Latest science news: Comet 3I/ATLAS | Perfectly preserved Neanderthal skull | Astronauts stranded

 

1. Comet 3I/ATLAS — An Interstellar Guest with Surprises

What Is 3I/ATLAS?

Comet 3I/ATLAS (moreover assigned C/2025 N1) is a exceedingly abnormal protest: it's the third affirmed interstellar question to pass through our Sun powered Framework — meaning it begun from exterior our framework. 

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It was found on 1 July 2025 by Map book (Space rock Terrestrial-impact Final Caution Framework) in Chile. 

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 Perceptions propose it’s very expansive, with a core measure possibly from 0.3 km to a few kilometers. 

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 Since of its interstellar root, researchers are particularly sharp to consider it — it carries clues around situations distant past our Sun based System.

Unusual Composition and Activity

Some of the most curiously later discoveries concern the comet’s composition and behavior:

CO₂-rich coma

Data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) appeared that the comet’s coma (the fluffy envelope of gas) is ruled by carbon dioxide (CO₂). 

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There’s moreover location of other species like water (H₂O), carbon monoxide (CO), OCS (carbonyl sulfide), water ice, and clean. 

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The CO₂/H₂O proportion is abnormally tall — altogether higher than what is ordinary for numerous Sun powered Framework comets. 

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This recommends that 3I/ATLAS might have a “primitive” core, conceivably shaped beneath exceptionally diverse conditions than comets in our claim framework (e.g., a arrangement locale with more inexhaustible CO₂ ice). 

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Water (H₂O) action at huge distances

Observations by the Neil Genres Quick Observatory identified hydroxyl (Goodness) emanation, which is a byproduct of water atoms broken separated by daylight. 

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This is exceptional since the comet is doing this distant from the Sun (at ~3.5 AU), a locale that is more often than not as well cold for water ice to sublimate (turn into gas) effortlessly. 

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Their calculations propose a water generation rate on the arrange of ~1.35 × 10²⁷ particles per moment — which, for an interstellar question, is very tall, showing a significant dynamic surface range (or conceivably amplified sources of water, like frigid grains in the coma). 

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Polarimetric observations

A group utilized numerous telescopes (VLT, Nordic Optical Telescope, others) to degree how light is polarized by the comet’s coma. 

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They found an “extreme negative polarization” at little stage points (i.e., when the comet, Sun, and eyewitness are exceptionally about adjusted), which is bizarre indeed for comets and more comparable to a few trans-Neptunian objects (exceptionally far off, frigid bodies). 

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This recommends the dusty/icy particles in the coma might have a exceptionally unmistakable structure or composition, distinctive from what we commonly see in Sun oriented Framework comets. 

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Spectrophotometric imaging

Using Sphere (a space-based mission) also ground-based telescopes, analysts found solid retention highlights of water ice and a exceptionally amplified CO₂ coma. 

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According to their modeling, most of the light (in certain wavelengths) is coming from coma clean or maybe than the core, showing a huge, dusty, dynamic corona around the comet. 

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Trajectory and Observations

During its section, the comet made a flyby of Damages (or at slightest was watched amid a time when Defaces was adjacent). 

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Using information from ESA's ExoMars Follow Gas Orbiter (TGO), researchers were able to refine the comet’s direction altogether — progressing forecasts of where it came from and where it’s headed. 

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NASA has planned a live news video chat (on 19 Nov 2025) to discharge a few of the highest-quality pictures of 3I/ATLAS however — these are from HiRISE, the camera on board the Damages Surveillance Orbiter (MRO). 

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Interestingly, a few Astro photographers (e.g., Satoru Murata) have captured dazzling pictures appearing unmistakable tails and indeed a auxiliary “anti-tail” in the comet, additionally planes developing from the coma. 

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Why It Matters

Pristine interstellar matter: Since it's interstellar, 3I/ATLAS may contain fabric that hasn’t been prepared in the same way as comets in our Sun powered Framework. Considering it offers a uncommon window into the building squares of other star systems.

Volatile stock clues: The tall CO₂ substance and startling water movement seem tell us around how planets and little bodies frame around other stars, particularly in cold districts of protoplanetary disks.

Comet differing qualities: Its polarimetric and ghostly properties propose it’s not “just another comet” — it may speak to a sort of comet or interstellar question we haven't completely caught on yet.

Cosmic prehistoric studies: Examinations of interstellar guests like 3I/ATLAS offer assistance us piece together the history of the system, counting how common certain sorts of bodies are in interstellar space.

