Could Humans Survive the Dinosaur-Killing Asteroid? Featuring @LEMMiNO

Summary

The script narrates the catastrophic event that wiped out dinosaurs 66 million years ago, speculating on humanity's survival if a similar asteroid struck today. It explores potential survival strategies, from underground shelters to advanced bunkers, and the challenges of food and water scarcity post-impact. The script also discusses current space defense technologies, like NASA's DART mission, and hypothetical solutions for deflecting or destroying an incoming asteroid, highlighting the importance of preparation and innovation in the face of such a disaster.

Takeaways

• 🌏 The script describes the cataclysmic event that led to the extinction of dinosaurs 66 million years ago, illustrating the devastating impact of an asteroid collision with Earth.
• 🔥 The asteroid's impact was so immense it caused global wildfires, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and a dust cloud that blocked sunlight for up to 15 years, leading to a mass extinction event.
• 🦈 Crocodiles and some bird species survived by adapting to the new conditions, with crocodiles feeding off dead matter and birds using their beaks to access food sources like seeds.
• 🐭 Early mammal ancestors, resembling shrews, survived by hiding in the shadows, highlighting the importance of shelter and adaptation for survival.
• 💥 If a similar asteroid struck today, it would cause catastrophic destruction, with the potential to kill billions through immediate blast effects, earthquakes, and tsunamis.
• 🏞️ Fallout shelters and underground cities could provide temporary safety for millions, but most are not designed for long-term self-sufficiency.
• 🌳 The long-term challenge would be food and water scarcity due to crop failures and contamination from acid rain, making survival a struggle against famine.
• 🛰️ NASA's DART mission demonstrated our capability to alter the orbit of an asteroid, offering a potential defense against such threats.
• 🚀 Deflecting larger asteroids might require more sophisticated methods, such as high explosives, lasers, or solar sails to change their trajectory.
• 🌌 While astronomers have mapped larger asteroids within our solar system, there is still the unknown risk of asteroids coming from outside the solar system with little warning.
• 🏘️ Preparedness for such an event could include building self-sustaining habitats, repurposing underground spaces, and preserving seeds, livestock, and resources in fortified vaults.
• 🌱 Algae farming could be a potential food source in the post-impact environment due to its efficiency and ability to thrive in low light conditions.

Q & A

What catastrophic event occurred 66 million years ago that led to the extinction of 75% of all species?

A massive asteroid impact occurred 66 million years ago, which released an explosive power greater than 10 billion atomic bombs, causing global wildfires, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and a dust cloud that blocked sunlight for up to 15 years, leading to the extinction of 75% of all species.

How did crocodiles survive the mass extinction event?

Crocodiles survived by taking to the water and feeding off dead matter that washed down rivers, as they can go months without food.

What advantage did birds with beaks have during the extinction event?

Birds with beaks used them as multi-tools to access hardy food sources like seeds, which helped them survive the harsh conditions.

How did our mammal ancestors manage to survive the extinction event?

Our tiny shrew-like mammal ancestors survived by hiding in the safety of the shadows, a behavior they were adept at.

If a similar asteroid impact were to occur today, what would be the immediate effects on central America and the southern United States?

The immediate effects would be vaporization of central America and the southern United States due to the blast, killing a hundred million people within seconds.

What would be the impact of the asteroid strike on a global scale in terms of earthquakes and tsunamis?

The asteroid strike would cause magnitude 9 to 11 earthquakes and 100-meter tall tsunamis that could flood up to a hundred kilometers inland, potentially drowning over 3 billion people.

How would the debris from the asteroid impact affect those who survived the initial blast?

The debris would fall primarily on the United States, putting hundreds of millions more at risk, and the quaking would signal the need to seek shelter underground before molten rains came.

What role could fallout shelters and underground cities play in the survival of humans after an asteroid impact?

Fallout shelters and underground cities could provide safe havens for billions of people, protecting them from the initial effects of the blast and the subsequent molten rains and acid rain.

How would the long-term effects of the asteroid impact, such as dust clouds and acid rain, impact human survival?

