February 12, 1997: Asteroids & Global Warming - Whitley Strieber

Whitley Strieber, bestselling author of Communion and The Secret School, discusses two major environmental threats facing Earth. The conversation examines the sudden surge in asteroid-related concerns, coinciding with an NBC television movie about asteroid impacts. Strieber investigates whether new detection technologies or an actual increase in near-Earth asteroids explains this heightened awareness, revealing that current tracking systems have been operational since the late 1980s. The discussion reveals a significant shift from 1992 Newsweek reporting that no known asteroids posed threats for 200 years to current warnings about potential impacts. The second major topic addresses the breakup of the Larson Ice Shelf in Antarctica, exploring implications for global climate change and sea level rise. Strieber brings his investigative journalism background to bear on both issues, examining the scientific evidence and potential consequences. The conversation reflects growing environmental awareness in the 1990s while questioning official narratives about planetary threats. Art and Strieber explore whether these concurrent concerns represent genuine scientific discoveries or coordinated efforts to prepare the public for future catastrophic events.