In the new study, the team subjected a sample of the metal-rich Campo del Cielo meteorite to 27 high-energy pulses of the 440 gigaelectronvolt SPS proton beam, in order to recreate impact conditions and measure their effects. While not necessarily bad news for those who want a real-life Armageddon, the meteor sample didn't quite act how one would expect. 

“The material became stronger, exhibiting an increase in yield strength, and displayed a self-stabilising damping behaviour,” Melanie Bochmann, co-team lead, explained in a statement. 

"These results suggest that high-energy proton irradiation not only hardens iron meteorite material but may transform it into a composite-like structure with improved damping characteristics," the team added in their paper.

In short, the meteorite held together a lot better than expected. While making a potentially-deadly asteroid stronger doesn't sound like a particularly good idea, the goal is not to shatter it apart, but to deflect it onto a safe course for Earth. On that front, this may actually be good news.