New research suggests space rocks are remarkably hard to shatter. - NBCNewsMACH
, one potential recourse would be to smash the looming space rock into pieces — but new research suggests that that approach may be less likely to succeed than people hope.wouldn't break apart as drastically as previous models suggested, and that in the aftermath of the attempted destruction, the asteroid's gravity would be strong enough to pull the fragments back together.
"It may sound like science fiction but a great deal of research considers asteroid collisions," lead author Charles El Mir, a recent doctoral graduate at Johns Hopkins University,."For example, if there's an asteroid coming at Earth, are we better off breaking it into small pieces, or nudging it to go a different direction? And if the latter, how much force should we hit it with to move it away without causing it to break? These are actual questions under consideration.
Answering those questions, unsurprisingly, would be easier if we knew more about asteroids — the authors wrote that even when it comes to asteroids that scientists have density estimates for, they typically aren't sure what theirThe results bode well for asteroids, at least."We used to believe that the larger the object, the more easily it would break, because bigger objects are more likely to have flaws," El Mir said.
Of course, asteroids aren't just potential threats — they also intrigue scientists because they are leftover rubble from the formation of the solar system, and some hope that they could become resources for companies seeking to mine their water and metals.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Why U.S. Car Buyers Are Opting For Insane Loans And Why They Should StopU.S. car buyers are over-leveraging themselves with vehicles they can't afford and loans terms that don't make sense. Buying a used vehicle is far smarter for getting the car you want.
Read more »
Why I am still a Catholic — and why that becomes more difficult every dayWhen the pope and cardinals speak, they do not seem to understand that it feels to us like the Church is disintegrating – and our faith with it.
Read more »
Why Americans are suddenly paying $550 per month for new carsThe average price of vehicles hit an all-time high in recent months — and with interest rates rising, car shoppers are now borrowing more than ever.
Read more »
Kraft Heinz lawsuit targets 3G stock transfer, writedown, SEC probeKraft Heinz Co faces a new lawsuit questioning why controlling shareholder 3G Ca...
Read more »
Why New York Values Ken Griffin’s $238 Million Condo at Less Than $10 MillionNew York City’s complex property tax system requires all co-op and condos to be assessed as if they were rental buildings, resulting in disproportionately low tax bills for some high-value properties.
Read more »
Why The New York Giants' 2019 Salary Cap Picture Looks GrimThe Giants' 2019 salary cap picture doesn't look very rosy right now, but with a few strategic moves, general manager Dave Gettleman can get things back on track.
Read more »
Taylor Swift Fans Are Convinced She's Releasing A New Album Soon And Here Are All The TheoriesHere's Why Taylor Swift's Fans Think She's About To Drop A New Album
Read more »
‘New Collar’ Manufacturing: A New Fit For Vietnam As A Next-Generation HubOne of the key drivers in Vietnam’s rise as one of the world’s top emerging economies has been the development of its manufacturing sector. Currently a major GDP contributor, the sector continues to post significant growth as the country becomes a global lower-cost manufacturing hub.
Read more »