Nuking an Asteroid Might Break It Apart, Say New Simulations
New 3D simulations based on Bennu-like rocks show a 1-megaton nuclear blast detonated a few meters above a 160-meter asteroid could vaporize surface material with X-rays, driving ablation and momentum changes that may tear the rock apart or alter its trajectory. Interestingly, a slightly farther detonation sometimes produced more widespread damage, but long-term outcomes are uncertain and the simulations are extremely compute-intensive, highlighting both the potential and limits of nuclear mitigation for planetary defense.