Chinese study outlines two nuclear routes to divert an Earth-bound asteroid

A peer‑reviewed Chinese study proposes two nuclear‑detonation approaches to stop a threatening asteroid: a shallow-crater detonation and a deeper, pre‑excavation detonation. Modeling suggests that, with ample warning time, the deep‑crater method could couple more energy and impart about a 1 m/s velocity change to a roughly 100‑meter asteroid within about 60 days, potentially pushing it off a collision course; the shallow method could be deployed faster but offers weaker energy transfer and more stringent timing. The researchers note many real‑world challenges remain—asteroid composition, debris risks, weapon delivery, and other logistical issues—though NASA’s DART mission shows that deflection is feasible in principle.