The dust clouds would block sunlight, causing crops to fail worldwide, leading to famine and a potential death toll in the billions. Acid rain would contaminate fresh water sources, further complicating survival.

What are some of the high-tech doomsday bunkers mentioned in the script that could offer long-term protection?

The Raven Rock Mountain Complex in Pennsylvania, maintained by the US government, is one such bunker that contains multi-story buildings and its own water reservoirs, capable of housing thousands of people.

How could humans adapt to the post-impact environment to ensure survival?

Humans could adapt by harvesting fungi, which do not rely on sunlight and proliferate after fires, and by developing makeshift agriculture, rationing, scavenging, and possibly turning to algae farming as an efficient food source.

What recent advancements have been made in our ability to prevent asteroid impacts, as mentioned in the script?

In September 2022, NASA's DART satellite successfully impacted a small asteroid, slowing its orbit by 32 minutes, demonstrating our current capability to alter an asteroid's trajectory and potentially avert a catastrophic impact.

What are some of the proposed methods for deflecting a large asteroid that poses a threat to Earth?

Some proposed methods include using high explosives to knock the asteroid into a new orbit, employing lasers to push an object into a new trajectory, or attaching large solar sails to drag the asteroid into a different orbit.

What preparations could be made if we had advance warning of an asteroid impact, and what would be the backup plan?

With advance warning, we could evacuate high-risk areas, build self-sustaining armored habitats, repurpose mine shafts and caves into underground cities, preserve seeds and natural resources in fortified vaults, and develop deep water silos to protect water from contamination.

What is the significance of Ground News mentioned in the script, and how does it relate to the asteroid impact scenario?

Ground News is a platform that gathers related articles from around the world, enabling readers to compare coverage and understand different perspectives. This is significant in the asteroid impact scenario as it emphasizes the importance of accurate and comprehensive information dissemination in times of crisis.

Outlines

00:00

🌍 The Cataclysmic Asteroid Impact

This paragraph describes the devastating event that led to the extinction of 75% of all species 66 million years ago. An asteroid, traveling at three times the speed of a bullet, struck Earth with the explosive power of 10 billion atomic bombs, causing global wildfires, volcanic eruptions, and a dust cloud that blocked sunlight for up to 15 years. Despite the catastrophic conditions, some species survived, including crocodiles, birds with beaks, and small mammal ancestors of humans. The paragraph also poses hypothetical questions about how humans would fare in a similar event today, detailing the immediate and long-term effects of such a disaster, including the destruction of central America, massive earthquakes, tsunamis, and the need for underground shelters.

05:04

🛡️ Surviving the Post-Impact World

This section discusses the challenges of survival in the aftermath of an asteroid impact. It highlights the limited capabilities of existing shelters to be self-sufficient for extended periods and the dangers of open-air activities due to falling debris and acid rain. The paragraph mentions high-tech doomsday bunkers and the potential for governments to continue functioning in the short term. It also explores the long-term survival strategies, such as harvesting fungi, adapting to climate changes, and the importance of rationing, scavenging, and makeshift agriculture. The paragraph concludes with the success of NASA's DART mission in altering the orbit of a small asteroid, suggesting a glimmer of hope for planetary defense against such threats.

10:07

🚀 Strategies for Deflecting Catastrophe

The paragraph outlines various strategies for deflecting or mitigating the impact of a large asteroid. It discusses the possibility of using high explosives or surgical methods like lasers or solar sails to alter the asteroid's trajectory. The importance of early detection and cataloging of asteroids larger than one kilometer is emphasized, as well as the need for a backup plan in case of a sudden threat. The paragraph suggests evacuation and the construction of self-sustaining armored habitats, underground cities powered by nuclear reactors, and the transformation of subway tunnels into tunnel cities. It also mentions the preservation of seeds, livestock, data, and natural resources, as well as the critical need to protect water sources and explore alternative agriculture methods like algae farming.

