TheMase
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THE answer is out there - and it's not just hot air. Airbags in cars can help save a life, so why not airbags in space aimed at saving millions?
Scientists believe that airbags more than 1.5km wide could halt the next big bang by nudging stray asteroids into a path away from Earth.
Previously, they have suggested using a nuclear weapon to blow apart an asteroid - but that could simply create thousands of smaller chunks of rock, all still headed our way.
The giant airbag, featured in the latest edition of New Scientist magazine, is the brainchild of Professor Hermann Burchard, of Oklahoma State University.
"It seems a safe, simple and realistic idea," he said.
The device is likely to be discussed at a Nasa conference on asteroid defences in America next month.
Scientists believe that airbags more than 1.5km wide could halt the next big bang by nudging stray asteroids into a path away from Earth.
Previously, they have suggested using a nuclear weapon to blow apart an asteroid - but that could simply create thousands of smaller chunks of rock, all still headed our way.
The giant airbag, featured in the latest edition of New Scientist magazine, is the brainchild of Professor Hermann Burchard, of Oklahoma State University.
"It seems a safe, simple and realistic idea," he said.
The device is likely to be discussed at a Nasa conference on asteroid defences in America next month.
