Into the Impossible With Brian Keating Will It Happen Again? Comets and Asteroids Extinction with Govert Schilling
Dec 15, 2025
Govert Schilling, a science writer and author known for his expertise in astronomy, delves into the cosmic threats facing Earth. He explains how Earth is average in its vulnerability to impacts and recounts humankind's fascinating encounters with meteorites. Discussion includes the risks of asteroids versus comets and the challenges of detecting small near misses. Schilling advocates for transparency in communicating threats and ranks defenses against potential impacts, highlighting the urgent need for global cooperation in safeguarding our planet.
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Earth's Impact Record Is Hidden
- Earth appears less cratered than the Moon because geological processes erase impact scars over time.
- We only learned in the past century how often Earth is struck by significant cosmic bodies.
Personal Stories That Sparked Interest
- Govert recounts Anne Hodges, hit by a meteorite in 1954, which sparked his lifelong interest in impacts.
- He also mentions an African boy struck by small fragments from an airburst meteorite fall.
Impacts Shaped Earth's Biosphere
- Cosmic impacts both end life and enable new evolutionary paths, like mammals rising after the Chicxulub event.
- Key impacts (Theia, heavy bombardment, Chicxulub) shaped Earth's habitability and life trajectory.
