Asteroids can be structurally disrupted or destroyed by increasing their rotation rate
Asteroids can indeed be structurally altered, reshaped, or disrupted as thermal radiation torques (the YORP effect) increase their rotation rates over time.
The retrieved papers consistently support the principle that radiation torques (YORP effect) alter asteroid rotation rates, leading to spin-up phenomena that can cause structural deformation, top-shape formation, or spin-induced failure (structural disruption). No papers refute this well-established astronomical process.
Patrick A. Taylor, Jean-Luc Margot, David Vokrouhlický, Daniel J. Scheeres, Petr Pravec, Stephen C. Lowry, Alan Fitzsimmons, Michael C. Nolan, Steven J. Ostro, Lance A. M. Benner, Jon D. Giorgini, Christopher Magri. Spin Rate of Asteroid (54509) 2000 PH5 Increasing Due to the YORP Effect. 2007. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1139038
Paper [0] confirms that sunlight torques via the YORP effect continuously increase asteroid spin rates, a primary mechanism leading to structural deformation or binary formation.
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Scheeres DJ, McMahon JW, French AS, Brack DN, Chesley SR, Farnocchia D, Takahashi Y, Leonard JM, Geeraert J, Page B, Antreasian P, Getzandanner K, Rowlands D, Mazarico E, Small J, Highsmith DE, Moreau M, Emery JP, Rozitis B, Hirabayashi M, Sánchez P, Wal SV, Tricarico P, Ballouz RL, Johnson CL, Asad MMA, Susorney HCM, Barnouin OS, Daly MG, Seabrook J, Gaskell RW, Palmer EE, Weirich JR, Walsh KJ, Jawin ER, Bierhaus EB, Michel P, Bottke WF, Nolan MC, Connolly HC Jr, Lauretta DS. The dynamic geophysical environment of (101955) Bennu based on OSIRIS-REx measurements.. 2019. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-019-0721-3
Paper [1] notes that Bennu's top-shape morphology and surface slope transitions are consistent with past spin-induced failure driven by rotational acceleration.
Xiaoran Yan, Junfeng Li. YORP effect on the evolution of asteroid spin states. 2019. https://doi.org/10.1360/SSPMA-2019-0130
Paper [8] reviews how the YORP effect causes significant changes in the spin rate and obliquity of asteroids over millions of years, driving structural evolution.
Ray A, Ruj T, Komatsu G, Vincent LM, Kikuchi H, Hemmi R, Ormö J. Boulder populations and orientation trends on asteroid Ryugu: implications for rubble-pile surface processes.. 2026. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-40370-4
Paper [11] discusses how YORP-driven spin-up leads to regolith migration and morphological changes in rubble-pile asteroids.
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