Episode Details

A near-Earth asteroid can feel like science fiction—until Brian Keating and Govert Schilling show how real the extinction risk is. In this full-length episode trimmed into a minutes-long recap, Brian Keating talks with astronomer and science writer Govert Schilling about asteroid impacts, comet threats, planetary defense, and why Earth’s history has been shaped by cosmic collisions. Schilling explains why Earth is a very average target, how impacts may have helped form the Moon and deliver water, and why Chicxulub changed life forever. He also breaks down famous near misses like Tunguska and Chelyabinsk, the challenge of tracking comets, and what NASA’s DART mission says about asteroid deflection. You’ll come away with a clearer view of extinction warnings, impact prediction, and the real odds of Earth being destroyed. Listen now to get the key ideas in minutes.