"
Originally aired February 10, 2025
Download podcast at - https://bigpicturescience.org/episodes/chasing-an-asteroid
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