15:52

🌐 Ground News: Combating Information Distortion

In the final paragraph, the focus shifts to the importance of accurate and balanced information dissemination. It introduces Ground News, a platform founded by a former NASA engineer to address information overload and distortion. The platform aggregates related articles from around the world, allowing readers to compare coverage and understand the context of the information source. It features a Blind Spot Feed that highlights underreported stories and encourages critical thinking about the news we consume, fostering a more informed and responsible relationship with media.

Keywords

💡Extinction Event

An extinction event refers to a widespread and rapid decrease in the biodiversity on Earth. In the context of the video, it describes the catastrophic event 66 million years ago that led to the extinction of 75% of all species, including the dinosaurs. The script mentions the aftermath of this event, which involved global wildfires, volcanic eruptions, and a dramatic drop in sunlight due to dust clouds.

💡Impact

In the script, 'impact' refers to the collision of an asteroid with Earth, which carried an explosive power greater than 10 billion atomic bombs. This term is central to the video's theme as it sets the stage for the mass extinction event and the subsequent discussion on how humans might fare in a similar scenario.

💡Wildfires

Wildfires, as mentioned in the script, are uncontrolled fires in wildland areas that spread quickly and cause extensive damage. They are a consequence of the asteroid impact, which heated the Earth's surface and ignited these fires globally, contributing to the devastation of life.

💡Volcanic Eruptions

Volcanic eruptions are the release of molten rock, gases, and heat from the Earth's interior. The script suggests that the asteroid impact triggered volcanic eruptions around the globe, particularly blanketing western India in lava, further exacerbating the environmental disaster.

💡Dust Clouds

Dust clouds in the script refer to the massive amounts of dust and debris ejected into the atmosphere following the asteroid impact. These clouds blocked sunlight for up to 15 years, leading to a dramatic drop in temperatures and the extinction of many species.

💡Survival Adaptations

Survival adaptations are the traits or behaviors that enable organisms to survive in challenging conditions. The video discusses how certain species, like crocodiles and mammals with beaks, adapted to the post-impact environment, which is crucial for understanding the resilience of life.

💡Asteroid Deflection

Asteroid deflection is a method of changing an asteroid's trajectory to prevent it from colliding with Earth. The script describes NASA's DART mission as an example of successful deflection, which is a key strategy in preparing for potential future asteroid threats.

💡Doomsday Bunkers

Doomsday bunkers are fortified structures designed to protect inhabitants from catastrophic events like nuclear war or asteroid impacts. The script mentions these as potential long-term protection for a select few, highlighting the disparity in survival chances in a global disaster.

💡Famine

Famine is a severe scarcity of food that causes extreme hunger and starvation among a large population. In the video, it is presented as the primary threat to human survival following an asteroid impact, due to crop failures and contaminated water sources.

💡Underground Cities

Underground cities, like Derinkuyu in Turkey and Nushabad in Iran, are vast networks of subterranean spaces that could serve as safe havens during disasters. The script suggests repurposing mine shafts and caves into such cities, powered by nuclear reactors, to sustain life after an impact.

💡Algae Farming

Algae farming involves cultivating algae, which are photosynthetic organisms that can grow in water. The script proposes this as an emergency food source after an impact, due to algae's efficiency, ability to thrive in low light, and minimal land requirements.

Highlights

66 million years ago, an asteroid impact led to the worst mass extinction event in history.

The asteroid's impact was three times faster than a bullet and released energy equivalent to 10 billion atomic bombs.

The impact caused global wildfires and triggered volcanic eruptions, leading to a significant drop in global temperatures.

Dust clouds blocked sunlight for up to 15 years, causing a mass extinction of 75% of all species.

Crocodiles survived by staying in water and feeding off dead matter.

Birds with beaks adapted by using them as multi-tools to access food sources like seeds.

Our mammal ancestors survived by hiding in the safety of the shadows.

If a similar asteroid struck today, central America and the southern United States would be vaporized.

Magnitude 9 to 11 earthquakes and 100-meter tsunamis would occur, potentially drowning over 3 billion people.

Millions of fallout shelters and underground cities could provide temporary safety for billions.

High-tech doomsday bunkers like the Raven Rock Mountain Complex could offer long-term protection.

The dust cloud would cause worldwide crop failure and famine, leading to a potential death toll in the billions.

