A 1-in-45,000 Chance Of Impact

The silent night sky suddenly flowered with incandescent light. It started at a pinpoint – the distant asteroid Apophis – and bloomed across the dome of the heavens.
In the Russian Institute of Astronomy, one dour man stood apart from the rest, champagne flute in hand. He lectured to no one. “Deflecting an asteroid that wouldn’t hit Earth? A nuclear demonstration of humanity’s self-preservation?”
The gala was silent as, above, a chain reaction of fission ripped apart the dark matter filling the universe.
The scientist continued. “Majority rules in science, it’s a great idea! Cheers to the end of the world!”