Asteroids could one day be considered the richest source of rare minerals and precious stones like diamonds and gold. Though these may also be found on Earth, they are truly a rare find, that's why they end up being so expensive. Futurists are thinking about how these flying objects in the atmosphere could be a rich source of these rare minerals, not to mention the fact that they could also be floating elements in space that could be a habitat to people and other living things of the future.
Although tempting, scientists take a step back on the plan to tap the potential of these asteroids because there is an inherent risk at the mere fact of tampering an asteroid for human consumption. Whether it is a small tampering or a huge one, it could affect the direction and speed at which the asteroid travels. In worse case scenario, the asteroid could unintentionally lead it directly straight to the Earth.
To read more, click here.