Adapting to the post-impact environment could involve harvesting fungi and using makeshift agriculture.

NASA's DART satellite successfully demonstrated the ability to change an asteroid's orbit by impact.

Deflecting larger asteroids might require high explosives or more surgical methods like lasers or solar sails.

Astronomers have mapped all asteroids larger than one kilometer, but there's no catalog for those outside our solar system.

Evacuating the Yucatan Peninsula and building self-sustaining armored habitats could be part of a backup plan.

Transforming subway tunnels into tunnel cities could theoretically house over a billion people.

Preserving seeds, livestock, data, and natural resources in fortified vaults would be critical for survival.

Deep water silos could protect water resources from acid rain contamination.

Algae farming could be an efficient emergency food source due to its adaptability and minimal land usage.

A last resort solution could involve leaving Earth behind and establishing a colony on the moon.

Ground News was founded to combat information overload and provide a platform for balanced news consumption.

Transcripts

66 million years ago,

the worst day in the history of life was dawning.

The killer came from the south, at a sharp angle, hurtling toward Earth

at three times the speed of a bullet.

The impact carried more explosive power than 10 billion atomic bombs.

For over 20 minutes,

the entire Earth became hotter than a boiling oven,

as molten debris rained down,

igniting global wildfires.

The resulting earthquakes are thought to have triggered

volcanic eruptions around the globe,

blanketing western India, in lava.

The final blow came as giant clouds of dust shrouded the Earth,

starving life of sunlight for up to 15 years.

Charred landscapes turned to frozen ones.

In the aftermath, 75% of all species went extinct.

But a lucky few somehow made it through.

Crocodiles, which can go months without food, took to the water,

and were mostly unscathed, feeding off dead matter that washed down river.

Birds with teeth went extinct,

but those with beaks used them as multi tools

to access hardy food sources like seeds.

Most critically,

our tiny shrew like mammal ancestors

survived by doing what they did best:

hiding out in the safety of the shadows.

How would we fare compared to them

if we faced the same apocalypse?

What if the same asteroid struck again in the same place

at the same angle?

Would humans cling on

or go the way of the dinosaurs?

In a flash, central America and ithe southern United States

would be vaporized by the blast.

A hundred million people would perish within seconds.

The sound of the impact alone would be enough

to kill anyone standing 1500 kilometers away.

Within minutes,

magnitude 9 to 11 earthquakes would ripple across the Earth,

stronger than any in recorded history.

Giant 100 meter tall tsunamis would scour the coasts

and flood up to a hundred kilometers inland.

Enough to drown over 3 billion people.

The bulk of debris would fall on the United States,

putting hundreds of millions more at risk.

For anyone far enough away,

the quaking would send a violent message:

to get underground before the molten rains came.

There are millions of fallout shelters scattered around the world,

including hundreds of thousands in Switzerland alone.

And underground cities around the world

like Derinkuyu in Turkey, and Nushabad in Iran,

could provide safe haven for millions.

Between these and other makeshift shelters like mines and subways,

it's conceivable that billions of people

could survive the initial effects of the blast,

but even assuming they weren't destroyed in the violent earthquakes,

few of these shelters are designed to be

self-sufficient for periods of months or years.

Fiery debris and acid rain

would fall from the sky for years after the impact,

making any open air activity possibly deadly for long periods.

Only a small number of high-tech doomsday bunkers

built by world governments in the ultra rich would offer long-term protection.

The Raven Rock Mountain Complex in Pennsylvania,

maintained by the US government, is said to contain three story buildings

and its own water reservoirs,

with enough space to house thousands of people.

But the exact contents are unknown to the public.

Other major nations are believed to have similar contingency bunkers,

making it possible that major world governments would continue to exist,

at least in the short term.

The ultra-rich have recently taken up citizenship

in New Zealand, which is geographically ideal for self-sufficiency,

and numerous luxury bunkers have been constructed across the country,

some with years of provisions.

But the biggest challenge to survival

would be the long game.

The all consuming dust cloud would cause crops

to fail worldwide.

