Brett Wattles
The Latest
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WHO Flags Rapid Spread of New H3N2 Flu Variant J.2.4.1 as Hospitalizations Rise in 30+ Countries
The World Health Organization is warning that a newly emerging influenza variant is spreading rapidly across multiple regions, prompting heightened surveillance as the global flu season intensifies and hospitalizations rise in several countries. The strain, an H3N2 subclade formally classified as J.2.4.1, has been detected in more than 30 countries since first appearing in the Southern Hemisphere late this summer. 
The World Health Organization is warning that a newly emerging influenza variant is spreading rapidly across multiple regions, prompting heightened surveillance as the global flu season intensifies and hospitalizations rise in several countries. The strain, an H3N2 subclade formally classified as J.2.4.1, has been detected in more than 30 countries since first appearing in the Southern Hemisphere late this summer. -
Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Races Past Earth at 137,000 mph, Exposing Gaps in Planetary Defense
An interstellar object moving at roughly 137,000 miles an hour is making its closest approach to Earth this week, drawing intense scrutiny from astronomers and planetary-defense officials despite posing no direct threat. Known as 3I/ATLAS, the comet is only the third confirmed visitor from beyond the solar system and is traveling on a hyperbolic trajectory that has sharpened concerns about how quickly such objects can be detected and tracked. 
An interstellar object moving at roughly 137,000 miles an hour is making its closest approach to Earth this week, drawing intense scrutiny from astronomers and planetary-defense officials despite posing no direct threat. Known as 3I/ATLAS, the comet is only the third confirmed visitor from beyond the solar system and is traveling on a hyperbolic trajectory that has sharpened concerns about how quickly such objects can be detected and tracked. -
FDA Recalls 3,556 Cases of Salad Dressing Across 27 States Over Plastic Contamination Risk
U.S. regulators have ordered a sweeping recall of salad dressings distributed across 27 states after identifying possible contamination with black plastic planting material, a move that has prompted warnings to consumers and food-service operators amid concerns over injury and choking hazards. 
U.S. regulators have ordered a sweeping recall of salad dressings distributed across 27 states after identifying possible contamination with black plastic planting material, a move that has prompted warnings to consumers and food-service operators amid concerns over injury and choking hazards. -
Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Displays 500,000-Kilometer Sunward Anti-Tail, Defying Standard Models
Astronomers are intensifying scrutiny of interstellar object 3I/ATLAS after images captured this week revealed a massive, sunward-facing anti-tail extending roughly half a million kilometers-longer than the average distance between Earth and the Moon-an observation that challenges conventional comet physics as the object approaches its closest pass by Earth. Astronomers are intensifying scrutiny of interstellar object 3I/ATLAS after images captured this week revealed a massive, sunward-facing anti-tail extending roughly half a million kilometers-longer than the average distance between Earth and the Moon-an observation that challenges conventional comet physics as the object approaches its closest pass by Earth. -
Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Makes Closest-Ever Pass, Offering Rare Clues to Alien Planet Formation
Astronomers are preparing for a rare observational opportunity as interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS approaches its closest point to Earth on Dec. 19, marking the nearest encounter humanity will ever have with the object. The visitor, which originated outside the solar system, is only the third confirmed interstellar body ever detected passing through Earth's neighborhood, offering scientists an unusually clear look at material formed around another star. 
