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ScienceGlobal issues

How this runway system can prevent plane crashes

26:04

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October 16, 2026

It looks unremarkable, but this system at the end of a runway can stop an aircraft overrun from becoming a disaster Plus: the hunt for falling satellites and a new space telescope set to explore the universe.

What happens when a plane runs out of runway? EMAS can stop an overrunning aircraft using a bed of specially engineered material that crushes under its weight, rapidly slowing it down. But there's no emergency brake for falling space debris. We join a research mission attempting to film a satellite's fiery re-entry over the South Pacific from up close. And why don't powerful new space telescopes eventually come crashing back to Earth? It all comes down to where they operate in space.

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Tomorrow Today — The Science Show

Dive in to the fascinating world of science with Tomorrow Today. Your weekly dose of science knowledge. A show for everyone who's curious -- about our cosmos and how it works.

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