It’s Getting Hot in Here – Watch as Scientists Go Nuclear Against Asteroids!

Scientists are preparing an extraordinary plan that could stop potential asteroid threats to Earth by using nuclear bombs, an idea reminiscent of Hollywood disaster movies. This bold strategy would involve detonating a nuclear weapon about a mile from an incoming asteroid. The force of the explosion, combined with the intense X-ray radiation it produces, could be enough to push the asteroid off its collision course.

Dr. Nathan Moore, a lead researcher at Sandia National Laboratory, described how the plan could work. “The vaporised material shoots off one side, pushing the asteroid in the opposite direction,” he explained. Essentially, the asteroid would turn into its own rocket, using the blast to veer away from Earth.

The announcement comes on the heels of rising concerns about an asteroid named Apophis, also known as the ‘God of Destruction’. Recently, experts have been revisiting fears of a potential impact with this large asteroid. Apophis, a near-Earth object, will make a close approach to our planet on Friday, April 13, 2029. At its closest point, it will be a mere 19,800 miles from Earth—closer than many satellites in orbit—and some people may even catch a glimpse of it without a telescope.

Although it’s extremely unlikely that Apophis will hit Earth—scientists estimate the odds to be one in a billion—there’s always a small chance that other space debris could knock it off course as it travels through the solar system. While the odds are still in our favor, experts are quick to remind us that devastating asteroid impacts aren’t just ancient history—they remain a possibility.

In fact, Earth has narrowly escaped potential asteroid collisions several times in recent history. One of the closest encounters occurred in 2020, when a small asteroid, known as VT4, passed just 383 kilometers from Earth. Another notable close call was on March 31, 2004, when the meteoroid FU162 passed a mere 6,500 kilometers from the planet’s surface. Though these space rocks were relatively small and posed little danger, larger asteroids could cause significant damage.

The need for planetary defense has never been more apparent. Last year, NASA demonstrated the possibility of deflecting an asteroid during its DART mission. In this mission, a spacecraft was deliberately crashed into the asteroid Dimorphos, successfully altering its trajectory. However, Dimorphos is quite small, only about 525 feet wide. In comparison, Apophis is about twice that size, roughly the same length as the Eiffel Tower.

Scientists believe that larger asteroids, like Apophis, would require a different approach. While the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs was a staggering six miles wide, an asteroid the size of Apophis could still cause catastrophic destruction. That’s why plans like using nuclear bombs to change an asteroid’s course are under serious consideration.

To better understand these space threats, it’s helpful to know the differences between asteroids, meteoroids, and comets. According to NASA, asteroids are rocky bodies that orbit the Sun, often found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. When asteroids collide, the fragments that break off are called meteoroids. If a meteoroid enters Earth’s atmosphere and starts to vaporize, it becomes a meteor, often appearing as a bright streak of light. If any part of the meteoroid survives its fiery descent and lands on Earth, it’s called a meteorite. Comets, on the other hand, are made of ice and gas, often forming beautiful tails when they approach the Sun and begin to vaporize.

As Earth continues to face risks from space rocks, scientists are working tirelessly to improve our defenses. The nuclear approach is just one of many ideas aimed at protecting the planet from a future catastrophe. While the chances of a major impact may be slim, the consequences of such an event are too serious to ignore.