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Ancient Comet 3I/ATLAS Reveals Secrets of Early Universe

3/18/2026

Summary

Story summary

Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS shows deuterium levels 30–40 times Earth's oceans, indicating a cold, distant origin around a star system over 10 billion years old.
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center reports that 3I/ATLAS contains more carbon dioxide and water than typical comets.
Low levels of carbon-13 indicate 3I/ATLAS formed during a period with fewer supernovae.
Estimates place its age at 8 to 12 billion years, though the exact timeline remains uncertain.

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Story summary

Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS shows deuterium levels 30–40 times Earth's oceans, indicating a cold, distant origin around a star system over 10 billion years old.
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center reports that 3I/ATLAS contains more carbon dioxide and water than typical comets.
Low levels of carbon-13 indicate 3I/ATLAS formed during a period with fewer supernovae.
Estimates place its age at 8 to 12 billion years, though the exact timeline remains uncertain.