{"id":132753,"date":"2025-11-14T10:14:18","date_gmt":"2025-11-14T10:14:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/132753\/"},"modified":"2025-11-14T10:14:18","modified_gmt":"2025-11-14T10:14:18","slug":"strange-jets-never-before-seen-metal-in-space-the-interstellar-object-3i-atlas-baffles-scientists-and-shocks-the-internet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/132753\/","title":{"rendered":"Strange Jets, Never-Before-Seen Metal in Space: The Interstellar Object 3I\/ATLAS Baffles Scientists and Shocks the Internet"},"content":{"rendered":"

Almost every new observation of the interstellar object 3I\/Atlas reveals something unexpected. Some astronomers say that\u2019s only natural for a visitor from beyond our Solar System \u2014 only two such objects have ever been studied. But others believe there\u2019s more to the story. Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb, known for his controversial theories, has a bold hypothesis: 3I\/Atlas might not be a comet at all, but an alien spacecraft.<\/p>\n

A comet full of surprises<\/p>\n

Since its discovery this summer, 3I\/Atlas has been one mystery after another. Astronomers quickly confirmed it came from interstellar space, and since then, it\u2019s behaved in ways that defy expectations.<\/p>\n

Now, as it nears its closest approach to the Sun on October 29, new observations have reignited debate. Using the Keck Cosmic Web Imager in Hawaii<\/a>, scientists detected a strong signature of nickel in the comet\u2019s outflow \u2014 but curiously, no sign of iron. That\u2019s something never seen before in any comet.<\/p>\n

Comet #3I<\/a>\/ATLAS is only the third interstellar object we’ve ever spotted \u2604\ufe0f<\/p>\n

Discovered in July, the comet is making its way through our Solar System, carrying onboard clues about the formation of worlds far beyond our own.<\/p>\n

Follow its journey & what we learn about it \ud83d\udc49\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/osAhW5OObn<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 ESA Science (@esascience) September 9, 2025<\/a> <\/p>\n

The curious case of nickel tetracarbonyl<\/p>\n

Researchers also found traces of nickel tetracarbonyl, a compound that immediately drew Loeb\u2019s attention. On Earth, this substance doesn\u2019t occur naturally \u2014 it\u2019s an industrial byproduct used primarily in aerospace manufacturing. Loeb wasted no time hinting at the implications, telling his followers to \u201ctake your vacations before October 29.\u201d<\/p>\n

Strange as it sounds, most astronomers aren\u2019t jumping to alien conclusions. They say a natural process could explain the compound\u2019s presence \u2014 perhaps forming near the comet\u2019s nucleus, where nickel levels are unusually high.<\/p>\n

First images of comet #3I<\/a>\/ATLAS from Europe’s Mars orbiters \ud83d\ude0d<\/p>\n

Observing the comet from 30 million km away, #ExoMars<\/a> reveals the halo of gas and dust surrounding the comet’s nucleus.<\/p>\n

Read more \ud83d\udc49 https:\/\/t.co\/LYT2kHpwa7<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/viXx3IyddB<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 ESA Science (@esascience) October 7, 2025<\/a> <\/p>\n

A jet that turned heads<\/p>\n

Another curious observation came from Spain\u2019s Two-Meter Twin Telescope (TTT), which spotted 3I\/Atlas ejecting a massive jet of gas and dust toward the Sun. The spectacle led some to speculate about \u201cengine exhaust,\u201d but experts quickly pointed out that it\u2019s actually a fairly normal feature for comets.<\/p>\n

When comets heat up, they vent gas and dust through geyser-like jets. As the comet spins, those plumes widen, sometimes appearing like a tail pointing toward the Sun. In fact, the comet Neowise displayed similar behavior. In the case of 3I\/Atlas, the jet could stretch nearly 10,000 kilometers.<\/p>\n

Later observations from the Nordic Optical Telescope in the Canary Islands showed the comet<\/a>\u2019s tail had swung in the opposite direction \u2014 fueling even more speculation online. For Loeb, this was \u201cexactly what you\u2019d expect from an alien craft slowing down near the Sun.\u201d For everyone else, it\u2019s likely just physics: large dust grains move slowly, taking time to react to solar radiation pressure, which can change the apparent direction of a comet\u2019s tail.<\/p>\n

NASA is assessing the possibility of using the Europa Clipper spacecraft, originally designed to study Jupiter\u2019s moon Europa, to intercept the interstellar comet 3I\/ATLAS when it approaches the Sun between late October and early November 2025. <\/p>\n

During that period, the comet will\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/Jwd9hLrW7o<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Erika \uea00 (@ExploreCosmos_) October 23, 2025<\/a> <\/p>\n

The investigation continues<\/p>\n

NASA has since added 3I\/Atlas to its International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN) list \u2014 not because anyone suspects alien involvement, but because the object\u2019s unpredictable trajectory poses a unique challenge. Between November 27 and January 27, telescopes worldwide will focus on refining its path.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, NASA\u2019s Europa Clipper mission \u2014 currently en route to Jupiter\u2019s icy moon Europa \u2014 might soon pass through the comet\u2019s ion tail between October 30 and November 6. Scientists expect it to encounter charged particles blasted off by the solar wind, providing valuable clues about the object\u2019s composition.<\/p>\n

Whatever 3I\/Atlas turns out to be \u2014 an unusual interstellar comet or something truly extraordinary \u2014 the world will be watching closely.<\/p>\n

\"mayer-nathalie\"<\/p>\n

Nathalie Mayer<\/p>\n

Journalist<\/p>\n

Born in Lorraine on a freezing winter night, storytelling has always inspired me, first through my grandmother’s tales and later Stephen King’s imagination. A physicist turned science communicator, I’ve collaborated with institutions like CEA, Total, Engie, and Futura. Today, I focus on unraveling Earth’s complex environmental and energy challenges, blending science with storytelling to illuminate solutions.<\/p>\n

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