New England Residents Heard A Loud Boom—Now We Know Why

You may not know this—I certainly didn't—but New England recently became the site of a rare celestial collision. To explain exactly what happened and why it's getting so much attention, here's I-95's wildlife expert, Jen the Zookeeper.

The Cape Cod Bay Space Splash

On May 30, 2026, New England got an unexpected science lesson when a meteor screamed through the atmosphere and exploded over the region with the energy of roughly 230–300 tons of TNT. The blast created a loud sonic boom that rattled homes, puzzled residents, and briefly convinced some people that an earthquake had struck. It wasn't an earthquake—it was a visitor from space.

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The meteor was only a few feet across, but it was traveling at up to 75,000 miles per hour when it slammed into Earth's atmosphere. Friction heated it to extreme temperatures, causing it to break apart about 40 miles above the ground. That breakup produced the spectacular fireball and thunderous boom heard across much of the Northeast.

The surviving fragments apparently landed in the middle of Cape Cod Bay, about 100 feet underwater. NASA jokingly referred to this type of water landing as a "fishy squisher"—perhaps the most scientific-sounding non-scientific term ever invented.

Here's the cool part: meteors hit Earth's atmosphere all the time. Most are tiny and burn up unnoticed. This one was unusual because it was large enough to create a dramatic airburst, yet small enough that Earth's atmosphere still did its job and prevented a dangerous impact. Think of the atmosphere as a giant cosmic bug zapper—except for space rocks.

So if you heard a mysterious boom over New England that day, congratulations—you experienced a live demonstration of planetary defense, courtesy of physics, gravity, and one very unlucky space rock.

Jen the Zookeeper's Background

JTZ

Jen has spent more than 30 years immersed in the fields of animal care, conservation, and science education. As the former Director of Animal Care for the New Canaan Nature Center in Connecticut, she oversaw the care of native mammals, reptiles, and birds of prey while educating the public about the important roles these wild neighbors play in our ecosystem. Her experience also includes time with both the Bronx Zoo and the Los Angeles Zoo, where she focused on the care of African and Asian wildlife and helped teach visitors about the delicate balance between humans and natural habitats.

Later, while working at a wildlife sanctuary in Half Moon Bay, California, Jen played a key role in training and handling nearly 50 exotic species. She also developed educational programs for at-risk and foster youth, helping historically underserved kids build trust, confidence, and healing connections with the non-releasable animals at the sanctuary.

In addition to her extensive wildlife work, Jen has experience in horse and dog training, animal control, veterinary care, and all things conservation education. Today, she owns and operates Jen Kotkin Pet Care, where she provides personalized care, exercise, and enrichment for dogs, cats, horses, birds, and more.