Should governments be investing in better asteroid detection/diverting measures?

myp · Apr 11, 2012

If a large enough asteroid were to hit the Earth it could potentially kill all human life on the planet, drastically change the environment/temperatures, etc. Do you think that governments should be investing more in technology to detect and viably get rid of such threats? If so, should it be a collaborative effort or burdened by the bigger nations?

DodgeFB · Apr 11, 2012

myp said:
If a large enough asteroid were to hit the Earth it could potentially kill all human life on the planet, drastically change the environment/temperatures, etc. Do you think that governments should be investing more in technology to detect and viably get rid of such threats? If so, should it be a collaborative effort or burdened by the bigger nations?

If they do it all nations should share the burden. But I think there are more important things to work on. Should a truly large asteroid be headed for earth I doubt there would be a lot we could do to stop it.

myp · Apr 11, 2012

DodgeFB said:
If they do it all nations should share the burden. But I think there are more important things to work on. Should a truly large asteroid be headed for earth I doubt there would be a lot we could do to stop it.

You'd be surprised with some of the technology available today. I don't think we are far if we set our sights on it. You can say there are more important things to work on until you wake up one morning to notice an asteroid headed towards us in which case it becomes the most important thing

DodgeFB · Apr 11, 2012

myp said:
You'd be surprised with some of the technology available today. I don't think we are far if we set our sights on it. You can say there are more important things to work on until you wake up one morning to notice an asteroid headed towards us in which case it becomes the most important thing

There is always going to be some big threat to our survival. We can worry and spend ourselves into a panic over too many things. I think this old marble will keep spinning longer than any of us will need it.

myp · Apr 11, 2012

DodgeFB said:
There is always going to be some big threat to our survival. We can worry and spend ourselves into a panic over too many things. I think this old marble will keep spinning longer than any of us will need it.

Tell that to the dinosaurs.

DodgeFB · Apr 11, 2012

myp said:
Tell that to the dinosaurs.

I am a dinosaur, that is why it does not worry me. I have more pressing matters to deal with.

Schmidt · Apr 12, 2012

myp said:
If a large enough asteroid were to hit the Earth it could potentially kill all human life on the planet, drastically change the environment/temperatures, etc. Do you think that governments should be investing more in technology to detect and viably get rid of such threats? If so, should it be a collaborative effort or burdened by the bigger nations?

so what your asking is we should be invested in end of the world plans for an asteriod ?

only problem with that is that there are plenty of end of the world possiblitys just as probale as the asteriod so we would also need to spend money trying to prevent those too
that would get costy

myp · Apr 12, 2012

Schmidt said:
so what your asking is we should be invested in end of the world plans for an asteriod ?

only problem with that is that there are plenty of end of the world possiblitys just as probale as the asteriod so we would also need to spend money trying to prevent those too
that would get costy

Everything has statistical probabilities and costs. An asteroid defense plan isn't that far-fetched.

David · Apr 12, 2012

myp said:
Tell that to the dinosaurs.

Dinosaurs aren't extinct. I eat them for lunch most days of the week.

myp · Apr 12, 2012

David said:
Dinosaurs aren't extinct. I eat them for lunch most days of the week.

I'm not debating your provocative hipster comment this time

David · Apr 13, 2012

myp said:
I'm not debating your provocative hipster comment this time

You're no fun!

Schmidt · Apr 13, 2012

myp said:
Everything has statistical probabilities and costs. An asteroid defense plan isn't that far-fetched.

and some just as much as others as i stated in my original post on this. so answer my question do you think you would be obligated for those other just as probale possiblitys?

myp · Apr 13, 2012

Schmidt said:
and some just as much as others as i stated in my original post on this. so answer my question do you think you would be obligated for those other just as probale possiblitys?

What others are you referring to? Examples?

Schmidt · Apr 13, 2012

eurption of a super volcano, disease , huge solar flare for just some examples

Comet · Apr 15, 2012

Not sure if I posted this on this forum or not.

Engineers Set Their Sights On Asteroid Deflection

ScienceDaily (Mar. 27, 2012) — Pioneering engineers at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow are developing an innovative technique based on lasers that could radically change asteroid deflection technology.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120327124241.htm

myp · Apr 15, 2012

Don't think so Comet, thanks for the share!

Comet · Apr 15, 2012

Schmidt said:
eurption of a super volcano, disease , huge solar flare for just some examples

None of those would cause the complete extinction of life like a meteor would.

myp · Apr 15, 2012

Comet said:
None of those would cause the complete extinction of life like a meteor would.

Not to mention the existence of other potential problems does not mean we shouldn't try to solve another one.

Schmidt · Apr 17, 2012

Comet said:
None of those would cause the complete extinction of life like a meteor would.

a solar flare that is very large would remove our planet from the face of the solar system

Schmidt · Apr 17, 2012

myp said:
Not to mention the existence of other potential problems does not mean we shouldn't try to solve another one.

so why try to solve this one and not some other that is just as probable

Should governments be investing in better asteroid detection/diverting measures?

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