Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
Scientists at Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico have demonstrated a new method for deflecting asteroids using nuclear explosions, according to a report in The Guardian.
The researchers developed a technique to harness X-rays from a nuclear blast to vaporize the surface of an asteroid, creating enough force to push the object off course.
When an intense pulse of radiation hits the asteroid's surface, it heats up to tens of thousands of degrees. This heat generates a rapidly expanding gas, which propels the asteroid in the opposite direction.
Published in the journal Nature Physics, the study highlighted that X-rays create the vaporized gas, which transfers momentum to the asteroid. The process could be effective for deflecting objects up to 2.5 miles wide.
Lead researcher Dr. Nathan Moore noted that, while the technique is designed for larger asteroids, it could deflect even bigger ones with sufficient warning time.
The nuclear deflection strategy is considered when time is short and conventional methods would not be effective. It's particularly suited for large asteroids, offering a last-resort defence.
The team plans to conduct further experiments to improve the method, with hopes of testing it in space through a demonstration similar to NASA’s DART mission, which tested asteroid redirection.
If successful, this method could become an essential tool in protecting Earth from future asteroid collisions, ensuring a safer future for the planet.