An Asteroid May Hit Earth in 2032. What Can We Do about It?

This podcast discusses the recently discovered asteroid 2024 YR4 and the possibility of it colliding with Earth in 2032. The interview features an expert who explains the current 2% chance of impact (as of February 11th), the methods used to detect and track asteroids, and the potential responses if a collision becomes more likely. The expert details the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the asteroid's orbit and the need for potential preemptive action, such as a kinetic impactor or nuclear detonation, if the risk remains above 1%. The podcast concludes by emphasizing that the situation is fluid and more information is expected by late April/early May. The James Webb Space Telescope will be used to obtain more precise measurements of the asteroid's size and orbit in March and May.