phys.org/news/2026-11-asteroid-nuclear-blast-aimed-deflect.html

An asteroid's shape influences where a nuclear blast must be aimed to deflect it

New simulations indicate that on an irregular asteroid, the side struck by an X-ray burst from a nuclear detonation strongly affects deflection, with one case giving 3.9 versus 0.8 millimeters per second. The model combined high-fidelity codes and ran over 1,600 times faster, though it cannot yet predict breakup of the entire asteroid.


No comments yet

Be the first to share your thoughts.