September 28, 2025 • 10 mins
The James Webb Space Telescope has revealed that 3I/ATLAS contains a carbon dioxide-to-water ice ratio of 8:1 - among the highest ever recorded in any comet. This "out of this world" chemistry explains why the comet began glowing far from the Sun, initially leading some scientists to wonder if we were witnessing humanity's first encounter with alien technology. Tonight we explore this extraordinary composition and what it tells us about the alien stellar environment where this visitor was born.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Caliogu Shark Media. Welcome back, cosmic wanderers to another peaceful
journey through the universe. Tonight, we delve deeper into the
mysteries of our interstellar visitor three I Atlas as we
explore one of its most puzzling characteristics, a chemical composition
(00:26):
unlike anything we've ever encountered. So settle into your favorite spot,
close your eyes, and let the cosmic chemistry of distant
worlds guide you toward RESTful sleep. Picture yourself once again
floating in the vast darkness of space, drifting alongside our
(00:47):
mysterious visitor as it continues its ancient journey through our
solar system. Three I Atlas is revealing secrets that challenge
everything we thought what we knew about comets and the
cosmic processes that create them. The James Webb Space Telescope,
humanity's most powerful eye on the cosmos, has been studying
(01:11):
three I Atlas with unprecedented detail. What it discovered has
left astronomers both amazed and puzzled. This interstellar wanderer has
a carbon dioxide ice to water ice ratio of eight
to one, among the highest ever recorded in any comet.
(01:32):
To understand how extraordinary. This is imagine the typical comets
that visit us from the outer reaches of our own
solar system. These familiar celestial visitors are often called dirty
snowballs because they're primarily composed of water ice mixed with
dust and small amounts of other frozen gases. Water ice
(01:55):
is by far the dominant component, with carbon dioxide making
up only a small fraction of their composition. But three
iye Atlas is different. It's rich in carbon dioxide what
we know on Earth as dry ice. This is the
same substance that creates those ethereal wisps of fog when
(02:17):
dropped into water, the material that sublimates directly from solid
to gas without ever becoming liquid, and this unusual composition
holds the key to understanding some of the early mysteries
surrounding our visitor. When three I Atlas was first discovered,
astronomers notice something peculiar. The comet was already showing signs
(02:41):
of activity, developing its characteristic coma and tail when it
was still remarkably far from the Sun. Most comets don't
begin this process until they venture much closer to our
stars warming influence. This early activity led to some fascinating
speculation in the astronomical community. What could cause an object
(03:07):
to begin glowing and outgassing so far from the Sun's heat.
Some researchers wondered if we might be witnessing something artificial,
perhaps humanity's first encounter with technology from another civilization. The
carbon dioxide composition explains this early awakening. Unlike water ice,
(03:28):
which requires significant heating to sublimate, carbon dioxide ice begins
its transformation from solid to gas at much colder temperatures.
As three I atlas approached the outer regions of our
solar system, even the faint warming from our distant Sun
was enough to begin the process of sublimation. Picture this
(03:52):
cosmic chemistry unfolding in the cold depths of space. Molecules
of carbon dioxide froze for perhaps billions of years, begin
to vibrate with increasing energy as they absorb photons from
our Sun. One by one, they break free from the
comet's icy matrix, creating jets of gas that catch and
(04:16):
reflect sunlight, forming the glowing coma that first caught our
telescope's attention. But the carbon dioxide rich composition of three
I atlas raises profound questions about its origins. How does
a comet form with such an unusual chemical makeup. What
conditions in its parent stellar system could have created this
(04:39):
extraordinary ice mixture in our own solar system. The balance
of water to carbon dioxide in comets reflects the temperature
and chemical conditions that existed in different regions of the
early Solar nebula. Comets that formed closer to the Sun
tend to have less volatile material, while those that condensed
(05:01):
in the coldest, most distant regions preserved more of the
lightest gases and ices. The extreme carbon dioxide abundance in
three I Atlas suggests it formed in conditions vastly different
from anything in our Solar system. Perhaps its parent star
(05:22):
was cooler than our Sun, creating different temperature zones in
the planetary formation region, Or maybe the stellar environment contained
unusual abundances of carbon bearing compounds that were incorporated into
the forming comet. Another possibility is that three iye Atlas
(05:42):
underwent some form of processing during its billions of years
journey through interstellar space. Cosmic rays, high energy particles that
permeate the galaxy might have gradually altered its surface composition.
