Brett Wattles
The Latest
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Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Emits 40 Kilograms of Methanol Per Second, Offering Clues to Life’s Building Blocks
Scientists observing the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS are reporting unprecedented methane-related activity and carbon-rich chemistry, identifying a set of prebiotic molecules never before seen in an object from another star system. NASA researchers say the comet is releasing methanol at levels that dwarf those found in typical solar system comets, marking one of the most chemically unusual interstellar visitors ever recorded. The discovery offers new insight into how life-supporting molecules may form in distant planetary systems. 
Scientists observing the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS are reporting unprecedented methane-related activity and carbon-rich chemistry, identifying a set of prebiotic molecules never before seen in an object from another star system. NASA researchers say the comet is releasing methanol at levels that dwarf those found in typical solar system comets, marking one of the most chemically unusual interstellar visitors ever recorded. The discovery offers new insight into how life-supporting molecules may form in distant planetary systems. -
Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS Defies Comet Physics as NASA Confirms Coherent Anti-Tail Structure
NASA's newest Hubble Space Telescope image of interstellar object 3I/ATLAS has intensified scientific scrutiny after confirming a sharply defined, sunward-pointing anti-tail-an alignment that astrophysicists say should not exist under standard comet physics. The November 30, 2025 image, captured with Hubble's Wide Field Camera 3 using the F350LP filter, shows a spherical glow extending 40,000 kilometres around the nucleus and a narrow, coherent sunward extension reaching approximately 60,000 kilometres. 
NASA's newest Hubble Space Telescope image of interstellar object 3I/ATLAS has intensified scientific scrutiny after confirming a sharply defined, sunward-pointing anti-tail-an alignment that astrophysicists say should not exist under standard comet physics. The November 30, 2025 image, captured with Hubble's Wide Field Camera 3 using the F350LP filter, shows a spherical glow extending 40,000 kilometres around the nucleus and a narrow, coherent sunward extension reaching approximately 60,000 kilometres. -
Hubble Image Confirms 60,000-Km Fragment Trail as Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Breaks Apart
A dramatic new image from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has intensified scientific debate around the disintegration of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, with Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb arguing that the object's striking 60,000-kilometre anti-tail extension aligns "in perfect agreement" with his prediction that the comet fragmented into numerous large bodies after its close brush with the sun. A dramatic new image from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has intensified scientific debate around the disintegration of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, with Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb arguing that the object's striking 60,000-kilometre anti-tail extension aligns "in perfect agreement" with his prediction that the comet fragmented into numerous large bodies after its close brush with the sun. -
ESA’s Juice Captures Rare Activity from Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Ahead of 2026 Data Release
A rare interstellar encounter between the European Space Agency's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer and the fast-moving comet 3I/ATLAS has given astronomers an early glimpse of what appears to be a highly active visitor from beyond the Solar System. The observation occurred as the comet passed near the spacecraft in November, offering researchers an unusual chance to capture data from only the third interstellar object ever recorded. A rare interstellar encounter between the European Space Agency's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer and the fast-moving comet 3I/ATLAS has given astronomers an early glimpse of what appears to be a highly active visitor from beyond the Solar System. The observation occurred as the comet passed near the spacecraft in November, offering researchers an unusual chance to capture data from only the third interstellar object ever recorded. -
Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Shows Signs of Violent Cryovolcanism, Challenging Comet-Formation Models
Astronomers are reassessing long-held theories of comet formation after new observations of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS revealed what researchers describe as unusually intense and widespread cryovolcanic activity. The object-only the third interstellar visitor ever detected-registered a sharp and sustained increase in brightness in 2025, prompting scientists to consider whether an eruption of volatile materials occurred across its surface as it moved within roughly 2.5 astronomical units of the Sun. Astronomers are reassessing long-held theories of comet formation after new observations of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS revealed what researchers describe as unusually intense and widespread cryovolcanic activity. The object-only the third interstellar visitor ever detected-registered a sharp and sustained increase in brightness in 2025, prompting scientists to consider whether an eruption of volatile materials occurred across its surface as it moved within roughly 2.5 astronomical units of the Sun. -
NASA Faces Scrutiny as 3I/ATLAS Nears Earth With ‘Impossible’ Anti-Tail and Delayed Data Releases
NASA is facing escalating questions from astronomers and independent researchers as scrutiny intensifies over the agency's handling of data on 3I/ATLAS, the third known interstellar object to enter the solar system and one of the most puzzling bodies ever detected. NASA is facing escalating questions from astronomers and independent researchers as scrutiny intensifies over the agency's handling of data on 3I/ATLAS, the third known interstellar object to enter the solar system and one of the most puzzling bodies ever detected. -
Harvard’s Avi Loeb Claims 3I/ATLAS Has ‘Anti-Tail’ Swarm as NASA Sticks to Natural-Comet View
A new theory from Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb has intensified debate surrounding interstellar object 3I/ATLAS, after he suggested the comet-like body may be accompanied by a swarm of unknown objects-an assertion that pushes the scientific controversy far beyond earlier discussions of its unusual trajectory and optical features. 
