Scientists in Albuquerque propose deflecting potentially dangerous asteroids by detonating a nuclear warhead over a mile from their surface, using X-rays to alter their trajectory. Unlike previous methods that shattered asteroids into multiple fragments, this approach aims to avoid creating a shotgun blast of debris. The National Academy of Sciences has prioritized planetary defense, with NASA identifying about 25,000 hazardous objects, only a third of which are tracked. Sandia National Laboratories’ experiments with the Z machine simulate asteroid deflection, using X-ray scissors to mimic space conditions and redirect asteroids effectively.