Everyone probably heard about this on the news, but theres still some discussion about it. About what actually hit the earth, why the people became sick etc.
Quote from news
"Hundreds of people in Peru have needed treatment after an object from space - said to be a meteorite - plummeted to Earth in a remote area, officials say. They say the object left a deep crater after crashing down over the weekend near the town of Carancas in the Andes.
In order to blast a 30-meter crater, a meteorite would have to hit the ground with about as much energy as 0.1-to-1 kiloton of TNT--akin to a tactical nuclear weapon. This should leave a clear signal in worldwide seismic and infrasound records, but so far no such signals are being reported by authorities.
Scientists doubt that the supposed meteorite strike that sickened some 200 residents of Peru last weekend actually involved anything from space.
Based on reports of fumes emanating from the crater, some scientists actually suspect that the event could have been some kind of geyser-like explosion rather than a meteorite impact.
"Statistically, it's far more likely to have come from below than from above," said Don Yeomans, head of the Near Earth Object Program at NASA'S Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.
The noxious fumes that have supposedly sickened curious locals who went to examine the crater would seem to indicate hydrothermal activity, such as a local gas explosion, because "meteorites don't give off odors," Yeomans told SPACE.com.
A spokesperson at the Minor Planet Center in Cambridge, Mass., who was asked for comment on the purported Peruvian space rock said the Center's scientists "don't want to talk about that. They have nothing to do with it."
Skepticism warranted
Several times in recent history, reports of meteorite impacts have turned out to be untrue after scientific examination. Doubt in the scientific community was as rampant today as the speculations out of Peru.
Details surrounding the incident are also increasing experts' skepticism.
"Many of the reported features of the crater ("boiling water," sulphurous fumes, etc.) point to a geological mechanism of the crater formation," wrote Benny Peiser, a social anthropologist at John Moores University, in a daily newsletter that catalogues research and media coverage of space rock impacts and other threats to humanity. "I would not be surprised if, after careful analysis, the alleged meteorite impact reveals itself to be just another 'meteorwrong.'"
It's not impossible that the crater was left by a meteorite, Yeomans said, but it most likely was a small object, based on the size of the crater. It would also probably have been a metal meteorite, because those are the only kind of small meteorites that don't burn up as they plummet through Earth's atmosphere, he added. Small stony meteorites rarely make it to the surface.
A couple features of the event reports suggest there was a space rock involved, said geophysicist Larry Grossman of the University of Chicago. The bright streak of light and loud bangs seen and heard by locals are consistent with a meteor streaking through Earth's atmosphere, he said. Most meteors do burn up, never becoming meteorites (which is what they're called if they reach the surface).
Because no one actually saw anything impact at the crater site, it's hard to say whether a space rock was involved because they are often deceptive as to where they will land. Many times, people swear a meteor landed nearby when in fact it was so far away that it dipped below the local horizon but never actually struck the ground.
"Sometimes these things land hundreds of thousands of miles away from where [people] think they will land," Grossman said.
Investigation needed
Pictures of the crater show that the hole in the ground appears fresh, Grossman said, and the debris strewn around it is consistent with a meteorite impact but also could have been caused by digging.
And there are no previous reports of noxious fumes emanating from meteorite remnants or their craters, he said.
"If the noxious fumes came from the hole, it wasn't because the meteorite fell there," Grossman said, saying they would like have come from something already in the ground.
Grossman said that to determine whether the crater was made by a meteorite, the water in the hole must be pumped out and any large chunks of rock at the bottom should be examined to see if they are consistent with meteoritic composition.
Peruvian geologists are on their way to examine the crater, according to news reports.
Well weŽll have to wait and see what this was. If it was a Geyser then maybe the people got sick because of the Sulfur which normally accompanies volcanic activity.
Profound. Sounds like something outta the movies. "Creepshow" had a movie that dealt with meteorite that cracked, infecting locals. They all started growing moss and grass on their skin until the entire town was covered with the growth. Stephen King was the main character, a farmer, and he blew his brains out with a shotgun cause the growth completely covered his entire body and mouth. Ultimately he ended up in agony looking like a big green mossy furball. It was disgusting.
Creepy sh*t.
__________________ "The darkside, Sidious, is an illness no true Sith wishes to be cured of, my young apprentice .."
For it was God whom sent the meteor from space to destroy the devils!
Just jokin' but you honestly believe I hate White people. If that were the case, why am I not bothered or feel uncomfortable by all my white colleagues/friends here at work right now. We all get along perfectly fine. In fact 2 of them invited me to a happy hour. (hope i see some hot chicks) but I don't look at 'em as my White office buddies but as dudes i hang out with. So you can stop with it already. I'm not a racist.
__________________ "The darkside, Sidious, is an illness no true Sith wishes to be cured of, my young apprentice .."
Hate is a strong word... I can't say hate for certain, but you definitely have a very negative view of "Whites" and judge them as a whole based on nothing more than skin color, which is racism, no other way around that.
Good luck on the "Hot Chics", score yourself a White-Woman, that should stick it to "Whitey". <--- a joke.
hehe. I see you got jokes too, hu..Oh and I think Farrakhan's a nut, by the way but no, I certainly do not hate White people. My views seem as if i'm painting with a broad brush but it's racist people whom I'm clearly condemning when i say what I say.. Not Whites.
__________________ "The darkside, Sidious, is an illness no true Sith wishes to be cured of, my young apprentice .."
All the ways you wish you could be, that's me. I look like you wanna look, I **** like you wanna ****, I am smart, capable, and most importantly, I am free in all the ways that you are not.
I say MP5 as my primary weapon, two beretta 92f's, and a katana as my backup...and LOTS OF GRENADES.
__________________
All the ways you wish you could be, that's me. I look like you wanna look, I **** like you wanna ****, I am smart, capable, and most importantly, I am free in all the ways that you are not.
so it has to be weapons we have access to? hmmm....
then I would say a MINI 14 assault rifle, two glock .45's, and a machete.
my old man has a frigging Arsenal, and I know the code to his gun safe.
__________________
All the ways you wish you could be, that's me. I look like you wanna look, I **** like you wanna ****, I am smart, capable, and most importantly, I am free in all the ways that you are not.
Considering the sheer anti-gun stigma in my country it's only blunt weapons for me. A shovel can be deadly in the hands of an imaginative person however....
well, if it he shit hits the fan, I will come and rescue you, m'K?
__________________
All the ways you wish you could be, that's me. I look like you wanna look, I **** like you wanna ****, I am smart, capable, and most importantly, I am free in all the ways that you are not.
KMC Community Forums
Sep 19th, 2007 05:39 PM
