The Neighborhood is Not As Safe As We Previously Thought

Blast Sensors Detect More Asteroid Strikes Than Expected

A network designed to detect nuclear test explosions has recorded more asteroid impacts over the past decade than expected, according to a group that's working on an asteroid-hunting telescope.

The B612 Foundation said it would share the evidence from the International Monitoring System, a global network of sensors built to monitor compliance with the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty, during a news conference at the Seattle Museum of Flight on Earth Day, April 22.

The sensor readings show that 26 explosions more powerful than a kiloton of TNT have been detected since 2001, "all of which are due to asteroid impacts," said former astronaut Ed Lu, the foundation's CEO.
. . .
"It shows that asteroid impacts are not rare — but actually three to 10 times more common than we previously thought," Lu said in Friday's news advisory. "The fact that none of these asteroid impacts shown in the video was detected in advance is proof that the only thing preventing a catastrophe from a 'city-killer'-sized asteroid is blind luck."

If this list, published before these findings is to believed, then the risk of death associated with asteroid strikes might be as high or higher than being struck by lightning, snake bite, earthquakes or dog attacks:

Lightning Strike (included also in Natural Forces above)	1-in-83,930
Snake, Bee or other Venomous Bite or Sting*	1-in-100,000
Earthquake (included also in Natural Forces above)	1-in-131,890
Dog Attack	1-in-147,717
Asteroid Impact*	1-in-200,000**

Of course, an asteroid strike could kill millions simultaneously, while snake, dogs, and lightning strikes rarely kill more than a few at a time.