Naked Science

Countdown to Impact (6x23)

Air date: Dec 03, 2009

In 2008, and for the first time in history, scientists were able to track an asteroid on a collision course with Earth. It hit in the desert in Sudan, very close to where experts predicted. Scientists believe we should be much more concerned about these smaller asteroids and the possibility of them impacting a populated area. They believe emergency management programs should be planning for such an event, just as they would a hurricane or earthquake. This episode looks at what could happen if an area like San Francisco should need to be evacuated because of an impending collision.