The consequences of using a nuclear bomb against a killer asteroid have been assessed

Can a nuclear bomb save humanity from a killer asteroid? Scientists have created simulations showing what would happen if a nuclear bomb exploded on a space rock heading towards Earth. The team used an artificial intelligence simulation to see if an atomic bomb could stop the asteroid. The team found that the energy would spread throughout the space rock.

While NASA has proven it can deflect a killer asteroid from its path to Earth, scientists are working on a plan B – and it involves a nuclear bomb, writes Daily Mail.

Californian researchers have developed a simulation of the impact a giant explosive would have if it detonated on the surface of an asteroid.

The model showed how a bomb lands on an asteroid, explodes and sends its powerful energy, penetrating right through the space object. The team found two scenarios: the device would either deflect the asteroid away from Earth, or it could destroy the asteroid, breaking it into small, fast-moving fragments that would also miss the planet.

Scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LNL) created a simulation to see if a nuclear bomb would save us from a catastrophic asteroid impact if NASA failed.

The team hopes the model will help improve our chances of survival, in line with the US Space Agency’s strategy.

According to the Daily Mail, NASA sent a spacecraft to an asteroid in 2020 and successfully knocked it out of orbit, showing that it could deflect an asteroid heading towards Earth.

Mary Burkey, who led the research, said: “If we have enough warning, we could potentially launch a nuclear device, sending it millions of miles towards an asteroid that is heading towards Earth.”

Burkey argues that nuclear devices have the highest energy density per unit mass ratio of any human technology, which could make them an invaluable tool in mitigating the asteroid threat.

But, as the team wrote in their paper, “predicting the effectiveness of a potential nuclear deflection or disruption mission depends on accurate multiphysics modeling of the deposition of the device’s X-ray energy onto the asteroid and the resulting material ablation.”

Berkey notes that accurate predictions of the performance of nuclear deflection missions rely on complex multiphysics modeling, explaining that Livermore Laboratory’s simulation models cover a wide range of physics, making them complex and computationally intensive.

The simulation tracked photons penetrating the surfaces of asteroid-like materials such as rock, iron and ice, while accounting for more complex processes such as re-emission.

The model also took into account initial conditions, including different porosities, source spectra, radiation intensities, source durations, and incidence angles.

“This comprehensive approach makes the model applicable to many potential asteroid scenarios,” the team shared.

Megan Brooke Syal, LLNL’s Planetary Defense Project Manager, explained that in the event that Earth is threatened by a killer asteroid, a simulation model like this will be critical. She continued that this would allow powers to act quickly, recognize the risks and ultimately save lives. “Although the likelihood of a large asteroid impact in our lifetime is low, the potential consequences could be devastating,” says Brooke Syal.