At Least We Won't Die From Global Warming... - GoFuckYourself.com

Roper69 · 08-27-2006, 08:09 PM

From TMQ -

I Don't Care Whether Pluto Is a Planet or a Pluton, And Don't See Why Anyone Else Cares: Last week the International Astronomical Union issued a 3,472-word fact sheet about its epic struggle to define one single word, "planet." The IAU says it took several committees two years to come up with the goofy word "pluton," and even that is not final.

Note the sessions at the IAU General Assembly -- one is "Near Earth Objects, Our Celestial Neighbors." Let's invite them in for tea! But don't you mean our celestial mortal enemies? While the definition of a planet, or agreement on the exact number of planets in the solar system, will never have the slightest bearing on anyone's life, that our world might be struck by a near-Earth object is a grave, pressing danger. About 10,000 years ago, something enormous crashed into the Argentine pampas, obliterating a significant chunk of the South American ecology with a force thought to be 18,000 times that of the Hiroshima bomb. In the year 535, multiple medium-sized meteorite impacts around the world caused a generation of crop failures and cruel winters that helped push Europe into its Dark Ages. In 1908, a meteorite or comet about 250 feet across hit Tunguska, Siberia, detonating with a force perhaps 700 times the power of the Hiroshima bomb. Had this strike occurred in Tokyo or Paris instead of the Arctic Circle, millions would have died.

Estimates hold that 500,000 rocks roughly the size of the Tunguska object drift in the region of Earth's orbit, along with perhaps 1,000 asteroids big enough to cause global devastation on the order of the comet strike that did in the dinosaurs. Yet NASA is taking no action to protect Earth against space objects, while astronomers debate how many plutons can dance on the head of a pin. Space-object impacts are statistically unlikely in any one person's lifetime, but that is no assurance one will not happen tomorrow. Rock and comet strikes have caused mass extinctions in Earth's past. A large impact today could kill vast numbers, while causing frigid winters, global acid rain as bad as battery acid, and crop failures that plunge humanity into famine.

Astronomers ought to stop wasting time on wordplay and sternly warn the world that space agencies should be researching ways to prevent something big from falling on our heads from space. If NASA stopped an asteroid or comet strike this would be, well, the greatest achievement in human history.

edgeprod · 08-27-2006, 09:28 PM

Sing it, brother!

Barefootsies · 08-27-2006, 10:16 PM

Spunky · 08-27-2006, 10:20 PM

I wouldn't be so quick to say that..I think it will be a contributing factor

rickz · 08-27-2006, 10:22 PM

Apparently you have no idea about how scientific communities work. They will debate it for years and settle on something and then after a few decades the issue will come up again.

And for a meteor striking Earth. It has happened before and will probably happen again. Will we see it, noone knows.. And what do you suggest for NASA, shoot nukes to all asteroids that may hit Earth. Too much science fiction if you ask me.

WarChild · 08-27-2006, 10:23 PM

Oh no Global Warming, the earth has got .5 degrees hotter in a 100 years, but is still cooler than it has been in the past. Oh my lord, panic time!

08-27-2006, 08:09 PM	#1
Roper69 Confirmed User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 111	At Least We Won't Die From Global Warming... From TMQ - I Don't Care Whether Pluto Is a Planet or a Pluton, And Don't See Why Anyone Else Cares: Last week the International Astronomical Union issued a 3,472-word fact sheet about its epic struggle to define one single word, "planet." The IAU says it took several committees two years to come up with the goofy word "pluton," and even that is not final. Note the sessions at the IAU General Assembly -- one is "Near Earth Objects, Our Celestial Neighbors." Let's invite them in for tea! But don't you mean our celestial mortal enemies? While the definition of a planet, or agreement on the exact number of planets in the solar system, will never have the slightest bearing on anyone's life, that our world might be struck by a near-Earth object is a grave, pressing danger. About 10,000 years ago, something enormous crashed into the Argentine pampas, obliterating a significant chunk of the South American ecology with a force thought to be 18,000 times that of the Hiroshima bomb. In the year 535, multiple medium-sized meteorite impacts around the world caused a generation of crop failures and cruel winters that helped push Europe into its Dark Ages. In 1908, a meteorite or comet about 250 feet across hit Tunguska, Siberia, detonating with a force perhaps 700 times the power of the Hiroshima bomb. Had this strike occurred in Tokyo or Paris instead of the Arctic Circle, millions would have died. Estimates hold that 500,000 rocks roughly the size of the Tunguska object drift in the region of Earth's orbit, along with perhaps 1,000 asteroids big enough to cause global devastation on the order of the comet strike that did in the dinosaurs. Yet NASA is taking no action to protect Earth against space objects, while astronomers debate how many plutons can dance on the head of a pin. Space-object impacts are statistically unlikely in any one person's lifetime, but that is no assurance one will not happen tomorrow. Rock and comet strikes have caused mass extinctions in Earth's past. A large impact today could kill vast numbers, while causing frigid winters, global acid rain as bad as battery acid, and crop failures that plunge humanity into famine. Astronomers ought to stop wasting time on wordplay and sternly warn the world that space agencies should be researching ways to prevent something big from falling on our heads from space. If NASA stopped an asteroid or comet strike this would be, well, the greatest achievement in human history. __________________ :D Jimmy 'Toasted P' :D [email protected] ICQ 235-067-483 www.toastedpumpkin.com

08-27-2006, 10:16 PM	#3
Barefootsies Choice is an Illusion Industry Role: Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Land of Obama Posts: 42,635	__________________ Should You Email Your Members? Link1 \| Link2 \| Link3 Enough Said. "Would you rather live like a king for a year or like a prince forever?"

08-27-2006, 10:20 PM	#4
Spunky I need a beer Industry Role: Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: ♠ Toiletville ♠ Posts: 133,944	I wouldn't be so quick to say that..I think it will be a contributing factor __________________ *YOUR INFORMATION HERE*

08-27-2006, 10:23 PM	#6
WarChild Let slip the dogs of war. Industry Role: Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Bermuda Posts: 17,263	Oh no Global Warming, the earth has got .5 degrees hotter in a 100 years, but is still cooler than it has been in the past. Oh my lord, panic time! __________________ . Last edited by WarChild; 08-27-2006 at 10:25 PM..

08-27-2006, 09:28 PM	#2
edgeprod Permanently Gone Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 10,019	Sing it, brother!

08-27-2006, 10:22 PM	#5
rickz Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 11	Apparently you have no idea about how scientific communities work. They will debate it for years and settle on something and then after a few decades the issue will come up again. And for a meteor striking Earth. It has happened before and will probably happen again. Will we see it, noone knows.. And what do you suggest for NASA, shoot nukes to all asteroids that may hit Earth. Too much science fiction if you ask me.