https://phys.org/ en-us Phys.org internet news portal provides the latest news on science including: Physics, Nanotechnology, Life Sciences, Space Science, Earth Science, Environment, Health and Medicine. 3I/ATLAS has caused quite a stir over the last year, inviting astronomers to update what they know about other solar systems as well as our own. However, this third interstellar visitor may have an unexpected impact on our understanding of dark matter. A new paper, available on the arXiv preprint server from researchers at the University of Hamburg, attempts to calculate the impact that the presence of large amounts of interstellar objects, or ISOs, would have on our calculation of dark matter in our galaxy. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-milky-mass-swarm-interstellar-comets.html Astronomy Sun, 07 Jun 2026 17:00:04 EDT news699624620 Scientists at the SETI Institute recently searched for technological signals from 3I/ATLAS, the third interstellar object observed in our solar system. Using the Allen Telescope Array (ATA) at the Hat Creek Radio Observatory in Northern California, the team scanned a wide range of radio frequencies for signs of extraterrestrial technology and found none, as expected based on other astronomical observations showing that the object exhibits natural comet-like composition and behavior. The paper is published in The Astronomical Journal. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-interstellar-3iatlas-reveals-technosignatures-hour.html Astrobiology Wed, 03 Jun 2026 18:30:01 EDT news699724681 The Southwest Research Institute-led Ultraviolet Spectrograph (UVS) instruments aboard ESA's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) spacecraft and NASA's Europa Clipper made unique observations of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS in late 2025. SwRI leads the UVS instruments on both spacecraft, simultaneously imaging both hemispheres of the comet and detecting the comet's ultraviolet emissions. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-dual-spacecraft-capture-hemispheres-interstellar.html Planetary Sciences Wed, 13 May 2026 14:20:01 EDT news697900019 The comet that rambled past us from another star last year likely originated in a cold, isolated corner of the galaxy that had yet to gel into its own solar system, astronomers reported Thursday. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-scientists-latest-interstellar-comet-home.html Astronomy Sat, 09 May 2026 13:50:01 EDT news696170704 New observations of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS include the first measurement of the abundance of deuterated water relative to ordinary water in an interstellar object. Astronomers using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) discovered that the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS is made of an astonishingly high ratio of semi-heavy water relative to water, indicating that its system of origin likely formed under conditions far colder than our own. The findings are published in Nature Astronomy. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-3iatlas-semi-heavy-comets-solar.html Astronomy Thu, 23 Apr 2026 13:26:02 EDT news696169452 Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS is now on its way out of our solar system, never to return. The comet was only the third-ever detected object to originate from outside our solar system. Traveling at high speeds, it looped around the sun within 1.5 AU (one AU, or astronomical unit, is the distance between Earth and the sun) in October 2025; as of April, it is now past the orbit of Jupiter on its way out of the solar system. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-methane-emerges-interstellar-comet-3iatlas.html Planetary Sciences Thu, 16 Apr 2026 19:40:01 EDT news695572435 The Subaru Telescope observed the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS on January 7, 2026, after it made its closest approach to the sun. By observing colors in the coma around the comet, astronomers could estimate the ratio of carbon dioxide to water. This ratio is much lower than that inferred from earlier observations by space telescopes. These findings suggest that the chemistry of the coma is evolving over time and offers clues to the structure of comet 3I/ATLAS. The work appears in The Astronomical Journal. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-subaru-telescope-captures-comet-3iatlas.html Planetary Sciences Wed, 15 Apr 2026 03:58:42 EDT news695444252 In a happy twist of fate, NASA's Hubble Space Telescope witnessed a comet in the act of breaking apart. The chance of that happening while Hubble watched is extraordinarily minuscule. The findings are published in the journal Icarus. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-nasa-hubble-unexpectedly-comet.html Astronomy Wed, 18 Mar 2026 14:20:01 EDT news693057181 Comet 3I/ATLAS continues to make astonishing headlines, thanks to new findings from astronomers using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). This new research reveals that 3I/ATLAS is packed with an unusually large amount of the organic molecule methanol—more than almost all known comets in our own solar system. