In this blog I cite science works, not popular science. But in this case, New Scientist magazine is a level above newsstand pulp, or even Popular Science:
Robin George Andrews, Asteroid Adventure. New Scientist, Nov. 9-15 (vol. 264 #3516), page 41
Sorry about being an issue behind, I just saw this one in casual reading. Casually, Andrews takes us on an overview of some planetary defense staff and their current work, including the DART mission. Again: I try not to dwell on the negatives and fearmongering of asteroids. There’s plenty of positive, forward-looking things to write. But the person on the street will sometimes wonder about asteroid impact; giving exposure and transparency to the matter helps keep conspiracy theories from taking root, and is vital to a democracy anyway. That person on the street is wondering for a good reason.
Andrews happens to have a book out now (on asteroid defense, surprise), so the motives for this piece are not strict altruism for humanity. Doesn’t mean exposure and transparency might not be interesting to you. Give it a read if you want to know more, wonder less.