Undetected asteroid threat poses risk to Earth

A space agency chief has warned that a "city-killer" asteroid could be heading towards Earth undetected, similar to the recent near-miss of asteroid YR4. Current technology cannot effectively search the area between Earth and the Sun due to brightness. To address this, the European Space Agency (ESA) is developing a new telescope called Neomir, which will use infrared waves to detect asteroids in the Sun's direction. This telescope is expected to launch around 2032. Additionally, ESA is creating a network of "Fly Eye" telescopes to improve night sky surveys and identify potential threats. Despite these advancements, many smaller asteroids remain undetected, with only a small percentage of them currently known.