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Hello and

this is a special episode of the excerpt.

and this is a special chance of hitting Earth on Friday the

13th in April of 2029. That chance depends on it being hit by another asteroid or

some other object in space at just the right angle to redirect it and send it our

way. To date scientists haven't zeroed in on any imminent asteroid

threats, you know, the kind that wiped out dinosaurs, but does that mean definitively

that there couldn't be more hurtling towards Earth.

How at risk is mankind and what steps are scientists taking

to avert a catastrophic collision.

And is it possible, or even a good idea,

to attempt to rearrange things in space?

Joining us now to discuss how scientists are working to literally save the planet is

scientist and author Robin George Andrews. His new book, How to Kill an asteroid, is out now. Thanks

for being on the excerpt Robin.

Hey, thanks so much for having me.

In your book, you vividly described the impact of a football field-sized asteroid like Apophis hitting Earth.

City killers, asteroids large enough to wipe out an entire metropolitan area are terrifying.

What's the actual risk of one of these asteroids hitting Earth?

So yes, asteroids that we often think of as threatening the planet are these

...