It's certain that recently discovered asteroid 2024 YR4 will swing close to Earth in 2032. The chances of an impact remain low — but with relatively limited observations so far, the odds are in flux.

This week, the earliest runestone ever to be reliably dated may have been carved by a woman, a “gorilla-like” human relative that lived some 1.4 million years ago has been revealed by a jawbone, and an Antarctic fossil dating back 68 million years proves the existence of dinosaur-era ducks.

A newly discovered asteroid named 2024 YR4 now has a 2.2% chance of affecting Earth in 2032 after recent observations.

Researchers say there’s a 1.3 percent chance that the space rock 2024 YR4 could strike our planet — but not until December 2032.

Days after it was confirmed that asteroid 2024 YR4 has a 1-in-83 chance of colliding with Earth, American space agency, Nasa has charted the course of its orbit and the object's trajectory in space. Nasa's Center of Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) is tracking the asteroid and has already prepared its projected orbit that brings it in extreme proximity to Earth.

Astronomers have significantly increased the odds of a giant asteroid hitting the earth by 2032. The giant asteroid, measuring up to 300ft (90 metres), is said to be currently hurtling towards Earth.

An asteroid has a one in 83 chance of hitting Earth in just over seven years. While most space rocks pass by harmlessly, this one, known as 2024 YR4, which is about half the size of a football field,