# A nuclear blast could save Earth from an asteroid, but there's a catch

Source: [Space & Time News -- ScienceDaily](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/11/261106174532.htm) · 2026-11-08 · Space
Page: https://themorning.science/story/a-nuclear-blast-could-save-earth-from-an-asteroid-but-there-s-a-catch-091c40b8df8f9662
Kind: research · Impact: low

## In brief

- Research suggests a nuclear explosion could help deflect a dangerous asteroid, but the outcome depends on which side is hit.
- Scientists found that an asteroid's irregular shape can strongly affect how it responds to the X-ray blast.
- Hitting the wrong side could decide between success and failure of the deflection.

## Why it matters

Asteroid deflection planning depends on accurate models of how irregular bodies respond to energy deposition, which matters for planetary defense research.

## Timeline

- 2026-11-08: ScienceDaily reported the research on nuclear blast asteroid deflection

## Coverage

- [A nuclear blast could save Earth from an asteroid, but there's a catch](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/11/261106174532.htm) — Space & Time News -- ScienceDaily, 2026-11-08

Tags: asteroid deflection, planetary defense, nuclear explosion, asteroid shape, x-ray

---

Brief generated by AI (claude-haiku-5-5) from the reporting listed under Coverage. Headlines belong to their publishers. The Morning Science – https://themorning.science