What specific effect regarding current impactors has research indicated about Jupiter’s present orbital configuration?

Its current orbital position may, counterintuitively, lead to a higher rate of impactors reaching Earth.

While Jupiter is widely recognized as a long-term protector, research reveals a nuanced contradiction concerning its present position relative to impact delivery. Studies suggest that, based on Jupiter's specific configuration today, its gravitational influence might paradoxically result in a *higher* rate of impactors reaching Earth when compared to a theoretical scenario where Jupiter did not exist at all. This implies that the stability of the inner system is not merely about the giant planet's presence, but rather about the exact, precise configuration of the orbits of all giant planets. Jupiter's current orbit may inadvertently funnel certain streams of material toward the inner system, despite its overall shielding role.