Does a space mission to intercept a comet headed towards Earth sound like something out of science fiction? Join Ira and guests in this hour of Science Friday for a look at a new NASA probe on a deliberate collision course with a comet, and at efforts to protect the planet against other spaceborne threats.

Plus, we'll talk about efforts to treat Parkinson's using stem cells, and about a new view of heart disease -- a new study says that levels of a certain protein may be as important as cholesterol levels in predicting the risk of heart disease.

Call in with your questions and comments at 1-800-989-8255 (2-3 Eastern). Teachers can find more information about teaching using Science Friday as a classroom tool in the Kids' Connection.

Guests:
J. William Langston, M.D.
Scientific Director and CEO
Parkinson's Institute
Sunnyvale, California

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Donald Yeomans
Co-Investigator, 'Deep Impact' Mission
Head, Near Earth Object Office
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Pasedena, California

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Christopher Cannon, MD
Cardiologist
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts

Books/Articles Discussed:
Dopaminergic neurons generated from monkey embryonic stem cells function in a Parkinson primate model

The promise of stem cells in Parkinson disease

NEJM -- C-Reactive Protein Levels and Outcomes after Statin Therapy

NEJM -- Statin Therapy, LDL Cholesterol, C-Reactive Protein, and Coronary Artery Disease

(find books discussed on previous broadcasts)

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This segment produced by Charles Bergquist