The Western Hemisphere. General term for the Americas following their discovery by Europeans, thus setting them in contradistinction to the Old World of Africa, Europe, and Asia.
Sure beats the "Clovis Firsters showed up and killed all the big game with their new technology" theory proposed for many years by otherwise rational scientists. Given the evidence so far, the extraterrestrial multi-impact theory appears to be the most reasonable expanation of the drastic events at 12,800bp, kicking off the Younger Dryas.
It is really somewhat scary when you think about it since it can happen all over again ... and we'uns are powerless to prevent a recurrence should something really big and nasty head our way. We live in a big shooting gallery with decent odds for survival ... but only in the near term.
Bad News: Something is already heading for us again. The problem is, we just do not know where it is or when it will hit.
Very Good news: We can find it, and stop that from happening. In other words, we can handle the impact hazard with current technologies.
Very Good news: We can find it, and stop that from happening. In other words, we can handle the impact hazard with current technologies.
You are correct that something is on its way, we just don't know when it will arrive or where. However, additional research has finally convinced many that earth impacts are far more common than originally thought possible.
This is a good reason for continued space exploration and settlement as well as NEO tracking and impact prevention. Whether earthlings really deserve to be saved or not is for a different thread.
