Space Rocks

Asteroids...

coming soon to a planet near you

By Ian Greenland

It’s not really sporting to kick someone, let alone an entire species, when they’re down, but then if you’ve always got your head in the clouds (or several million miles above the clouds), you might at least trip over them....

Sensing a fleeting gap in the doomsday news cycle, astronomers have helpfully announced the discovery of a gigantic asteroid hurtling around the sun whose trajectory intersects our own Earth’s orbit. The space rock, dubbed 2022 AP7 is estimated to measure between 1.1 and 2.3km in diameter – let’s assume it’s the male scientists who’ve exaggerated its actual size. It’s the biggest of three “rather large” bodies discovered by a team from the Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington who used the ominously-monikered “Dark Energy Camera” in Chile to search for asteroids interior to earth and our nearest-passing planetary neighbour, Venus. Ignoring the generally perceived wisdom of not looking into the sun, the researchers were forced to contend with its obliterating glare in their efforts to observe orbiting matter, utilising two ten minute windows of “twilight” each night to accomplish their goal. Due to its magnitude and relative proximity to Earth, 2022 AP7 has been categorised as a PHA – a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid - the biggest of its kind observed in eight years and amongst the top 5% ever discovered. Of course, competition for eyeballs online is fierce and most people won’t get out of bed metaphorically-speaking for a “PHA” announcement, hence the far more clickbait-worthy “Planet-killer” headline currently doing the rounds. Any hurtling rock with a diameter above 1km is defined as such, the resultant fires, tsunamis and sun-blocking dust clouds and pollutants a legitimate threat to life as we know it. Just ask the dinosaurs....

Below the alarming headlines, in far smaller print, reassurances have been given that we face no immediate danger of impact, the asteroid’s elliptical orbit around the sun keeping it anywhere from three million to 600 million miles away from our home. Nevertheless, three million miles is a mere whisker in interstellar terms and the probability of a collision will increase as our orbits gradually draw us closer together. The scientists are currently unsure just what that risk factor will be a century from now, the threat of being though more earthbound concerns have hit by the next most of us wondering how the hell we’re energy bill more real and pressing going to get through winter without having to burn chair legs, the threat of being hit by the next energy bill more real and than a mile-wide pressing than a mile-wide asteroid from asteroid from outer space. outer space. When talk of Armageddon comes up, it’s worth remembering we’re currently experiencing our 6th “extinction level event”. (Seven if you include the Truss premiership...) Whilst there are five previous mass extinctions to choose from, the worst occurred some 250 million years ago when 96 percent of marine species and 70 percent of land species died off, taking millions of years to recover. The scientific consensus has the PermianTriassic mass extinction occurring as the result of a massive, long-standing volcanic event which released huge amounts of carbon-dioxide into the atmosphere. Of course, these days we don’t need nature to generate enough carbon to shuffle us off – we’ve got cars, planes and iPhones - so the race is on to see if we can beat 2022 AP7 or one of its hitherto-unobserved buddies to the punch. Alas, the Holocene mass extinction of species we’re currently experiencing (and have been for several thousand years...) is fully attributed to human activity, from the over-hunting of the megafauna around the end of the last ice age to the vast deforestation and ocean acidification we see as a result of our reliance

on heavy industry and mega-farming. With this current “event” affecting myriad families of plants, mammals, birds, reptiles, fungi, fish, insects.... the rate of species extinction is estimated at anywhere from 100 to 1000 times natural background extinction rates. Frightening and sobering as that may (should) be, the fact it is number six offers some kind of comfort that the biodiversity we appear to be losing will recover if we can just get out of its way long enough to let it.

There are no easy solutions, but never underestimate the ability of science to surprise and empower us, be that through advances in renewable energy, compostable packaging, cultivated meat or vertical farming. Any one of those might eventually help avert ecological disaster, though it doesn’t get more on the nose than flying a spacecraft into an oncoming asteroid. In October NASA announced When talk of Armageddon comes up, it’s worth remembering we’re currently experiencing our 6th “extinction level event”. (Seven if you include the Truss premiership...)

the success of their mission to alter the orbit of the asteroid Dimorphos by intentionally targeting it with a speeding spacecraft. The

DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) mission craft, having left Earth some ten months earlier atop one of Elon Musk’s reusable SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets, collided with Dimorphos at around 14,000 miles per hour, subsequently shortening its orbit interval by approx 4% and representing the first-time humanity has purposefully altered the course of a celestial object. Though the asteroid in question was of no threat to Earth, the proof of concept may provide some reassurance to those who’ve watched Armageddon one too many times.

Whilst fascinatingly, flag-wavingly audacious and no doubt requiring a level of planning, precision and scientific expertise belied by headlines such as “NASA successfully crashes spacecraft into asteroid”, the cynical amongst us might still note that Dimorphos, though no mere pebble, had (prior to its fender bender at least) a diameter of around 165 metres - just one tenth of 2022AP7...

….we’re going to need a bigger ship.

Step Up Stay Up&

Falling is not an inevitable part of getting older and it can be prevented, however, it is a common problem among ageing adults with almost 50% of community-dwelling older persons admitting to fear of falling, and even higher for those with a previous history of falls.

A fall can affect a person’s physical, psychological and social well-being. This can result in avoiding everyday activity, leading to social isolation and increasing fragility. The Avery Falls Prevention Programme provides information to residents and families to take positive action and to identify the factors to consider in reducing the risk of falling.

“At Avery, we promote people to live as independently as possible and look at the person as an individual, taking into consideration how they want to live their life, encouraging them to stay active, eating well and staying hydrated. Staying active, of which walking is one aspect, helps muscle strength and balance to be maintained, which naturally lends itself to staying on one’s feet.” - Julie Spencer, Avery’s Care and Quality Director. Throughout September, residents and staff were challenged to walk 500 miles for our Step Up and Stay Up campaign to promote the Avery Falls Prevention Programme. Willing professionals, relatives and visitors were also invited to join in and donate their miles. Eager to participate in the challenge, residents at Seagrave House in Corby enjoyed the fresh air as they strolled around their garden, with family and friends accompanying them, tracking their steps together.

At Dukes Court and Hempstalls Hall, residents ventured to their local parks. Residents at Hempstalls Hall said, “It was a beautiful walk, and the weather was on our side!” Before long, staff and residents smashed the 500-mile target, increasing to 5000 miles. We are delighted to share that we also surpassed this new target, walking 7014.68 miles overall!

In good spirits, residents and staff at several Avery homes showed off their moves as they joined in with a collaborative dance to The Proclaimers - I’m Gonna Be (500 miles) song to celebrate their success in this challenge. Visit the Avery Healthcare YouTube channel to watch the full dance video.

Step Up & Stay Up

Working proactively together to prevent falling.

Medical Conditions

Consider long and short-term medical conditions such as Parkinson’s and infection, bone health including fractures and Osteoporosis,and memory problems.

Hearing & Vision

Have regular hearing and sight tests and ensure the correct hearing aids and glasses are worn.

Medication

Ensure medication is taken at the correct time, and check whether this may cause drowsiness or dizziness.

Continence

Try to avoid rushing and be aware of and use accessible toilets. Consider medications that may increase urgent toilet use.

Foot Health & Footwear

Wear safe and well-fitting footwear, and consult a chiropodist about foot problems which may be affecting balance.

Physical Activity & Mobility

Maintain and improve physical activity where possible by walking and attending exercise classes.

Environment

Adjust the layout of the room, so that this is free from hazards and well-lit.

Fear of Falling

Continue to improve and maintain confidence, learning from previous falls.

Eating & Drinking

Eat a well balanced diet and drink plenty of fluids.