Solar radiation from other stars it during its long journey
could have selectively removed certain types of ice while preserving others.
(06:07):
As we drift here in the cosmic silence, observing this
alien chemistry at work, we're reminded that the universe is
far more diverse and complex than we once imagined. Each
stellar system is unique, shaped by its own particular history
of formation and evolution. The unusual composition also tells us
(06:32):
something about the incredible preservation power of interstellar space. For
billions of years, three I Atlas has been a cosmic
time capsule, traveling through the near perfect vacuum between stars.
The extreme cold of interstellar space, just a few degrees
(06:53):
above absolute zero, has kept its ancient ices virtually unchanged
since the ear when it first formed around its parent star. Now,
as it ventures through our solar system, three Eye Atlas
is finally beginning to give up these preserved secrets. The
carbon dioxide sublimating from its surface carries with it information
(07:17):
about stellar formation processes that occurred in a completely different
part of the galaxy, possibly when the universe itself was
younger and very different from today. As Three Eye Atlas
continues to approach the Sun over the coming weeks, more
of its carbon dioxide ice will sublimate, creating an increasingly
(07:39):
spectacular tail. This process will reveal even more about its
internal composition and structure. Each burst of gas and dust
tells us something new about the alien world from which
this visitor came. The story of three Eye Atlas reminds
(07:59):
me that chemistry is truly universal. The same physical laws
that govern the behavior of molecules on Earth apply throughout
the cosmos. Yet the specific combinations and abundances of these
molecules can vary dramatically from one stellar system to another,
(08:20):
creating a rich tapestry of cosmic chemistry that we're only
beginning to explore. As you prepare for sleep, imagine the
molecular dance taking place on three I Atlas. Picture individual
carbon dioxide molecules awakening after eons of frozen slumber, beginning
(08:41):
their escape from the comet's surface. Feel the gentle acceleration
as they're carried away by solar radiation pressure, joining the
growing tail that streams behind this interstellar wanderer. Let the
cosmic chemistry of distant worlds fill your dreams tonight. When
(09:02):
you wake, remember that the very atoms in your body
were once forged in the hearts of ancient stars, connecting
you to the same cosmic processes that created the exotic
ices of three I Atlas. Sleep peacefully, knowing that the
universe continues to surprise us with its endless creativity and
(09:26):
diversity until our next cosmic journey together. This is sleep
from space, wishing you dreams filled with the gentle sublimation
of alien ices and the patient chemistry of the stars.
(10:07):
S
Caliogu Shark Media. Welcome back, cosmic wanderers to another peaceful
journey through the universe. Tonight, we delve deeper into the
mysteries of our interstellar visitor three I Atlas as we
explore one of its most puzzling characteristics, a chemical composition
(00:26):
unlike anything we've ever encountered. So settle into your favorite spot,
close your eyes, and let the cosmic chemistry of distant
worlds guide you toward RESTful sleep. Picture yourself once again
floating in the vast darkness of space, drifting alongside our
(00:47):
mysterious visitor as it continues its ancient journey through our
solar system. Three I Atlas is revealing secrets that challenge
everything we thought what we knew about comets and the
cosmic processes that create them. The James Webb Space Telescope,
humanity's most powerful eye on the cosmos, has been studying
(01:11):
three I Atlas with unprecedented detail. What it discovered has
left astronomers both amazed and puzzled. This interstellar wanderer has
a carbon dioxide ice to water ice ratio of eight
to one, among the highest ever recorded in any comet.
