WISEing up to the asteroid threat

Part one: the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer has found lots (and lots and lots) of asteroids in its first survey session. WISE has to work fast, because its supply of cryogenic coolant will run out pretty rapidly.

NASA telescope spots 25,000 new asteroids in just six months... and 95 are close to Earth

WISE Discovers 95 New Near-Earth Asteroids

Basic summary: WISE found a somewhat astonishing 25,000 new asteroids, 95 or so of which come within 30 million miles of Earth (those are the newly discovered NEOs)

Part two: So... it is heartening that Congress recognizes that we should have the wherewithal to address a planet-smasher, if one is found:

Congress proposes commission to study asteroid impact threat

"We need to take the next step," [Congressman Dana] Rohrabacher told SPACE.com. "Our NEO search and tracking program continues to move forward, but nobody is taking responsibility for protection. I am more confident than ever in our ability to identify potential threats from asteroids and comets, but it is critical to the future of humanity that we develop the capabilities to protect ourselves from those threats."

Rohrabacher said that the Commission on Planetary Defense that he is proposing will review our planetary readiness for an impact event and make recommendations on how to develop an adequate response system to those threats.

Good! Because we'd rather not contemplate something like this: