LECTURE ADDRESSES THE MOST UNDERAPPRECIATED THREAT OF THE AGE
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Our Earth moves through space among a swarm of asteroids, many of which hit the Earth. Although people think of asteroid impacts as rare events, the likelihood of being killed by an impacting asteroid is about the same as being killed in an air crash. It is more likely that a person will be killed by asteroid impact than by tornadoes, fireworks or botulism.
These topics, and the threat to human life they represent, will all be explored in this fall's Barringer Lecture organized by the Arkansas-Oklahoma Center for Space and Planetary Sciences. The lecture "Asteroids: Friends or Foes" will be given by Professor Richard Binzel, world authority on near-Earth asteroids at 7 p.m. Wednesday, October 30, in the Poultry Science Auditorium on the University of Arkansas campus.
The figures are:
Botulism: 1 in 2,000,000
Fireworks: 1 in 500,000
Tornadoes: 1 in 50,000
Asteroid impact: 1 in 20,000
Air crashes: 1 in 20,000
Shooting: 1 in 200
Auto accident: 1 in 100
These asteroids also contain a wealth of information about how the solar system formed and evolved, what interstellar dust grains are like, and perhaps even how life originated. In addition, they are a possible source of water for astronauts exploring the solar system.
This is a free public lecture that is open to all members of the university and local community. Junior and senior high school students are particularly encouraged to attend.
Contacts
Derek Sears, director, Arkansas-Oklahoma Center for Space and Planetary Sciences, (479) 575-5204, dsears@uark.eduHeadlines
PetSmart CEO J.K. Symancyk to Speak at Walton College Commencement
J.K. Symancyk is an alumnus of the Sam M. Walton College of Business and serves on the Dean’s Executive Advisory Board.
Faulkner Center, Arkansas PBS Partner to Screen Documentary 'Gospel'
The Faulkner Performing Arts Center will host a screening of Gospel, a documentary exploring the origin of Black spirituality through sermon and song, in partnership with Arkansas PBS at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 2.
UAPD Officers Mills and Edwards Honored With New Roles
Veterans of the U of A Police Department, Matt Mills has been promoted to assistant chief, and Crandall Edwards has been promoted to administrative captain.
Community Design Center's Greenway Urbanism Project Wins LIV Hospitality Design Award
"Greenway Urbanism" is one of six urban strategies proposed under the Framework Plan for Cherokee Village, a project that received funding through an Our Town grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Spring Bike Drive Refurbishes Old Bikes for New Students
All donated bikes will be given to Pedal It Forward, a local nonprofit that will refurbish your bike and return it to the U of A campus to be gifted to a student in need. Hundreds of students have already benefited.