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-interstellar-comet-alcohol-alma-3iatlas.html Astronomy Mon, 09 Mar 2026 09:20:03 EDT news692265150 This striking image from the science camera on ESA's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) shows interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS spewing dust and gas. The tiny nucleus of the comet (not visible) is surrounded by a bright halo of gas known as the coma. A long tail stretches away from the comet, and we see hints of rays, jets, streams, and filaments. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-image-glimpse-comet-3iatlas-juice.html Astronomy Fri, 27 Feb 2026 11:00:06 EST news691411288 The United Arab Emirates announced on Tuesday that it would extend its Mars probe mission, now in its fifth year, for an additional three, underlining the oil-rich state's space ambitions. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-uae-mars-probe-mission.html Space Exploration Tue, 17 Feb 2026 10:30:01 EST news690546317 The arrival of 3I/ATLAS in our solar system spawned multiple proposals for a rendezvous mission to study it up close. As the third interstellar object (ISO) ever detected, the wealth of information direct studies could provide would be groundbreaking in many respects. However, the mission architecture for intercepting an interstellar comet poses numerous significant challenges for mission designers and planners. Chief among them is the technological readiness level (TRL) of the proposed propulsion systems, ranging from conventional rockets to directed-energy propulsion (DEP). https://phys.org/news/2026-02-concept-3iatlas.html Space Exploration Mon, 16 Feb 2026 08:50:31 EST news690454081 NASA's Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer (SPHEREx) was built for the ambitious purpose of performing an all-sky survey. The data it collects from more than 450 million galaxies and 100 million stars in the Milky Way over its two-year mission will help scientists explore the origins of the universe and its evolution over time. But that doesn't mean scientists can't occasionally take a break from investigating the deepest cosmological mysteries to take a peek at an interstellar object (ISO), right? https://phys.org/news/2026-02-nasa-spherex-mission-3iatlas-bright.html Astronomy Wed, 11 Feb 2026 18:30:01 EST news690027440 The interstellar object, 3I/ATLAS, was first discovered in July 2025, and made its closest approach to the sun (perihelion) in late October. New observations of 3I/ATLAS were taken in December from the SPHEREx observatory—a near-infrared space observatory used for spectrophotometry. The analysis of these observations was recently discussed by a team of scientists in a paper on arXiv, and reveals some dramatic differences from the data taken before 3I/ATLAS reached perihelion. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-spherex-imaging-reveals-sublimation-3iatlas.html Planetary Sciences Tue, 20 Jan 2026 13:14:16 EST news688137238 It feels like every week now we're writing a new article about how 3I/ATLAS is not an alien technology. But it's worth reiterating, and perhaps taking a look at the methodology we used to prove that statement. A new paper, available in pre-print form on arXiv from Sofia Sheikh of the SETI Institute and her co-authors, details how one specific instrument—the Allen Telescope Array (ATA)—contributed to that effort. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-massive-radio-interstellar-guest.html Astronomy Wed, 07 Jan 2026 11:46:26 EST news687008761 When 3I/ATLAS swept past the sun in late October 2025, it became only the third confirmed visitor from interstellar space ever detected. Unlike the mysterious 'Oumuamua, which revealed almost nothing about itself during its brief flyby in 2017, or even 2I/Borisov which appeared in 2019, this latest interstellar traveler arrived with perfect timing for detailed study. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-interstellar-comet-secrets.html Planetary Sciences Fri, 02 Jan 2026 10:28:18 EST news686572082 Since the interstellar object (ISO) 3I/ATLAS was first discovered on July 1, 2025, it has garnered much attention, including speculation, hopes and fears that it may somehow contain evidence of technologically advanced civilizations outside of our solar system. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-sensitive-radio-date-evidence-technosignature.html Astronomy Tue, 30 Dec 2025 11:30:01 EST news686315306 The moon and sun share top billing in 2026. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-moon-sun-figure-big-year.html Space Exploration Mon, 29 Dec 2025 07:41:49 EST news686216460 The Southwest Research Institute-led Ultraviolet Spectrograph (UVS) aboard NASA's Europa Clipper spacecraft has made valuable observations of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, which in July became the third officially recognized interstellar object to cross into our solar system. UVS had a unique view of the object during a period when Mars- and Earth-based observations were impractical or impossible. