What happens underground when a missile or meteor hits. Duke Today, April 10, 2015. Duke University researchers have developed techniques that enable them to simulate high-speed missile and meteor impacts into soil and sand in the lab, and then watch what happens underground close-up, in super slow motion. They report that materials like soil and sand actually get stronger when they are struck harder. The research may ultimately lead to better control of earth-penetrating missiles designed to destroy deeply buried targets such as enemy bunkers or weapons stockpiles. Picked up by io9, the Daily Mail, Scientific American, EarthSky, Popular Science and Discovery Channel Canada.