Astronomers are preparing for a rare observational opportunity as interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS approaches its closest point to Earth on Dec. 19, marking the nearest encounter humanity will ever have with the object. The visitor, which originated outside the solar system, is only the third confirmed interstellar body ever detected passing through Earth's neighborhood, offering scientists an unusually clear look at material formed around another star. -
Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS Exposes Gaps in Planetary Defense as Detection Timelines Shrink
The passage of the interstellar object known as 3I/ATLAS through the inner solar system is prompting scientists and planetary-defense officials to reassess long-standing assumptions about how Earth identifies and prepares for potential cosmic threats. While the object itself poses no danger-its closest approach on Dec. 19 will occur at a distance of roughly 270 million kilometers-the circumstances of its arrival are underscoring vulnerabilities in existing detection and response frameworks. The passage of the interstellar object known as 3I/ATLAS through the inner solar system is prompting scientists and planetary-defense officials to reassess long-standing assumptions about how Earth identifies and prepares for potential cosmic threats. While the object itself poses no danger-its closest approach on Dec. 19 will occur at a distance of roughly 270 million kilometers-the circumstances of its arrival are underscoring vulnerabilities in existing detection and response frameworks. -
Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Defies Expectations as Sun-Facing Anti-Tail Shifts Near Earth Approach
Astronomers monitoring the interstellar object known as 3I/ATLAS say new observations show an unexpected shift in the orientation of its rare "anti-tail" as the object approaches its closest point to Earth, adding fresh complexity to the scientific effort to understand material formed beyond the solar system. The change has been confirmed by multiple observatories and has become a focal point for debate over how dust and radiation interact in interstellar comets. Astronomers monitoring the interstellar object known as 3I/ATLAS say new observations show an unexpected shift in the orientation of its rare "anti-tail" as the object approaches its closest point to Earth, adding fresh complexity to the scientific effort to understand material formed beyond the solar system. The change has been confirmed by multiple observatories and has become a focal point for debate over how dust and radiation interact in interstellar comets. -
Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Turns Green Ahead of Dec. 19 Earth Flyby, Offering Rare Chemical Clues
Astronomers tracking the interstellar comet known as 3I/ATLAS report that the object has brightened markedly and developed a faint green glow as it approaches its closest pass by Earth, sharpening scientific interest in only the third confirmed visitor from beyond the solar system. The color shift, documented in late November observations, is being closely analyzed as a potential indicator of the comet's chemical makeup and thermal evolution as it responds to increasing solar heat. 
Astronomers tracking the interstellar comet known as 3I/ATLAS report that the object has brightened markedly and developed a faint green glow as it approaches its closest pass by Earth, sharpening scientific interest in only the third confirmed visitor from beyond the solar system. The color shift, documented in late November observations, is being closely analyzed as a potential indicator of the comet's chemical makeup and thermal evolution as it responds to increasing solar heat. -
As 3I/ATLAS Passes Earth, Astronomers Detect Low Water and High Carbon Dioxide Signature
An interstellar comet racing through the inner solar system is giving scientists a rare chemical snapshot of material formed around another star, with early findings showing an unexpectedly low water content and a high concentration of carbon dioxide. The object, known as 3I/ATLAS, is only the third confirmed interstellar visitor ever detected and is now approaching its closest point to Earth before continuing on a one-way exit from the solar system. An interstellar comet racing through the inner solar system is giving scientists a rare chemical snapshot of material formed around another star, with early findings showing an unexpectedly low water content and a high concentration of carbon dioxide. The object, known as 3I/ATLAS, is only the third confirmed interstellar visitor ever detected and is now approaching its closest point to Earth before continuing on a one-way exit from the solar system. -
Online Claims of Secret U.S. Tracking of Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Collide With Scientific Record
The arrival of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS in the inner Solar System in late 2025 sparked a burst of scientific observation-and a parallel surge of online claims that U.S. authorities had quietly tracked the object for decades through a classified planetary defense program known as CASSANDRA. No U.S. agency has confirmed the existence of such a program or any prior monitoring of the comet, and scientists say the evidence cited online does not withstand scrutiny. The arrival of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS in the inner Solar System in late 2025 sparked a burst of scientific observation-and a parallel surge of online claims that U.S. authorities had quietly tracked the object for decades through a classified planetary defense program known as CASSANDRA. No U.S. agency has confirmed the existence of such a program or any prior monitoring of the comet, and scientists say the evidence cited online does not withstand scrutiny.
