asteroids

Hamilton Nolan · 12/04/14 05:22PM

Just as Japan launches a space probe that will rendezvous with an asteroid, a global group of scientists warns that unless we do a better job of tracking asteroids, the entire human race could well be wiped out. Should you be worried? Yes. Death is certain.

Killer Asteroid Coming Relatively Soon

Hamilton Nolan · 04/23/14 09:14AM

It is not a question of if a killer asteroid will strike our planet, devastating at the very least a city, and at most the entire race. It is just a question of how soon. The current consensus: it won't be too long now.

'Do You Want to Die Alone?' OK Cupid Asks in Email With Bizarre Obama Asteroid Cartoon

Max Read · 12/20/12 01:20PM

Many people now, at this point, have forwarded us the email they received from online dating service OK Cupid (screen-shotted) above, which was sent out with the subject "do you want to die alone?" which would probably just barely fall on the side of "cute" if it weren't accompanied by a graphic of an asteroid emblazoned with President Obama's face hitting the earth, in the process ripping to shreds what appears to be a rather large copy of the U.S. constitution. Hmm.

Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan Meet 200 Million Miles Away from Earth

Max Read · 10/12/11 11:24PM

Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan passed right near each other last month—millions of miles above earth. Not because they were launched into space by some kind of, I don't know, space... cannon? But because they are asteroids!

Dinosaurs Don't Have That Asteroid to Kick Around Any More

Hamilton Nolan · 09/20/11 04:35PM

Frozen feathers! Getting shorter! Asteroid redemption! NASA engineers! Weight brain! Giant telescopes! Desperate dolphins! Indian frogs! And hypothetical questions with real world consequences! It's your Tuesday Science Watch, where we watch science—like ka-blow!

We Can't Be Called 'Homo Sapiens' Any More

Hamilton Nolan · 08/17/11 04:41PM

Coffee mystery! Asteroid deflection! Earth expansion! Fly paranoia! Acoustic cloaking! Bear strings! Homo sapienism! Smartest insect! And stupid fish are all like, "Which hand makes the 'L?'" It's your Wednesday Science Watch, where we watch science—as best we can!

New Infinity Math Is So Over Your Head, Just Forget It

Hamilton Nolan · 08/01/11 04:36PM

New math! Fancier chips! Higgs Boson! Humongous fungus! Acid bases! Sea monster! Asteroid pictures! Fecal bleed! And everyone's best friend is dropping in for the summer! It's your Monday Science Watch, where we watch science—not that you would understand!

Your Cell Phone Won't Kill You

Hamilton Nolan · 07/28/11 04:11PM

Life lives! Bears menace! Phone cancer! Asteroid stowaways! Booby bullies! Lab dangers! Electron dancing! Neanderthal crowding! And dangerous health experiments that you can do at home! It's your Thursday Science Watch, where we watch science—on the road, baby!

Here Are All the Asteroids That Have Been Discovered Since 1980

Max Read · 08/26/10 08:47PM

Wondering where all the asteroids are? Well, "up," obviously. But also, in this beautiful, hypnotic video that tracks asteroid discovery over the last 30 years. It's more engrossing than Armageddon, that's for sure. (Watching it in HD is best!) [via]

NASA to Do Armageddon, in Real Life

Max Read · 08/09/10 12:46AM

NASA would like to send a spacecraft to RQ36, the "mountain-size" asteroid expected to hit earth around 2182, to collect samples and map the asteroid. Be more budget-conscious, NASA! You could just rent Armageddon for a couple bucks instead. [NatGeo]

Dinosaurs Were Killed By Ginormous Asteroid

Adrian Chen · 03/04/10 08:58PM

A panel of 41 experts have reached an agreement that a "ginormous" (scientific term), 10-15km asteroid killed the dinosaurs 65 million years ago when it slammed into the Yucatan. You didn't really believe that whole super-volcano theory... did you? [BBC]