NASA tracks rising risk of asteroid 2024 YR4 impact in 2032

Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson has warned about the increasing threat posed by the asteroid 2024 YR4, which has a 2.3% chance of impacting Earth on December 22, 2032. This probability is nearly double what it was when first identified, and if it were to strike, the explosion could equal 7.7 megatons of TNT, making it significantly more powerful than the atomic bombs dropped during World War II. As monitoring efforts intensify, Tyson emphasizes the need for sustained funding in scientific research, especially as federal grants have faced freezes and cuts under recent policies. NASA and the European Space Agency are actively tracking the asteroid, with further observations planned using the James Webb Space Telescope in March. While the current odds remain low, the scientific community acknowledges that understanding the asteroid's trajectory is crucial for potential defense strategies. Experts caution that as more data is gathered, the impact probability could fluctuate, potentially decreasing as well.