Food stocks would eventually deplete,

and fresh water sources would become contaminated by poison rain.

Famine would become the number one killer

with a potential death toll in the billions.

But even in this harsh post-impact environment,

we could find ways to adapt.

Some could potentially survive by harvesting fungi

which don't rely directly on sunlight to survive,

and proliferate wildly after deadly fires.

Over time, the climate would swing from cold to hot,

as excess carbon dioxide ejected from the blast trapped heat.

With ingenuity and grit,

small groups could live on, scraping by through a mixture of rationing,

scavenging, and attempts at makeshift agriculture.

But human existence would be a shadow of what it once was.

Without any advanced warning,

our hopes would be grim.

But what if we knew it was coming?

How would we prepare for the unimaginable?

In September, 2022,

NASA's DART satellite slammed into a tiny asteroid, 11 million kilometers away.

The impact was a massive success

slowing the asteroid's orbit by 32 minutes.

Both the Hubble and James Webb space telescopes

snapped images of the resulting plume of debris,

photo evidence that we now have the power

to save our planet from catastrophe.

But not all space rocks are created equal.

The tiny asteroid hit by NASA

was only a fraction of the size of the dinosaur killer.

This asteroid was over 10 kilometers across.

Larger than Mount Everest.

Deflecting a monster like this is a much bigger problem.

Impacting them runs the risk

of breaking the asteroid into smaller, equally deadly pieces.

High explosives could still do the trick if detonated next to the asteroid,

knocking it into a new orbit.

But more surgical methods might be a safer bet.

Some have proposed using lasers

to push an object into a new trajectory and out of harm's way.

Others have suggested attaching large solar sails

to drag the asteroid into a different orbit.

Thankfully, astronomers have now mapped all asteroids larger than one kilometer

inside our solar system,

and none appear poised to it Earth anytime soon.

And anything coming from the asteroid belt

would give us years to prepare a defense.

But what if we missed one?

We have no catalog of large asteroids that could come from

outside the solar system.

They could arrive suddenly at high speeds

with very little warning.

Whether we had a few months or many years to prepare a deflection mission,

we would need a backup plan.

Our first move would be to evacuate the Yucatan Peninsula and surrounding areas,

sparing millions of lives from the blast.

We could then build a series of self-sustaining armored habitats,

built to withstand raining meteorites and severe earthquakes.

Mine shafts and deep caves

could be repurposed into underground cities, powered by nuclear reactors,

sustaining vertical farms.

Places like Iceland could provide abundant geothermal heat,

a renewable energy source, not dependent on the sun,

which could supply power until sunlight returned.

There are over 20,000 kilometers

of subway tunnels around the world.

These could be transformed into a network of tunnel cities

that could theoretically house over a billion people.

A trove of seeds, livestock, data, and natural resources

would be critical to preserve.

Fortified vaults could be placed around the world,

patiently guarding their treasures,

awaiting the uncertain return of their creators.

But the most important resource to save would be water.

To preserve it from acid rain contamination,

deep water silos could be dug to house

vast reservoirs lined with acid resistant materials

then sealed to protect from the elements.

To grow ample food with limited resources,

humans could turn to a strange new type of agriculture:

Algae farming.

While not exactly appetizing,

Algae would be the ideal emergency food source.

It's highly efficient, can thrive in low light conditions,

and can be farmed vertically with minimal land usage.

With multiple years to prepare,

there would be one last Hail Mary solution to try:

To leave Earth behind.

From a small colony on the moon,

a chosen few could watch disaster strike from a safe distance,

unsure if they would ever return.

In 2018, a former NASA engineer grew concerned about information overload

and distortions in the information landscape.

So she founded Ground News:

A platform that gathers related articles from around the world in one place,

so readers can compare coverage with context about the source of the information.

The Blind Spot Feed puts a spotlight on stories

that are disproportionately covered by one side of the political spectrum,

giving readers information that could expand their worldview

and help them understand someone else's media reality.

The platform empowers readers

to think critically about the information we consume

and take control over our relationship to the news and to each other.

(Subtitles created and timed by Anonymous)