Interstellar object 31/ATLAS is almost as old as the universe, according to a new study published in the journal Nature.

A recent study published in the journal *Nature* has revealed that the interstellar object 31/ATLAS is nearly as old as the universe itself. Scientists analyzing this comet have determined that it formed approximately 10 to 12 billion years ago within a primordial planetary system. This makes it significantly older than objects found in our own solar system, which are estimated to be about 4.5 billion years old. The research team suggests that 3I/ATLAS, the third known interstellar object observed in our solar system, provides valuable insights into the physical and chemical conditions present during its formation.

According to Martin Cordiner, a planetary scientist and astrochemist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, the comet, measuring roughly 2.6 kilometers in diameter, is likely the oldest known object to have passed through the solar system under the current age estimates of the universe, which stand at around 13.8 billion years. Cordiner is the lead author of the new study published on Monday in *Nature*, detailing their findings on 3I/ATLAS.

The researchers analyzed the chemical composition of 3I/ATLAS using data from the James Webb Space Telescope. Their analysis focused on isotopes—different variants of elements such as hydrogen and carbon—which provided clues about the temperature and radiation levels in the environment where 3I/ATLAS originated. The ratio of hydrogen isotopes indicated the temperature conditions during its formation, while the ratios of carbon isotopes gave insight into the composition of the interstellar gas cloud from which both 3I/ATLAS and its planetary system originated.

Water in the comet’s composition contains approximately 30 times more deuterium—a heavy isotope of hydrogen—than water found in other comets within our solar system. Additionally, the ratios of carbon isotopes were distinct from those observed in both solar system objects and interstellar clouds and protoplanetary disks surrounding young stars relatively close to us. Cordiner notes that these differences suggest 3I/ATLAS might be a leftover fragment from the process of planet formation around another star.

The observations made with the James Webb Space Telescope indicate that the planetary formation environment of 3I/ATLAS was different from that of our solar system. It was likely colder and less rich in heavy elements, while being exposed more intensely to ultraviolet radiation and cosmic rays. These conditions contrast sharply with those in our solar system, suggesting a unique evolutionary path for the object.

Despite its cold and distant origins, 3I/ATLAS is rich in organic molecules containing carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur. According to Cordiner, this indicates that volatile elements necessary for life, as we know it, were abundant in this distant planetary disk. The carbon composition further supports the idea that 3I/ATLAS formed up to 12 billion years ago during a period of intense star formation in its region of origin. Given that the universe is believed to have begun with the Big Bang approximately 13.8 billion years ago, this means 3I/ATLAS dates back to a time when the cosmos was only about 13 percent of its current age.

Researchers believe that 3I/ATLAS could have formed in the Milky Way galaxy. However, due to its immense age, they cannot rule out the possibility that it originated in another galaxy. The journey of 3I/ATLAS through space remains a mystery, as scientists are still trying to understand how it was expelled from its home planetary system in an unknown manner. Its trajectory and eventual fate will continue to be subjects of interest for future studies.

As the scientific community continues to analyze data from the James Webb Space Telescope, more details about 3I/ATLAS and similar interstellar objects are expected to emerge. These findings contribute to a broader understanding of the early universe and the processes that shaped the formation of planets and stars. Future missions and observations may provide additional insights into the origins and evolution of such rare celestial bodies, shedding light on the complex history of our cosmos.