Ep 5. Armageddon USA

Armageddon USA is the fifth episode of the seventh season of the popular documentary television series, What on Earth?, which premiered on the Science channel on April 20, 2021. The series showcases the latest advancements in satellite imaging and other technologies to explore mysterious and unusual occurrences on the planet.

In this particular episode, the team of experts investigate a terrifying possibility of an incoming disaster to the United States. The episode begins with the host making a shocking statement about a potential space rock that could be on a collision course with Earth, and the episode dives deeper into the threat and its implications.

Experts throughout the show investigate emergency drills and evacuation protocols in various US cities, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Seattle. The show focuses on how these cities have been built on fault lines and how earthquakes have, in many cases, already completely destroyed several of them in the past.

The episode follows the hypothesis that if there is a massive impact such as the Chicxulub event, the impact that caused the extinction of the dinosaurs about 66 million years ago, it could set off a chain reaction of earthquakes all along the west coast of the United States, leading to a catastrophic events including tsunamis, fires and widespread devastation.

The team also scrutinizes satellite images of meteor craters in Arizona, trying to find out how a space rock can cause destruction up to 100 miles away of impact. Discussions with local experts and geologists about the effects of imminent asteroid impact continue throughout the episode.

The episode goes on to discuss how modern technology is being developed to protect us in the event of such devastating cosmic events. NASA's "Planetary Defense Coordination Office" is investigating ways to divert asteroids from Earth’s orbit. They have come up with various technologies including Gravity Tractor, kinetic impactor, laser ablation and nuclear explosion in order to deflect space rocks from Earth before a potential collision happens.

Throughout the episode, the presenters raise the question of how prepared is the United States for an asteroid impact. The episode follows a series of drills carried out by the US Army to find out how the military would respond to such a threat. The show also showcases the preparations made by local communities to train and prepare for any catastrophic event.

The experts also discuss how an impact from a massive asteroid would also have a devastating effect beyond the United States, potentially impacting global food supplies and climate change. Further, the episode explains how sighting near-Earth asteroids is nearly impossible and the importance of constant monitoring of the sky for incoming asteroids to prevent a catastrophe.

The show is a thought-provoking episode that challenges the viewers to consider how fragile our planet is and how a cosmic event could change everything in an instant. It highlights the importance of continued investments in science, monitoring, and disaster preparedness to equip us better against such potentially catastrophic events.

Overall, the episode Armageddon USA is an engaging and informative episode of What on Earth?, which provides a great mix of science and potential doomsday scenario. It makes for an excellent addition to an already exciting seventh season.