New observations of a small asteroid discovered in December have provided astronomers with more data to assess the risk of it colliding with Earth. Initially, the asteroid known as 2024 YR4 was believed to have a three per cent chance of impact in 2032, making it the highest probability ever recorded for such an object. However, recent observations from the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope and other facilities have significantly reduced this risk.
The new data has lowered the impact probability to 0.001 per cent, according to the European Space Agency, and 0.004 per cent, as reported by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Olivier Hainaut, an astronomer with the European Southern Observatory, stated that the risk of the asteroid striking Earth is now almost zero.
Despite the decreased likelihood of a collision with Earth, NASA has calculated a 1.7 per cent chance of the asteroid hitting the moon. The asteroid, measuring between 40 to 90 metres in width, poses a potential threat due to its size. Hainaut explained that an impact by an asteroid of this size could have devastating consequences, with an energy equivalent to the Hiroshima bomb.
Asteroid impacts have occurred throughout Earth’s history, with catastrophic results. For instance, the impact of a much larger asteroid off the coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula 66 million years ago led to the extinction of three-quarters of the world’s species, including the dinosaurs. To prepare for potential asteroid threats, NASA conducted a planetary defense mission in 2022 by redirecting the trajectory of the asteroid Dimorphos using its DART spacecraft.
See also Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s tough Bronx persona is under fresh scrutiny with a resurfaced childhood nickname from her suburban upstate New York upbringing casting doubt on that publicly portrayed image. The progressive champion’s latest spat with President Donald Trump over the Iran strikes again called into question her true upbringing when she declared on X she was a “Bronx girl" to make her a point against the president. The 35-year-old congresswoman wrote in part on X: "I’m a Bronx girl. You should know that we can eat Queens boys for breakfast. Respectfully," she said, referring to the president’s upbringing in Queens as she called for his impeachment over his decision to bypass Congress in authorizing U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Ocasio-Cortez was born in the Bronx but moved to Yorktown – which is nearly an hour outside New York City -- when she was 5 years old and went on to attend Yorktown High School where she graduated in 2007. She was considered an accomplished student there and well thought of by teacher Michael Blueglass, according to a 2018 report by local media outlet Halston Media News. “There, known by students and staff as ‘Sandy,’ she was a member of the Science Research Program taught by Michael Blueglass," the report states. “She was amazing," Blueglass said, per the report. “Aside from her winning one of the top spots and going to the [Intel International Science and Engineering Fair], she was just one of the most amazing presenters in all of the years I've been at Yorktown. Her ability to take complex information and explain it to all different levels of people was fantastic." After high school, Ocasio-Cortez attended Boston University, where she majored in economics and international relations, per the report. Ocasio-Cortez’s “Sandy" nickname — which carries a more suburban and preppy tone — appears to undercut her politically crafted image as a tough, inner-city fighter, one she has portrayed since her famous 2018 congressional campaign where she eventually ousted former 10-terms Congressman Joe Crowley. New York GOP Assemblyman Matt Slater, who now represents Yorktown, added to the scrutiny of Ocasio-Cortez’s persona in the wake of her brash with Trump and released images of Ocasio-Cortez from his high school yearbook. He claimed he and the rising Democratic star attended Yorktown High School at the same time when she was a freshman and he was a senior. "I saw the attacks on the president and her [Ocasio-Cortez] claims that she's a big, tough Bronx girl," said Slater. "To sit there and say that she’s a Bronx girl is just patently ridiculous." "Everybody in our community knows this is just a bold-face lie," said Slater on "Fox & Friends First" last week. "She grew up in Yorktown, she was on my track team." "She's lying about her background, she's lying about her upbringing," Slater claimed. Slater’s post sent social media ablaze and prompted Ocasio-Cortez to respond after an image if her family’s home was posted online. “I’m proud of how I grew up and talk about it all the time," Ocasio-Cortez wrote on X Friday responding to the post. “My mom cleaned houses and I helped. We cleaned tutors’ homes in exchange for SAT prep." “Growing up between the Bronx and Yorktown deeply shaped my views of inequality & it’s a big reason I believe the things I do today!"
Astronomers continue to study asteroids to better understand their composition and potential impact on Earth. NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft collected samples from the asteroid Bennu in 2020, revealing chemical building blocks of life. Additionally, researchers have estimated the potential damage from a Bennu-sized asteroid striking Earth, highlighting the importance of planetary defense strategies.
As scientists gather more information about asteroids, they aim to develop effective strategies to mitigate the risks posed by these space rocks. By studying asteroids like 2024 YR4 and Bennu, researchers hope to improve our understanding of these celestial objects and enhance our ability to protect Earth from potential impacts.
