Researchers at Heriot-Watt University have unveiled breathtaking new images capturing a massive asteroid impact crater buried under the Atlantic Ocean floor. This remarkable feat of scientific revelation points to the existence of the 9 km Nadir Crater, which lies about 300 meters beneath the ocean's surface, created by an asteroid impact at the end of the Cretaceous period roughly 66 million years ago. This timing coincides with the cataclysmic Chicxulub impact crater in Mexico, notorious for its association with the extinction of the dinosaurs.

The high-resolution seismic images provide insight into the chaotic aftermath of the collision, detailing the rapid formation of a bowl-shaped crater and the subsequent transformation of surrounding rocks into a fluid-like state. This tumultuous event unleashed a devastating tsunami exceeding 800 meters in height, with waves racing across the Atlantic.

In a groundbreaking study published in *Nature Communications Earth & Environment*, Dr. Uisdean Nicholson from Heriot-Watt University, who first identified the Nadir Crater in 2022, explained that he detected a notable depression in seismic reflection data while examining the ocean floor near Guinea, West Africa. Initially ascertained as a possible impact alien to any known marine craters, comprehensive analysis confirmed its origins, solidifying belief that it resulted from an asteroid hundreds of meters across.

Thanks to TGS, a global geophysical company, researchers obtained advanced 3D seismic data that exhibits the crater’s structure in previously unattainable detail. Dr. Nicholson likened the vivid imaging capabilities to the evolution of ultrasound technology, where former blurry graphics have now transformed into high-definition visuals that allow for deep analysis.

This seismic imaging not only maps out the crater’s dimensions—indicating an asteroid likely measuring between 450 to 500 meters wide striking Earth at a staggering velocity of 20 kilometers per second (72,000 km/h)—but also unveils a timeline that chronicles the immediate chaos following the impact. The subsequent earthquake-induced liquefaction of sediments formed extensive faults beneath the seabed, while massive landslides ravaged the surrounding ocean floor.

Additionally, Dr. Nicholson has pointed out the unique opportunity this find represents in asteroid impact research. Unlike any other known disturbances, the Nadir Crater offers a pristine view of geological formations, which provides profound insights into the mechanics of such significant impacts. As a practical perspective, Dr. Sean Gulick from the University of Texas at Austin emphasized the research potential of fully-preserved craters in understanding both Earth's evolution and similar formations on other planetary bodies.

Noteworthily, the subject of potential future asteroid impacts remains pertinent, with the rubble pile asteroid Bennu standing out as a significant near-Earth object, estimated at around 400 meters in diameter. NASA’s calculations suggest a minimal but existent risk of collision, pointing to a potential impact date on September 24, 2182, with probabilities estimated at 1 in 2,700.

This astonishing discovery of the Nadir Crater opens new avenues for scientific exploration. Researchers aim to apply to IODP3, an international drilling program, to extract core samples from the crater which may offer further revelations regarding the impact’s powerful forces and the sequence of geological events that transpired following this historic encounter with an asteroid.