Hawaii scientists guard the planet

Planetary defense — the idea that scientists can identify dangerous asteroids like the one that exploded over Russia last February and try to deflect them away from Earth — has moved from Hollywood fantasy to the real world.

Next month, the United Nations General Assembly is expected to establish an International Asteroid Warning Network, a big step toward developing technologies to deflect dangerous space rocks.

University of Hawaii astronomers, with their world-class telescopes, are out in front on this one, having won a $5 million NASA grant to scan the skies for oncoming asteroids. Who could blame them for daydreaming about who will play them in the movie?

Welcome wagon for immigrants

At a time when immigrants get little good news, now there’s a positive development with the opening of four new resource centers aimed at helping them chart a more successful course through adjustment to their new home.

Hilo and Kapaa and Kuhio Park Terrace and Ewa Beach on Oahu are the locations for the one-stop-shop centers opening this week, funded with grants from the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.

Getting people oriented toward job training and other needs is always crucial, but with the advent of health care reform, this is an opportune time to have additional navigators on hand to direct people.

Anyone who’s ever been in a foreign country, even briefly, should empathize about how overwhelming culture shock can be. This is a welcome addition.