Chinese researchers have proposed a novel two-step method for destroying or deflecting potentially hazardous asteroids. The strategy involves first using a penetrator spacecraft to create a deep hole within the asteroid, followed by dropping a nuclear device into this cavity. Simulations indicate that a 3-megaton nuclear explosion, buried 30 meters deep, could effectively shatter or significantly alter the trajectory of a 100-meter asteroid, offering a more potent solution than surface-level detonations. AI
RANK_REASON The cluster describes a scientific proposal and simulation results published in a journal, fitting the research bucket. [lever_c_demoted from research: ic=1 ai=0.1]
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