A new theory from Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb has intensified debate surrounding interstellar object 3I/ATLAS, after he suggested the comet-like body may be accompanied by a swarm of unknown objects-an assertion that pushes the scientific controversy far beyond earlier discussions of its unusual trajectory and optical features. -
New NASA Photos Show 3I/ATLAS Passing Inner Planets as Experts Reject ‘Alien Craft’ Speculation
NASA's newly released images of the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS have intensified scientific interest in the rare visitor, even as online speculation attempts to cast doubt on its natural origins. The photographs, published in early October and captured by multiple spacecraft-including the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Lucy and Psyche-show a diffuse halo, trailing dust and gas emissions characteristic of active comets approaching the Sun. NASA has reiterated that 3I/ATLAS, only the third confirmed interstellar object ever observed, aligns fully with known cometary behaviour. NASA's newly released images of the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS have intensified scientific interest in the rare visitor, even as online speculation attempts to cast doubt on its natural origins. The photographs, published in early October and captured by multiple spacecraft-including the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Lucy and Psyche-show a diffuse halo, trailing dust and gas emissions characteristic of active comets approaching the Sun. NASA has reiterated that 3I/ATLAS, only the third confirmed interstellar object ever observed, aligns fully with known cometary behaviour. -
Metal Fragment Recall Pulls 1.5 Million Cheese Bags From Walmart and Target Shelves Across 31 States
A sweeping food-safety recall involving shredded cheese sold at Walmart, Target, Aldi and dozens of other retailers has expanded across 31 states and Puerto Rico, after regulators confirmed the products may contain metal fragments. The US Food and Drug Administration classified the action on Dec. 1 as an active recall and said the effort, initiated by Great Lakes Cheese Co., now encompasses more than 1.5 million bags of cheese distributed nationwide. 
A sweeping food-safety recall involving shredded cheese sold at Walmart, Target, Aldi and dozens of other retailers has expanded across 31 states and Puerto Rico, after regulators confirmed the products may contain metal fragments. The US Food and Drug Administration classified the action on Dec. 1 as an active recall and said the effort, initiated by Great Lakes Cheese Co., now encompasses more than 1.5 million bags of cheese distributed nationwide. -
Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Speeds Past Earth at 137,000 mph as NASA Debunks ‘Alien Ship’ Claims
The interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS is entering its closest approach to Earth in mid-December, drawing intense scientific interest as astronomers examine a rare object formed in another star system. NASA confirmed that the comet, discovered in July by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System in Chile, is the third verified interstellar visitor after 'Oumuamua and 2I/Borisov. The agency described the object as "whizzing at about 137,000 mph," a speed and trajectory that confirm it is not gravitationally bound to the sun. The interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS is entering its closest approach to Earth in mid-December, drawing intense scientific interest as astronomers examine a rare object formed in another star system. NASA confirmed that the comet, discovered in July by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System in Chile, is the third verified interstellar visitor after 'Oumuamua and 2I/Borisov. The agency described the object as "whizzing at about 137,000 mph," a speed and trajectory that confirm it is not gravitationally bound to the sun.
