Brian Cox is not just anybody. He once said that people who believe the Mayan calendar prediction is a fool. While the Earth has called the 6000-year-old is crazy.

But, lately, something far more serious has been weighing on the mind of physicists from Oldham, UK. Mankind, he said, is likely to be destroyed because of the asteroid and humans do not take it as a serious threat.

In fact, the Earth 'almost' hit by an asteroid only a few months ago. "There is an asteroid almost hit Earth," Professor Cox.

"(Initially) We do not see it," said the 46-year scientist. "We saw it on the way out, but if just a little further on it, maybe it will destroy us. This is really happening."

Bus-sized asteroid named 2014 EC was located at an altitude of 38,300 miles (61.637 km) from Earth in March. The distance was about one-sixth of the distance between the Moon and the planet.

And that's not the only thing that threatens Earth. United States space agency NASA currently track 1,400 'dangerous asteroids' and predict the approach to the Earth in the future and possible impact.

This threat is so serious that former astronaut Ed Lu described as 'cosmic roulette' and saying that just 'luck' so far that save people from serious impacts.

No one knows when a serious impact could occur. "It could be tomorrow," Professor Cox. "The thing that bothers me is what to do about it."

For example, earlier this year the United States researchers revealed bold plans to blow up an asteroid that is approaching the Earth with nuclear weapons.

At NASA conference, a team of scientists Iowa outlines their mission and say they are ready to do so if the system has been developed.

But the idea as it takes a long time to finalize the technology. "I think human stupidity is what we need to worry about," said Cox.

"It's simply a matter of human behavior in reaching knowledge. Humans can not follow the science as quickly as we can."

He said the threat can be prevented through research and education.