NPR: Linkfest: Scientists Mark Anniversary of Asteroid Blast

Linkfest: Scientists Mark Anniversary of Asteroid Blast

The centennial anniversary of an asteroid blast that occurred near Lake Baikal over Siberia serves as a reminder that the earth is vulnerable to meteors and other rocks from space.

It's the BPP's Ramble.

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Laura Silver

5:31 AM ET | 06-30-2008 | permalink

Comments

"It was the largest reported collision between earth and a space object..."

Well certainly not the largest object to strike the earth. "Reported"? Does this mean "witnessed"? In this case I suppose it might be so. Who edits this show anyway? :-)

Sent by Dave Wiley | 11:38 AM ET | 06-30-2008

Funny thing, too: the asteroid didn't actually collide with the Earth, its superheated core caused it to explode several hundred feet above ground. Or so they think.

Sent by Greg | 11:46 AM ET | 06-30-2008

@Dave Wiley, the word was "recorded" not "reported" and I edit the show.

Sent by Tricia, NPR | 12:27 PM ET | 06-30-2008

@Tricia: the word was "recorded" not "reported" and I edit the show

That's what I get for doing my own transcriptions. I knew you were the editor, and your work is uniformly excellent. It was intended to be a just a little teasing, but sometimes subtle attempts humor don't come across that well in writing.

Although I still wonder at the wording. Can an event be recorded after the fact or does it require witnesses? If the former is true than I would expect the Chicxulub Crater to be the largest confirmed collision. Maybe Summer Ash can shed some light.

Sent by Dave Wiley | 2:50 PM ET | 06-30-2008

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