Part 1/5:
The Threat of Asteroid Impacts and Humanity's Response
In recent years, the danger posed by near-Earth objects (NEOs) has garnered increased attention from the scientific community and space agencies. A stark reminder of this threat occurred within the last decade when a small asteroid, approximately 20 meters in diameter, impacted Siberia. Although this may seem small compared to catastrophic events, the consequences of such an impact can be significant, especially in densely populated areas. The Siberian event was notably about ten times the explosive power of the Hiroshima nuclear bomb, illustrating that even modest-sized objects can produce substantial damage.