We could nuke an incoming asteroid. Scientists just proved it.

Our descendants will — at some time in the future — almost certainly need to deflect an asteroid.Though there is no known threat for at least the next century, planetary defense experts are investigating how to divert such a large space rock, and one proposal involves detonating a nuclear device near the menacing object. The ensuing blast of energy would vaporize part of the asteroid's surface, shooting out a plume of material that acts like a temporary rocket engine. While testing t