A massive asteroid slamming into Earth is the stuff of sci-fi nightmares, but scientists are taking the possibility seriously.
A recent simulation of asteroid Bennu colliding with Earth in September 2182 has revealed devastating consequences that could reshape life as we know it.
Bennu, a space rock about 500 meters (1,640 feet) wide, is hurtling through space with a 1 in 2,700 chance of striking our planet in 157 years. While that probability seems slim, it’s not zero.
And given what happened the last time a large asteroid made impact—the infamous Chicxulub event that wiped out the dinosaurs—scientists aren’t taking any chances.
Using one of the world’s most powerful supercomputers, climate researchers in South Korea simulated what would happen if Bennu crashed into Earth. The results? An apocalyptic scenario featuring climate upheaval, food shortages, and mass extinctions.
What Would Happen If Bennu Hit Earth?
Dr. Lan Dai and Dr. Axel Timmermann from Pusan National University led the research, modeling the aftermath of a Bennu impact using the Aleph supercomputer.
Their findings paint a stark picture of an Earth thrown into chaos.
A direct hit would eject up to 400 million metric tons of dust into the atmosphere. This wouldn’t just darken the sky—it would cause dramatic shifts in climate, block sunlight, and disrupt photosynthesis worldwide.
Here’s what their models predicted:
- Global temperatures would plummet by 4 degrees Celsius, triggering a sudden “impact winter.”
- Rainfall would drop by 15%, causing widespread droughts and food shortages.
- Ozone levels would deplete by 32%, exposing life to harmful UV radiation.
- Plant growth would collapse as photosynthesis slowed by 20-30%, devastating agriculture and natural ecosystems.
It’s not just land life that would suffer. Marine ecosystems would be thrown into turmoil, with cascading effects throughout the food chain.
However, one surprising discovery offered a tiny silver lining.
The Unlikely Survivor: Algae?
While most plant life would struggle in the darkened, dust-filled sky, the study found that ocean algae, particularly diatoms, could flourish.
The asteroid impact would release massive amounts of iron into the oceans, acting as a fertilizer for these microorganisms.
Within months, they could bounce back stronger than before, potentially providing a crucial food source for marine life.
This unexpected twist suggests that the oceans might recover faster than land ecosystems, offering a glimmer of hope in an otherwise bleak scenario.
How Often Do Asteroid Impacts Happen?
While catastrophic asteroid impacts are rare, they are not unheard of. Based on geological records, scientists estimate that Earth is hit by a medium-sized asteroid every 100,000 to 200,000 years.
That means that our ancient human ancestors may have witnessed such devastating events before.
“These kinds of planet-altering impacts have likely played a role in human evolution,” says Timmermann. “They may have even influenced our genetic makeup.”
While we like to think of humans as the dominant species, the reality is we’re just another life form on a planet that has survived far worse.
As Timmermann jokes, “We’re as bad as cockroaches, honestly.”
What Can We Do About It?
Fortunately, we’re not helpless against threats like Bennu. NASA and other space agencies are already working on asteroid deflection strategies.
In 2022, NASA successfully tested the DART mission, altering the orbit of an asteroid by crashing a spacecraft into it.
If Bennu ever poses a real danger, similar methods—or more advanced ones—could be deployed to push it off course long before impact.
However, the key to survival is early detection and preparation. Scientists are continuously monitoring near-Earth objects, improving prediction models, and developing potential mitigation strategies.
The more we understand about asteroids like Bennu, the better our chances of preventing a future catastrophe.
Will Humanity Survive?
If Bennu were to strike Earth in 2182, it wouldn’t necessarily mean total extinction.
But life would be dramatically altered, and survival would be challenging in the face of food shortages, extreme climate shifts, and ozone depletion.
As history has shown, Earth has been through mass extinctions before—and life, in some form, has always found a way to endure. Whether humans will be part of that future, however, depends on our ability to prepare, adapt, and act in time.
References
- Dai, L., & Timmermann, A. (2025). Climate and ecological impacts of an asteroid impact on Earth. Science Advances.
- NASA (2022). DART Mission Overview.
- Pusan National University (2025). Bennu Impact Simulation Findings.
