Heavy hydrogen in 3I/ATLAS's methane points to a frigid birthplace
An interstellar comet called 3I/ATLAS has a high amount of heavy hydrogen in its methane, which indicates that its frozen particles formed in an extremely cold place. This could have been around another star or the cloud that spawned it. The presence of this heavy hydrogen is unusual for comets.
Why it's good news: It reveals more about the origins and formation conditions of our solar system's celestial visitors, providing a fascinating glimpse into cosmic history.
The science section covers breakthroughs in medicine, physics, biology, and technology. We surface discoveries that expand what humanity can do, from new treatments reaching clinical trials to engineering feats that seemed impossible a decade ago. Every link goes to the original publisher so you can read the full study or press release yourself.
If today's breakthrough story sparked something, a live 1-on-1 tutor can take you from curious to competent. First lesson guaranteed or your money back.
Try Preply free →More Science & Breakthroughs stories
The NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day features a photo of the Moon with varying colors depending on the time of day. Thi…
Asteroids have been named after two scientists from the Armagh Planetarium and Observatory for their contributions to sp…
Most news feeds won't give you another one. Our morning letter will: one email at sunrise with the day's best good news.
Start tomorrow morning →