Scientist Nuke an Asteroid in a Lab Mock-Up

Scientists have successfully simulated the effect of a nuclear explosion on asteroids using X-rays. The experiment, conducted at Sandia National Laboratories, showed that X-rays from a nuclear blast could effectively push large asteroids off a collision course with Earth. Mock asteroids were accelerated to about 70 meters per second before vaporizing when hit by X-rays from the Z machine. This technique could potentially deflect asteroids up to 4 kilometers in diameter, offering a new method for planetary defense against large, short-warning-time asteroid threats.