Chinese scientists have proposed an unconventional way to protect Earth from a potentially catastrophic asteroid: using a nuclear blast to break up or deflect the incoming space rock. The suggested force would be comparable to multiple Hiroshima bombs.
The idea is presented as a response to the threat posed by very large asteroids, sometimes described as “city-killers” because of the devastation an impact could cause. It reflects the broader challenge of preparing for objects that could one day approach Earth on a dangerous trajectory.
A nuclear option would represent a dramatic escalation in asteroid defense compared with conventional spacecraft missions designed to alter an asteroid’s path. The proposal focuses on delivering enough energy to the space rock to prevent a direct collision.
The concept remains an unorthodox solution to a potential doomsday scenario, highlighting how scientists are examining increasingly powerful methods to reduce the danger posed by near-Earth asteroids.
