Astronomers studying a rare visitor from another star system have discovered something unexpected. The interstellar comet known as 3I/ATLAS appears to contain unusually large amounts of alcohol. While the finding may sound amusing at first glance, scientists say it could offer valuable clues about how planetary systems form across the galaxy.
3I/ATLAS was first detected in July 2025 by the ATLAS survey telescope in Chile, becoming only the third confirmed interstellar object ever observed passing through our Solar System. Its high speed and hyperbolic orbit revealed that it originated beyond the Sun's gravitational reach, meaning it formed around another star before drifting into our cosmic neighbourhood.
