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Ancient Comet 3I/ATLAS Sparks Life Origins Debate

10/10/2025

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Summary

Story summary

The interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS is estimated to be about 7.6 billion years old, making it possibly the oldest comet observed.
European spacecraft orbiting Mars captured the comet, which exhibited significant water activity, shedding approximately 88 pounds of water per second at a distance of 2.9 astronomical units from the Sun.
Initial findings indicate a high carbon dioxide to water ratio, suggesting that the building blocks of life may be common in the universe.
The European Space Agency's upcoming Comet Interceptor mission will further study such comets, with additional observations from the Juice spacecraft expected in early 2026.

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Story summary

The interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS is estimated to be about 7.6 billion years old, making it possibly the oldest comet observed.
European spacecraft orbiting Mars captured the comet, which exhibited significant water activity, shedding approximately 88 pounds of water per second at a distance of 2.9 astronomical units from the Sun.
Initial findings indicate a high carbon dioxide to water ratio, suggesting that the building blocks of life may be common in the universe.
The European Space Agency's upcoming Comet Interceptor mission will further study such comets, with additional observations from the Juice spacecraft expected in early 2026.