Sonic booms from meteors can release the energy of hundreds of tons of TNT – here’s how they work

2026 has already been a banner year for meteor spottings and sonic booms across the world.

By: Shawn Laatsch, University of Maine, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: June 15, 2026

Words: 1,230

Last Updated: 1 month, 1 week ago

By Shawn Laatsch, University of Maine

As humans, we live out our lives on a planet that is constantly sweeping through a cosmic ocean littered with ancient debris from the formation of the solar system. For the most part, our world glides silently through space, shielded by Earth’s thin atmosphere.

Occasionally, however, the rest of the universe reminds us of its presence with stunning, visceral clarity.

Residents along the Massachusetts–New Hampshire border were …

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