YouTube Scientist Hank Green Believes NASA is Winning the Ultimate Game of Cosmic Tag

Eighteen years ago, NASA lost track of an asteroid named 2007 FT3 after observing it for a single day. Although this space rock is as large as the Empire State Building, it somehow vanished back into the void. Furthermore, it remains one of the largest known objects with a non-zero chance of impacting Earth. So, what happened to this lost asteroid, and where did it go?

NASA Improves Its Cosmic Search Skills

Scientists aren’t the only ones looking for lost asteroids, as 3I/ATLAS has been captured by public interest. Specifically, this space rock has become the third interstellar object ever detected. So far, the scientific community has largely agreed it is a comet. However, one rogue astrophysicist has fueled wild speculation that it might be an alien spacecraft.

Meanwhile, NASA released new images of 3I/ATLAS and continues its search for the lost rock. That said, one trend is clear: more objects in space are being detected than ever before. According to YouTube scientist Hank Green, our detection technology has improved dramatically, resulting in more interstellar objects being captured.

The Real Science of Deflecting Asteroids

Even with new observatories like the Vera Rubin in Chile now online, how prepared in the world for a genuine threat? Green confirms that if a dinosaur-killing-sized rock were headed our way, we’d likely know due to having more advanced technology. That said, smaller and more numerous asteroids are the real challenge, as they could still cause significant regional damage.

To catch these space objects, constant vigilance and a plan for deflection are required. Fortunately, this work has already begun, as a probe has successfully nudged an asteroid’s trajectory. While potting a threat early on and giving it a small push is all it takes, how does this technology work for every type of object?

The Odds Are in Our Favor

Hank Green notes that comets flung from the outer solar system are harder to track. Still, the vast majority of asteroids are now within our observational reach. Scientists can model an object’s path accurately for centuries once they have a few data points, proving that the solar system operates according to predictable physics. Currently, the odds remain incredibly low for any specific object hitting our small planet.

Furthermore, these new systems will likely find interstellar objects passing through more often than we thought. However, we can rest easy knowing that the immediate risk from known solar system rocks is minimal. When it comes to our planetary defense, only one crucial question must be answered. With more space objects being discovered, should we invest more in developing real-world deflection missions?

The Endless Chase for a Lost World

In the world of Clash of Clans, players are dealing with the fictional version of 2007 FT3. Mainly, they’re building defenses and hitting the space rock with hammers. For scientists like Hank Green, their confidence in finding the real lost asteroid remains high, mostly because other objects have been found. Still, he strongly advocates for having a tested defense system ready, as it’s possible for physics to throw us a real curveball.