What would we do if an asteroid was on a collision course with Earth?

Researchers are carrying out a practice drill to see how we’d respond if Earth was about to be hit by a huge asteroid.

This week: At a conference in the Washington, DC, area, government organizations, including NASA and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), are undergoing a mock asteroid impact exercise.

The drill: A fictional asteroid, named PDC, is given 1-in-100 odds of striking Earth. The group then tries to work out how to deflect it, or minimize damage if it hits. By day two, the chances are 1-in-10.

The outcome: Although it ends up being a near-miss in the simulation, there’s some logic for the exercise. On April 13 2029 a 1,100-foot-wide asteroid is expected to fly right past Earth (don’t worry, we’re safe.) But if one gets closer, the agencies want to be prepared.                                                                  —Erin Winick