2. “Perfectly Preserved” Neanderthal Cranium — Altamura Man

The Discovery

Scientists have considered one of the most intaglio and well-preserved Neanderthal skulls ever found — known as the Altamura Man, found in a cave close Altamura, Italy. 

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What makes this example exceptional is that it’s still secured in a thick layer of calcite (“cave popcorn”), which has ensured exceptionally sensitive bones for tens of thousands of a long time. 

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 Since of this calcite, analysts have not physically expelled the bones — instep, they utilized endoscopic tests to get to the nasal depression and inward structures without harming the fossil. 

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New Experiences on Neanderthal Anatomy

The inquire about, distributed in PNAS, challenges a few long-held hypotheses approximately how Neanderthals advanced to survive in cold climates. 

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 Here are key findings:

The structure of Altamura Man’s nasal depression is not drastically distinctive from that of present day people. 

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Previously, a few researchers accepted that Neanderthals' huge noses were an adjustment to warm and humidify exceptionally cold, dry discuss (i.e., a climate adjustment). But the modern 3D models recommend that might not be the full story. 

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Instead, the huge nasal gap might reflect more common highlights of Homo (our sort) or conceivably bolster tall respiratory needs — Neanderthals had vigorous bodies, so maybe their nasal life structures made a difference them breathe viably. 

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The think about contends that Neanderthal noses were likely not specialized for thermoregulation to the degree already thought.

Why This Matters

Evolutionary presumptions: This challenges a course reading see: that Neanderthals advanced particular facial structures absolutely as cold-weather adjustments. It proposes a more nuanced developmental picture.

Paleoanthropology toolset: The utilize of virtual paleoanthropology (e.g., endoscopic imaging + 3D recreation) is a effective strategy, particularly for fossils that can't be expelled or are fragile.

Broader suggestions: Understanding Neanderthal physiology — how they breathed, how their bodies dealt with push — makes a difference us way better get it their lives, their capabilities, and maybe reasons for their termination or retention into advanced human lineages.

3. Space travelers Stranded — Chinese Taikonauts on Tiangong

What Happened

Three Chinese space travelers — Zhang Lu, Wu Fei, and Zhang Hongzhang — from the Shenzhou-21 mission are presently briefly stranded on board China’s Tiangong space station. 

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Here’s how the circumstance developed:

Earlier, the Shenzhou-20 group was assumed to return to Soil, but their return capsule was harmed, conceivably by space flotsam and jetsam. 

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To bring the Shenzhou-20 group domestic, the Shenzhou-21 return module was utilized. As a result, this cleared out the Shenzhou-21 group on the station without their claim working return capsule. 

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China’s space office (CMSA) is presently planning an uncrewed substitution capsule, Shenzhou-22, with a arranged dispatch around 24 November (agreeing to reports). 

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Until the substitution arrives, the stranded team stay on Tiangong, confronting potential dangers. 

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Risks and Concerns

Return hazard: One theory is that they may attempt an crisis return in the harmed Shenzhou-20 capsule, depending on the nature and area of the harm. 

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Safety conventions: The occurrence raises genuine questions approximately China’s possibility arranging for space travelers — having no reinforcement capsule appears like a major risk.

Transparency: Spectators have famous a need of openness almost the correct degree of the harm and the dangers included, provoking concerns around how China communicates its space security operations.

Why This Is Important

Space foundation chance: This highlights how basic repetition and reinforcement frameworks are in manned space missions. If things go off-base, you require a way home.

International consideration: In spite of the fact that this is China’s space station, such episodes raise broader concerns in the worldwide space community around security standards, protect conventions, and cooperation.

Public discernment: For the Chinese open and worldwide spectators, this is a high-stakes occasion — how China handles this may influence its notoriety in human spaceflight.

4. Amalgamation & Broader Significance

Taken together, these three science stories paint a picture of profound interest, hazard, and disclosure at diverse scales:

From the enormous to the individual — We have an interstellar comet (3I/ATLAS) giving us clues almost the bigger system, differentiated with a Neanderthal cranium (Altamura Man) uncovering insinuate subtle elements almost our human past, and space explorers stranded on a space station reminding us of the exceptionally genuine perils of human space exploration.

Innovation in science: In both the comet and Neanderthal stories, modern innovations (JWST, Sphere, virtual paleoanthropology) are empowering breakthroughs that were once impossible.

Risk and possibility: The astronauts’ circumstance underscores how delicate human space missions still are — and how enormous the stakes can be when something goes wrong.

Curiosity-driven investigation: Each story, in its possess way, is driven by crucial human interest: Where do we come from? What lies past our sun powered framework? How do we investigate space securely?