Prior computer simulations have shown that a 330-foot-long asteroid (one capable of decimating a city) could be almost entirely vaporized with a one-megaton bomb if the space rock is nuked least ...

On a special episode (first released on October 2, 2024) of The Excerpt podcast: Hollywood has long been enamored with end-of-the-world science fiction where asteroids play the leading role.

It's well known that the reign of the dinosaurs came to an end when a giant asteroid smashed into Earth 66 million years ago. But a new study suggests that this huge asteroid wasn't alone.

Our descendants will — at some time in the future — almost certainly need to deflect an asteroid. But it's possible that in some scenarios a nuclear blast would be necessary. Especially if we ...

Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November election The 10m-wide asteroid, dubbed 2024 PT5, will become a ...

Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts. Ants started farming 66 million years ago in the aftermath of the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs, a new study suggests. Colonies of ants began ...

But experts say the asteroid was an important milestone in planetary defense research. Though there are hundreds of moons in our solar system, our planet only has one. And while thousands of ...

According to experiments and computer simulations, the radiation of a nuclear blast could be enough to change the trajectory of an asteroid threatening Earth—if spotted in time. About 66 million ...

The results show that X-rays could play an even bigger role than the initial shock wave itself, though more data needs to be gathered to form a comprehensive asteroid defense plan. Some 66 million ...

Beginning Sunday, Earth's skies will soon have a temporary visitor. On September 29, an asteroid dubbed 2024 PT5 will become a "mini-moon" of sorts, temporarily entering Earth's orbit for almost ...

The extinction of the dinosaurs has been a hotly debated topic for decades, and whether it was an asteroid, a volcanic eruption or even poisonous plant species. But researchers have found hard ...

There are many theories on how to best handle a rare (but possible) cataclysmic asteroid collision with Earth. Effectively testing these possible solutions against actual space rocks, however ...