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-comet-3iatlas-europa-clipper-captures.html Astronomy Thu, 18 Dec 2025 12:00:41 EST news685281601 After less than a year in orbit, the Southwest Research Institute-built PUNCH spacecraft have made major accomplishments, imaging the sun in context while tracking comets and enormous space weather events as they traveled through the inner solar system. SwRI's Dr. Craig DeForest discussed the achievements of NASA's PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) mission during a media roundtable at the AGU25 conference on Dec. 16. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-mission-spacecraft-unprecedented-images-sun.html Astronomy Tue, 16 Dec 2025 13:03:01 EST news685112522 The European Space Agency's X-ray space observatory XMM-Newton observed interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS on 3 December for around 20 hours. During that time, the comet was about 282–285 million km from the spacecraft. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-xmm-newton-comet-3iatlas-ray.html Astronomy Mon, 15 Dec 2025 12:11:26 EST news685023061 A stray comet from another star swings past Earth this week in one last hurrah before racing back toward interstellar space. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-interstellar-comet-distance-closest-approach.html Planetary Sciences Mon, 15 Dec 2025 11:50:04 EST news685021618 On July 1st, 2025, the third interstellar object (ISO) ever detected was seen making its way through our solar system. Shortly after being alerted by automated detection systems, astronomers at the European Space Agency (ESA) began using observatories in Hawaii, Chile, and Australia to get a better look at the interstellar interloper. Since then, 3I/ATLAS has been observed by multiple space observatories, including the venerable NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. On Nov. 30th, Hubble viewed the ISO again, which is about to make its closest approach to Earth. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-hubble-glimpse-3iatlas.html Astronomy Mon, 15 Dec 2025 11:47:40 EST news685021622 Gemini North captured new images of Comet 3I/ATLAS after it reemerged from behind the sun on its path out of the solar system. The data were collected during a Shadow the Scientists session—a unique outreach initiative that invites students around the world to join researchers as they observe the universe on the world's most advanced telescopes. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-gemini-north-images-reveal-greenish.html Planetary Sciences Fri, 12 Dec 2025 14:13:40 EST news684771143 Sometime in 2029, the European Space Agency is scheduled to launch its Comet Interceptor Mission. The Interceptor will wait for a long-period comet to arrive in the inner solar system then set off on a trajectory to rendezvous with it. These objects are ancient and primordial, carrying material largely unaltered by time that holds clues to how the solar system formed. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-blueprint-interstellar-comet.html Space Exploration Thu, 04 Dec 2025 10:33:38 EST news684066781 There's been a lot of speculation recently about interstellar visitor 3I/ATLAS—much of which is probably caused by low-quality data given that we have to observe it from either Earth, or in some cases, Mars. In either case, it's much further away than what would be the ideal. But that might not be the case for a future interstellar object. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-comet-hasnt.html Astronomy Wed, 03 Dec 2025 13:23:31 EST news683990582 Analysis of the second confirmed interstellar comet to visit our solar system suggests that the alien body could be covered in erupting icy, volcano-like structures called cryovolcanoes. Researchers also discovered that the comet has a metal-rich interior, which could challenge our understanding of how comets formed in our own planetary system. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-interstellar-icy-volcanoes-rewrite-comets.html Space Exploration Wed, 03 Dec 2025 09:50:01 EST news683977271 A flying piece of cosmic rock or an alien threat? Comet 3I/ATLAS is hurtling through our solar system and captivating scientists and internet users alike, even prompting Kim Kardashian to ask NASA for answers. https://phys.org/news/2025-11-comet-scientific-fascination-online-furor.html Space Exploration Thu, 20 Nov 2025 11:32:30 EST news682860745 NASA unveiled close-up pictures on Wednesday of the interstellar comet that's making a quick one-and-done tour of the solar system. https://phys.org/news/2025-11-nasa-images-rare-interstellar-comet.html Space Exploration Wed, 19 Nov 2025 15:51:25 EST news682789881 Since comet 3I/ATLAS, the third known interstellar object, was discovered on 1 July 2025, astronomers worldwide have worked to predict its trajectory. ESA has now improved the comet's predicted location by a factor of 10, thanks to the innovative use of observation data from its ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) spacecraft orbiting Mars. https://phys.org/news/2025-11-esa-3iatlas-path-mars.html Astronomy Fri, 14 Nov 2025 09:34:42 EST news682335276