A novel, unique experiment simulating an asteroid impact scenario has suggested that utilizing a nuclear detonation to deflect an Earth-threatening space object might be considerably safer than previous assumptions indicated. The study, conducted by an international consortium of scientists, including physicists from the University of Oxford and experts from the startup Outer Solar System Company (OuSoCo), challenges the widely held prediction that an asteroid would shatter into numerous hazardous fragments following such an explosion. The primary finding established that asteroid material—specifically, a sample from the iron meteorite Campo del Cielo used in this case—does not disintegrate under extreme duress; rather, it exhibits increased toughness. During the procedure, researchers were able, for the first time, to observe the sample’s deformation and subsequent strengthening in real-time using a non-destructive technique. For this observation, the CERN HiRadMat facility was employed, utilizing the Super Proton Synchrotron accelerator to bombard the meteorite with short, varied-intensity proton pulses. Data gathered via temperature gauges and laser Doppler vibrometry revealed an unexpected response: following an initial softening, the sample not only recovered but also enhanced its strength by a factor of 2.5. Furthermore, a characteristic dubbed deformation-rate-dependent damping was detected, signifying that the harder the impact, the more effectively the material dissipated energy. This evidence helps reconcile long-standing discrepancies between laboratory measurements of asteroid material strength and observations of their behavior when entering Earth’s atmosphere. The resulting data is crucial for formulating viable planetary defense strategies. They imply that the mechanical characteristics of asteroids are not static but evolve dynamically under external force, a factor that must be incorporated into deflection models. Contrary to cinematic depictions involving drilling and internal charge placement, an actual nuclear mission would likely involve a standoff detonation, where the ablation of surface material adjusts the trajectory without causing fragmentation. As the authors noted in their paper published in Nature Communications, humanity must possess a high degree of confidence for executing such a mission, given the impossibility of conducting full-scale real-world tests. Consequently, comprehending the underlying physics and acquiring precise data on asteroid compositions are of paramount importance. Future research is scheduled to involve samples with alternative, more heterogeneous compositions to account for the diversity of potential cosmic hazards.
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