A 10-kilometre wide asteroid came crashing into Earth 66 million years ago which ultimately put an end to the reign of the dinosaurs. Their loss was our gain however, as without the large predators smaller creatures were able to thrive. If a similar-sized asteroid came crashing into Earth now, humans still should be able to survive due to our resilient nature and our cunning.
A 10-kilometre wide asteroid would cause a cloud of dust to fill the air, blocking out the Sun, leading to drastic and sudden climate change which will ultimately lead to major food shortages across Earth – the precise scenario which led to the end of the dinosaurs.
However, scientist and mathematician Robert Walker believes we would be more likely to survive thanks to our ability to use basic tools and make shelter.
Mr Walker wrote on Q+A site Quora: “As long as we retain at least stone age technology, there isn’t much that could make us extinct.
“Even if we have to go back to beach-combing and surviving on shellfish, which was a staple of early human diet in cold places such as Canada and Scotland, one way or another some humans would survive.”
Mr Walker went on to state that it would have to take a massive asteroid, one which literally boild the planet, to wipe out humans.
He said: “I know some say humans would go extinct after a 10 kilometre asteroid impact. I don’t see that. I don’t think that could make us extinct.
“It would have to be much larger, large enough so there are no habitats for humans on Earth and nothing for us to eat for long enough for us all to starve or die.
“It would be large enough if it boiled the oceans and melted the continents.”
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Even if the asteroid obliterated Earth, it would likely not destroy all life.
This is because the hardiest of microbes would be able to survive on the fragments of the shattered planet which would aimlessly drift around space.
Mr Walker said: “An asteroid 100 kilometres across would be seriously bad news for Earth. Still, microbes would be likely to survive deep below the surface if nothing else, and others sent off into space in the debris.
“So I’m not sure that even that would end all life on Earth.
“Even the impact that created the Moon could have sent hardy microbial spores into space only to return to Earth when it cooled down millions of years later.
“So, I’m not sure we can give a size that would do this. Maybe even an Earth sized planet hitting Earth wouldn’t end all life here.”
