Why tracking our oldest cosmic neighbors is a matter of survival

Adventures of an asteroid hunter | Carrie Nugent · 6:07 · Video: TED · Watch at the source

In short: Asteroid hunters are more than just stargazers; they are the planet's first line of defense. This talk explores how these ancient celestial bodies shaped Earth and why identifying them is critical for protecting human life.

Carrie Nugent explains the vital work of scientists who discover and catalog asteroids—our oldest and most numerous cosmic neighbors. While these objects are remnants of the early solar system, their history of impacts has fundamentally shaped the geological evolution of our planet.

The mission is now one of planetary defense. By identifying asteroids at the right time, scientists aim to prevent catastrophic collisions. The scale of this effort is significant, with NASA-funded surveys responsible for discovering more than 95 percent of all known near-Earth asteroids.

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