Author, astronomer Phil Plait to discuss ‘Death From Above’ Nov. 14

FROM RICE NEWS STAFF REPORTS

Asteroid impacts, cometary debris, extinction-level events — astronomer and author Phil Plait will discuss these topics and more in “Death From Above!”, a fun, scientifically based talk at 4 p.m. Nov. 14 in Herzstein Hall’s amphitheater.

Plait will talk about how these events have shaped history, how they may do so again and why Hollywood always seems to get them wrong. It won’t be all doom and gloom, though; Plait will detail how to prevent the next great impact from ruining one’s whole day.

Plait is the author of “Death from the Skies! The Science Behind the End of the World” and creator of the blog “Bad Astronomy,” where he fights myths and misconceptions people have about astronomy. He received his Ph.D. in astronomy at the University of Virginia in 1994 and worked for many years at Goddard Space Flight Center in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Sonoma State University and as president of James Randi Educational Foundation.

The lecture is free and open to the public.