Naked Science

Asteroid Alert (5x8)

Air date: May 27, 2008

Even a small asteroid slamming into our planet at thousands of miles-per-hour could produce a major catastrophe, wiping out a city and killing millions. Experts examine evidence that an early civilization in North America became extinct because of an asteroid impact during the last Ice Age. With no crater to examine, scientists test the theory that it exploded into a glacier. NASA's current efforts to find and track all near-Earth objects is highlighted and what could be done to prevent such a disasterous impact.