Ep 31. Day of the Asteroid

Cosmic Journeys season 1 episode 31, Day of the Asteroid, takes viewers on a journey through time and space to explore the incredible power and potential destruction brought by asteroids. This episode focuses on the asteroid impact event that occurred 66 million years ago and marks the end of the dinosaurs.

The episode starts with a detailed explanation of the asteroid belt that orbits our sun between Mars and Jupiter, where countless asteroids and comets are found. However, some of these objects have been ejected from their orbit and can collide with our planet.

The episode then takes viewers back in time to the impact event, where a massive asteroid, approximately 10 kilometers in size, struck the Earth with incredible force. The impact created a massive crater and sent shockwaves that caused a worldwide chain reaction, including earthquakes, tsunamis, and even wildfires.

A team of scientists then describe how the impact caused a sudden change in the environment, ultimately leading to the extinction of the dinosaurs. The episode describes how the ash, smoke, and debris thrown into the atmosphere by the impact created a barrier to the sun's light, causing a global drop in temperature, and disrupted the food chain. Many of the animals and plants that existed at the time were unable to adapt to the new conditions and ultimately died out.

The episode then shifts to solutions that scientists are developing to protect Earth from future asteroid impacts. It describes how NASA and other space agencies are tracking the asteroids and comets in our solar system, using advanced telescopes and satellites to detect any potential threats. The episode also details several proposed methods for deflecting an incoming asteroid, including using nuclear bombs or gravitational pull.

Viewers are then taken to the next asteroid impact site, a remote location in Australia where a 50-meter-wide asteroid hit Earth about 4,000 years ago. Here, scientists are studying the crater and the surrounding area to understand the effects of such an impact and develop further methods to detect and deflect future asteroids.

The episode concludes with cautionary measures people can take to prepare for a potential impact, such as creating evacuation plans, building shelters, and stocking up on critical supplies such as food and water. The episode ends by underscoring the importance of continued research and innovation in protecting the planet from deadly asteroid impacts.

Overall, Cosmic Journeys season 1 episode 31, Day of the Asteroid, is an informative and fascinating look at the power and potential destruction of asteroids and the importance of protecting our planet from future impacts.