Ep 14. Asteroid Alert

Naked Science season 4 episode 14, titled "Asteroid Alert," delves into the science behind detecting and tracking potentially dangerous asteroids. The episode begins by exploring the history of asteroid impacts on Earth, from the explosion that wiped out the dinosaurs to the more recent Chelyabinsk meteor in 2013.

The episode then takes us to the heart of NASA's efforts to track and analyze asteroids using telescopes, radar, and other advanced technologies. We see how scientists use data from these tools to create detailed models of the trajectories of asteroids as they approach Earth, and to predict the likelihood of an impact. The stakes are high, as even a small asteroid impact could cause significant damage and loss of life.

We meet a number of key players in the world of asteroid detection, including scientists from NASA, the European Space Agency, and other organizations. These experts share their insights on the challenges of tracking asteroids in space, including the fact that many of these objects are incredibly small and difficult to detect against the vastness of the cosmos.

The episode also explores the various methods that scientists are developing for deflecting asteroids away from Earth's orbit. These include using spacecraft to move asteroids off course, as well as more exotic ideas such as exploding them with nuclear weapons. While these methods are still largely theoretical, there is hope that they could be useful in preventing catastrophic asteroid impacts in the future.

As the episode progresses, it becomes clear just how challenging it is to detect and track asteroids with accuracy. We see how even tiny errors in data can lead to major miscalculations, and how unpredictable factors such as solar wind can make it difficult to predict an asteroid's trajectory. Nonetheless, the scientists working on this problem are driven by a sense of urgency and the knowledge that lives could be at stake.

In the climax of the episode, we see how one asteroid in particular - Apophis - is attracting significant attention from the scientific community. This near-Earth object is noteworthy for its size (about 1,000 feet in length) and its trajectory, which will bring it close to Earth in 2029 and potentially again in 2036. Although the chances of Apophis impacting Earth are currently estimated to be low, the episode makes it clear that the asteroid represents a serious threat that must be monitored closely in the years ahead.

Overall, "Asteroid Alert" offers a fascinating look at the science and technology behind detecting and tracking asteroids. Through interviews with experts and stunning visualizations of these objects in space, viewers gain a deeper understanding of the dangers posed by asteroids, as well as the ongoing efforts to mitigate those dangers and keep our planet safe.