Dust samples taken from the surface of a potentially hazardous and peanut-shaped primordial asteroid have shown that there are certain space rocks that are more bouncy and difficult to destroy. Live Science notes how this may pose safety concerns for the earth.
Primordial Asteroids
The dust particle samples were taken from the rubble pile of the asteroid Itokawa which spans 500 meters. Analyzing the samples revealed that the asteroid was able to survive even after colliding many times over the course of 4.2 billion years. While this reveals that similar asteroids may come into contact with the earth, it also shows that colliding with these rocks may not be the best way to meet their destruction.
According to the Verve Times, rubble piles are former asteroids that got smashed up and came to be as a result of strong impacts. They are primarily made of boulders and stones that gather loosely and get tied together through gravity.
In most cases, almost 50% of the volume of a rubble pile asteroid comprises blank space. Considering this, scientists were left curious regarding the ability of these space rocks to absorb shock.
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How Long Have These Indestructible Asteroids Existed?
In a recent study published in PNAS, researchers revealed that the existence of such space rocks closely matches that of the entire solar system.
Live Science notes that the massive impact that led to the destruction of Itokawa's parent asteroid took place at least 4.2 billion years ago. Lead author and geochemist Fred Jourdan from Perth's University of Curtin notes that this remarkably long survival time of an asteroid of that size can be because of the rubble pile's ability to absorb shock. He notes that Itokawa is "like a giant space cushion" that is extremely hard to break.
The samples were taken in 2005 during the Hayabusa 1 mission of the Japanese Space Agency.
To study the samples, the researchers utilized two approaches. The first one was electron backscattered diffraction, wherein the researchers blasted electron beams into the grains. This enabled the researchers to look into the crystalline structure and observe the diffraction of the electrons. The second approach was argon-argon dating, wherein a laser beam was fired onto the dust. This led to the expulsion of argon gas and revealed the age of the rock based on the radioactive decay extent.
Through this, the scientists discovered how the rock has been traversing through space for eons. Co-author and geologist Nick Timms from the University of Curtin notes that after finding out the asteroid's remarkable survival abilities, the presence of such asteroids may be more abundant than thought. Timms notes that if a huge asteroid gets into contact with earth, a rubble pile may result.
Planet Earth's Safety
Live Science notes that if rubble pile rocks were indeed to move toward earth, the scientists think that knowing how the heaps of rocks are different, when compared to their kind that have singular chunks, may enable humanity to have enhanced defense systems.
Global space agencies are already thinking of ways to deflect dangerous contact with asteroids.
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