Can nuclear weapons protect us from asteroids?
I have heard that Nasa is considering stopping asteroids on their way to Earth with nuclear weapons. Is that really a possible solution?

A nuclear bomb has – at least in theory – the potential to topple an asteroid. However, the method will probably only become relevant as a last resort. This is evident from a detailed work carried out by American researchers in 2021.

The group led by Johns Hopkins University astrophysicist Patrick King emphasizes that the best solution is to detect the threatening asteroid when it is still several years away from colliding with Earth.

It gives the chance to give it a small nudge, for example with the DART system developed by Nasa, which was tested for the first time in September 2022. The nudge changes the asteroid's course minimally, but because it happens in good time, it is enough to avert the collision.

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