Explore how scientists are researching methods to prevent asteroids or comets from hitting Earth in this video excerpt from NOVA. In the movies, a threatening near-Earth object is typically blown to pieces. However, a kinetic impactor that changes the course of the object may be a more effective solution in the real world. Hear from a scientist who studies strategies to destroy or deflect an asteroid and watch as he and his team simulate collisions using a model asteroid made of resin and high-speed projectiles. High-speed video allows them to analyze impacts in great detail to see how the fragments behave and how the model asteroid responds.