Giant airbags could one day save the world from the disaster of a cosmic collision with a giant comet, according to Hermann Burchard of Oklahoma State University.

"... send up a space ship equipped with a massive airbag that could be inflated to several miles wide and used to gently buffet the invading solar body away from a collision course with earth."

"However, he admitted there were still numerous details to be worked out including the material for the airbag which had to be light enough to cart into space yet strong enough to bounce the comet off its course to earth."