It is a common belief that asteroids were the ones responsible for the extinction of dinosaurs millions of years ago. Modern scientists now are wondering how such catastrophic occurrences can be prevented. According to their latest findings, the best way to protect ourselves is with the use of giant mirrors.

There are nine varied solutions proposed to the scientific community, such as nuclear blasts, gravity tractors, and kinetic impactors. Massimiliano Vasile of the University of Glasgow in Scotland and his team compared all of the provided solutions using these criteria:

• the amount of change each method would make to the asteroid's orbit
• the amount of warning time needed
• the mass of the spacecraft needed for the mission