Warnings of a ‘city killer’ asteroid hurtling towards earth have been filling news feeds over the last month.

The space rock, dubbed ‘2024 YR4', had a 3.1 percent chance of hitting earth in the year 2032. That made it one of the riskiest asteroids ever, according to NASA, but they have since lowered their assessment again – to 0.28%.

That hasn’t stopped news of this asteroid sparking a social media and news obsession, just the latest thing for people to worry about in amongst wars, a bad economy and political uncertainty.

So why are we so obsessed with doomscrolling – and is fixating on potential disasters bad for our health?

Later, we’ll discuss that side of things with Dr Lisa Harrison, a lecturer in digital communications at Flinders University.

But first on The Front Page, to put all your minds at ease, we’re speaking to Joshua Aoraki from Stardome.

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

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