Not all asteroids behave the same way—and some are much more dangerous.

In February 2023, a small asteroid named 2023 CX1 was detected just 7 hours before it entered Earth’s atmosphere over France. At less than a meter wide and weighing about 650 kilograms, it seemed small. But what happened next surprised scientists.

Instead of breaking apart gradually, this asteroid exploded abruptly at an altitude of about 28 kilometers. In a fraction of a second, it lost 98% of its energy, creating a powerful spherical shockwave.

Normally, asteroids release energy higher up, spreading the blast over a large distance. But in this case, the explosion was concentrated—making the shockwave four times stronger than expected for an asteroid this size.

Researchers concluded that 2023 CX1 belongs to a new class of asteroids: linked to L-type chondrites, capable of holding together until deep in the atmosphere—then disintegrating all at once.

This discovery has serious implications for planetary defense. Such asteroids pose a greater risk to populated areas, since their blasts happen much closer to the ground.

A reminder: even the smallest space rocks can deliver the biggest surprises.