As detailed in a recently released paper, a team of researchers, including physicists from the University of Oxford, partnered with the Outer Solar System Company (OuSoCo), a nuclear deflection startup, to analyze what happens to an iron space rock under different levels of stress.
"This is the first time we have been able to observe – non-destructively and in real time – how an actual meteorite sample deforms, strengthens, and adapts under extreme conditions," says Gianluca Gregori, a physicist at the University of Oxford and one of the study's co-authors.
The ultimate scope of this research will hopefully remain theoretical:
"The world must be able to execute a nuclear deflection mission with high confidence, yet cannot conduct a real-world test in advance. This places extraordinary demands on material and physics data," says Karl-Georg Schlesinger, co-founder of OuSoCo and co-leader of the research team.
https://www.sciencealert.com/it-may-be-safe-to-nuke-an-earthbound-asteroid-after-all-simulation-suggests
17 Comments
“Nuclear deflection startup” is certainly an interesting set of words.
Better start training those oil drillers to be astronauts.
Yeah, but based on the previous research, and the wide-released documentary about the results, nuking it runs the risk of turning it into 2 asteroids to deal with!
Saw a documentary about this. It’s a shame someone has to be left behind but… Guys, this is, like, deep blue hero stuff.
I wonder if they get hazard pay.
“…an iron space rock…” is not the only kind out there. I wonder what, if any, conclusions they found for rocky asteroids.
now everytime i read one these, i automatically ask “was this simulation vibe coded?”
There’s no better way to make sure than by trying!
I certainly hope it doesn’t remain theoretical. It’s quite certain that we’ve been repeatedly hit by large objects from space. It’s when, not if.
Great, now let’s also nuke climate change
I just really feel like if we are facing an extinction-level event, all cards are on the table and nukes are 100% valid.
The fact of the matter is: nuking an asteroid is one of the coolest things humanity can do. On that merit we should consider it despite the consequences
Don’t nuke the Earthbound asteroid, what if there’s a sentient bee from the future in it??
“Suggests”? I do not love this title. “Strongly implies”? I can get behind that.
Sometimes I think about how a lifeless rock floating in space grew the means to defend itself and just feel amazed at how weird life actually is.
This reads like something that Big Nuke would write
When the only tool you have is a hammer, everything looks like nail.
I always wondered why when talking about nuking asteroids they never do project Orion style. Off the surface blast to push it. Even a slight change in velocity could make it miss earth.
But I guess you don’t get a liv Taylor animal cracker scene if you do that.