Know What's Happening in Technology

Scientists Say Heck, Just Nuke a Killer Asteroid Heading for Earth

A new Nature Communications paper reports that metal‑rich asteroid material becomes stronger after exposure to intense proton pulses, suggesting nuclear blasts could deflect large asteroids without shattering them. Researchers at CERN used the Super Proton Synchrotron and HiRadMat facilities to simulate nuclear‑deflection stresses on meteorite samples. The experiments showed increased yield strength and self‑stabilizing damping, overturning the assumption that nuclear devices would fragment asteroids. These results could keep nuclear deflection as a viable emergency option for massive, short‑notice threats like the upcoming close approach of asteroid Apophis.