Subgenius Digest V4 #88
Automatic Subgenius Digestifier (@mc.lcs.mit.edu:Subgenius-request@mc.lcs.mit.edu)
Mon, 10 May 93 00:03:49 EDT
1. WHAT SHOULD WE DO ABOUT COLLISIONS WITH ASTEROIDS AND COMETS?
An international workshop organized by SDIO concluded that, while
such collisions have played a major role in the evolution of life
on Earth, the probability of a civilization-threatening impact in
any given year is extremely small. Therefore, the emphasis should
be on detection and physical characterization. On a less global
scale, concern was expressed that collisions in the 1-megaton-
TNT range could be mistaken for a nuclear explosion and trigger a
response; impacts of that size occur about once per century. The
participants were split on the need to construct or test systems
to deflect or destroy asteroids until a specific threat is found.
Edward Teller spoke forcefully on behalf of a program to nuke a
few non-threatening asteroids in preparation for the real thing.
Somebody once observed, "You got a problem? Eddie's got a bomb!"
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End of Subgenius Digest
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