How do we deflect ‘city killer’ asteroid headed to Earth, MIT's magic chip unlocks terahertz waves, City skyscrapers cannot withstand climate change

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Could asteroid 2024 YR4 be heading straight to Earth to take out an entire city? Are we, as a human race, going to witness a cosmic collision in our lifetimes? It’s happened before.

In January, NASA claimed that asteroid 2024 YR4 had a 1.2 percent probability of smashing into Earth on December 22, 2032. Though slight, the authorities said it was a touch too close. But do not fear, they also said, “this is not a planet killer. This is, at most, dangerous for a city.” So we won’t all be wiped out.

The impact corridor?could see it hit South America, Africa, the Middle East, or South Asia. It could enter our atmosphere at a speed of approximately 40,000 mph. Must-reads.

Weekly Must Reads

Engineers designed modern skyscrapers to withstand hurricanes, but they cannot withstand fast-moving windstorms called derechos, which exist thanks to climate change.

A team examined the unexpectedly severe damage that buildings in Houston incurred during the derecho on May 16, 2024. These thunderstorms generate winds that fly at about 90 mph. But they got through Hurricane Beryl unscathed.

The study examined five of Houston’s tallest and most iconic buildings, but researchers warned that we need to secure our high rises as climate change generates more intense weather events. (Read More)

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