Hmm regular readers already know my single greatest fear of human extinction isn’t nuclear war, global warming or biothreats from terrorists, it is an asteroid collision [Hmm search: asteroid]. This morning I was delighted to learn about the “gravity tractor” theory which will be tested by sending a spaceship on a collision course with an asteroid not threatening earth over the next decade:

The tractor could deflect an asteroid before it passes through a “keyhole,” an imaginary hoop in space through which asteroids must pass if they are to strike Earth; bypassing such a keyhole would ensure a miss.

Though I’m sure the brainy scientists have already thought of this, but what if the gravity tractor knocks the asteroid into earth’s path? Wouldn’t that be some dreadful irony?

To end on a more positive note, there is a multi-player Asteroids game I checked out yesterday (pictured above). Maximum of 20 players per session. There are no asteroids, just other real player ships trying to blow you out of space. Fun for a brief break time distraction.