Study suggests atoms could protect Earth by deflecting X-ray asteroids

Scientists have found that nuclear explosions could help protect Earth from asteroid impacts — not by destroying the asteroids — but by using X-rays to knock them off their path. A new study from Sandia National Laboratories suggests that detonating a nuclear device near an asteroid could produce X-rays powerful enough to vaporize part of its surface, creating a force that could deflect its path.

Probing asteroid deflection with X-rays

The concept was tested using Sandia's Z machine, the most powerful X-ray source on Earth. By generating a burst of X-rays similar to those emitted by a nuclear explosion, the researchers were able to simulate the conditions an asteroid would experience. The experiment successfully demonstrated how these intense X-rays could vaporize surface material from the asteroid, causing it to move in a new direction.

Simulating asteroid deflection in the laboratory

For their experiments, the researchers used quartz and silica targets, materials commonly found in asteroids. They suspended the targets in a vacuum and exposed them to powerful X-rays, which produced a plume of vapor that accelerated the targets. This simulated the effect of an asteroid being hit by X-rays in space. The targets reached speeds of about 155 miles per hour, showing that the concept is viable in real-world situations.

A potential tool for planetary protection

Extrapolating these results to a larger scenario, a nuclear explosion a mile above a 2.5-mile-wide asteroid could produce enough force to keep it from hitting Earth. This strategy could be particularly useful for deflecting giant asteroids that pose a global threat, such as the one responsible for the extinction of the dinosaurs. Understanding how different asteroid materials react to X-rays is important for future missions to help prevent catastrophic impacts on Earth.

In conclusion, this novel approach presents a promising new method for planetary protection, in which nuclear X-rays could potentially protect our planet from cosmic threats.