The threat of a catastrophic asteroid impact often feels like something out of science fiction. Yet, recent events have shown just how real the danger is. In 2019, an asteroid dubbed ‘2019 OK’, the size of a 30-story building, was spotted just one day before it flew past Earth, closer than some of our own satellites. Last year, the larger asteroid ‘2024 MK’ was found only 13 days before it passed us. Had either of these objects struck our planet, they would have unleashed destructive power equivalent to thousands of nuclear bombs, a chilling preview of the devastation an actual planet-killing asteroid could cause.
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There are some weird videos, likely unsubstantiated or simply fake, but containing unnerving information, claiming that comet ‘3I/ATLAS’ is going to be a problem for Earth. Imagine a stadium-sized, 100-meter asteroid is on a collision course with Earth, with impact just two weeks away. What would we do? Humanity’s current planetary defense strategies, such as painting an asteroid to change its trajectory with sunlight or crashing a spacecraft into it, require years or even decades of advance notice to be effective. These methods are like trying to deflect a cargo ship by throwing a bag of potatoes at it; they work, but very, very slowly. For a short-notice threat, we are stunningly unprepared.
Is there any hope against a planet-killing asteroid? Realistically?
But what if there’s a better way? Scientists have been developing innovative and perhaps surprising solutions that could work with today’s technology. Old ideas involving nuclear weapons have critical flaws when dealing with objects hurtling through space at 70,000 km/h. Detonating a nuke near an asteroid in the vacuum of space is largely ineffective, and a direct impact would destroy the device before it could explode.
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A new strategy suggests adopting a mindset more akin to a lumberjack than Hollywood. Instead of a blunt force push, what if we used a cosmic axe? This groundbreaking concept involves using super-dense, ultra-fast cosmic bullets called “penetrators” to pulverize an asteroid from the inside out. Could this method, combined with a strategic nuclear payload, be our best hope against not just city-killers but even planet-killers?
The engineering is complex, the stakes are astronomical, and the timeline is terrifyingly short. To see how humanity could pull off this incredible feat of planetary defense and turn an apocalypse into a harmless light show, watch the full video from Kurzgesagt below for some interesting insights into this subject.
YouTube: Can Humanity Stop A Planet-Killing Asteroid?
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Photo credit: The feature image is symbolic and provided by NASA, ESA, David Jewitt (UCLA). Image processing by Joseph DePasquale (STScI). The source image was digitally altered to remove artefacts for aesthetic purposes.
