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237: Why does an asteroid hit the Earth? And why so big?

Aug 1, 2026 · 14 min · 12 segments

A question from Lyla, age 5. Dr. Federica Spoto answers. For more on Dr. Spoto's work, see episode…

A question from Lyla, age 5. Dr. Federica Spoto answers. For more on Dr. Spoto's work, see episode 190.

A question from Lyla, age 5. Dr. Federica Spoto answers. For more on Dr. Spoto's work, see episode…

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Speakers: Federica SpotoGuestCarrie NugentHost

Top entities: Earth×20 Carrie Nugent×11 Apollo 13×5 Federica Spoto×19 Episode×2

Show signals: SuitabilitySafeBiasNot politicalAudience≈2k followers

Kid Question from Lyla, Age 50:24 – 0:59

Carrie NugentHost

0:24

Today's question is from Lyla, age five.

Carrie NugentHost

0:27

My name's Lyla and I'm five years old, and I live in Massachusetts.

Carrie NugentHost

0:37

And I, and my questions are why does a asteroid hit Earth? And why are they so big? Man, Lyla, you're asking about one of my favorite things.

EarthPlacePlanet
97%20 mentions
Carrie NugentPersonPhysics researcher
91%11 mentions
Apollo 13Movie1995 film
85%5 mentions
Federica SpotoPersonAstronomer
79%19 mentions
EpisodeEntity
74%2 mentions
Minor Planet CenterOrganization
68%1 mention
MarsEntityPlanet
62%3 mentions
Asteroid impact avoidanceEntity
56%2 mentions
Harvard–Smithsonian Center for AstrophysicsEntityObservatory in Cambridge, Massachusetts
50%2 mentions
ChelyabinskCityCity in Russia
44%2 mentions
JupiterEntityPlanet
38%2 mentions
Olin College of EngineeringCollege or UniversityCollege in Needham, Massachusetts
32%1 mention
MassachusettsAdministrative AreaUS state
26%1 mention
Harvard UniversityCollege or UniversityPrivate university in Cambridge, Massachusetts
18%1 mention
Smithsonian InstitutionTourist AttractionResearch institute in the United States of America
18%1 mention
RussiaCountryCountry
9%1 mention
Deltron 3030Music GroupHip hop trio
3%2 mentions

AsteroidsScience > Astronomy
Orbital MechanicsScience > Astronomy > Asteroids
Near-Earth ObjectsScience > Astronomy
Size ClassificationScience > Astronomy > Asteroids
AstronomyScience
TrackingScience > Astronomy > Near-Earth Objects
ModelingScience > Mathematics
MathematicsScience
Science
CharacteristicsScience > Astronomy > Asteroids
Impact PredictionScience > Astronomy > Asteroids > Characteristics
PerturbationsScience > Astronomy > Asteroids > Orbital Mechanics
Medium-Sized AsteroidsScience > Astronomy > Asteroids > Size Classification
Chaos TheoryScience > Mathematics > Modeling
Predictive AnalysisScience > Mathematics > Modeling > Chaos Theory
Close ApproachesScience > Astronomy > Near-Earth Objects > Tracking

Kid Question from Lyla, Age 50:24 – 0:59

Carrie NugentHost

0:24

Today's question is from Lyla, age five.

Carrie NugentHost

0:27

My name's Lyla and I'm five years old, and I live in Massachusetts.

Carrie NugentHost

0:37

And I, and my questions are why does a asteroid hit Earth? And why are they so big? Man, Lyla, you're asking about one of my favorite things.

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