ROAstronomers have discovered new evidence suggesting that the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS is nearly as old as the universe itself, according to a study published in Nature. The comet was observed in 2025 and is the third known interstellar object to pass through our solar system, following 1I/ʻOumuamua and 2I/Borisov. Using data from the James Webb Space Telescope and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), researchers analyzed the chemical isotopes emitted by the comet as sunlight heated its frozen interior. These findings indicate that 3I/ATLAS could be over 12 billion years old, much older than our solar system, which is approximately 4.5 billion years old. The comet appears to originate from a colder region of its home system, containing higher levels of heavy hydrogen (deuterium) compared to local space rocks, suggesting a different origin environment. Astronomers believe this discovery highlights the uniqueness of our solar system and suggests that many comets studied so far may differ significantly from those elsewhere in the universe. With advanced telescopes like ALMA and JWST, scientists expect more such discoveries in the future.
Bias read (Center): The article discusses scientific research on an interstellar comet, focusing on its age and origin. It presents findings from peer-reviewed studies and does not involve political figures, policies, or contentious issues. The content is purely scientific and neutral in tone.