(01:32):
To understand how extraordinary. This is imagine the typical comets
that visit us from the outer reaches of our own
solar system. These familiar celestial visitors are often called dirty
snowballs because they're primarily composed of water ice mixed with
dust and small amounts of other frozen gases. Water ice
(01:55):
is by far the dominant component, with carbon dioxide making
up only a small fraction of their composition. But three
iye Atlas is different. It's rich in carbon dioxide what
we know on Earth as dry ice. This is the
same substance that creates those ethereal wisps of fog when
(02:17):
dropped into water, the material that sublimates directly from solid
to gas without ever becoming liquid, and this unusual composition
holds the key to understanding some of the early mysteries
surrounding our visitor. When three I Atlas was first discovered,
astronomers notice something peculiar. The comet was already showing signs
(02:41):
of activity, developing its characteristic coma and tail when it
was still remarkably far from the Sun. Most comets don't
begin this process until they venture much closer to our
stars warming influence. This early activity led to some fascinating
speculation in the astronomical community. What could cause an object
(03:07):
to begin glowing and outgassing so far from the Sun's heat.
Some researchers wondered if we might be witnessing something artificial,
perhaps humanity's first encounter with technology from another civilization. The
carbon dioxide composition explains this early awakening. Unlike water ice,
(03:28):
which requires significant heating to sublimate, carbon dioxide ice begins
its transformation from solid to gas at much colder temperatures.
As three I atlas approached the outer regions of our
solar system, even the faint warming from our distant Sun
was enough to begin the process of sublimation. Picture this
(03:52):
cosmic chemistry unfolding in the cold depths of space. Molecules
of carbon dioxide froze for perhaps billions of years, begin
to vibrate with increasing energy as they absorb photons from
our Sun. One by one, they break free from the
comet's icy matrix, creating jets of gas that catch and
(04:16):
reflect sunlight, forming the glowing coma that first caught our
telescope's attention. But the carbon dioxide rich composition of three
I atlas raises profound questions about its origins. How does
a comet form with such an unusual chemical makeup. What
conditions in its parent stellar system could have created this
(04:39):
extraordinary ice mixture in our own solar system. The balance
of water to carbon dioxide in comets reflects the temperature
and chemical conditions that existed in different regions of the
early Solar nebula. Comets that formed closer to the Sun
tend to have less volatile material, while those that condensed
(05:01):
in the coldest, most distant regions preserved more of the
lightest gases and ices. The extreme carbon dioxide abundance in
three I Atlas suggests it formed in conditions vastly different
from anything in our Solar system. Perhaps its parent star
(05:22):
was cooler than our Sun, creating different temperature zones in
the planetary formation region, Or maybe the stellar environment contained
unusual abundances of carbon bearing compounds that were incorporated into
the forming comet. Another possibility is that three iye Atlas
(05:42):
underwent some form of processing during its billions of years
journey through interstellar space. Cosmic rays, high energy particles that
permeate the galaxy might have gradually altered its surface composition.
Solar radiation from other stars it during its long journey
could have selectively removed certain types of ice while preserving others.
(06:07):
As we drift here in the cosmic silence, observing this
alien chemistry at work, we're reminded that the universe is
far more diverse and complex than we once imagined. Each
stellar system is unique, shaped by its own particular history
of formation and evolution. The unusual composition also tells us
(06:32):
something about the incredible preservation power of interstellar space. For
billions of years, three I Atlas has been a cosmic
time capsule, traveling through the near perfect vacuum between stars.
The extreme cold of interstellar space, just a few degrees
(06:53):
above absolute zero, has kept its ancient ices virtually unchanged
since the ear when it first formed around its parent star. Now,
as it ventures through our solar system, three Eye Atlas
is finally beginning to give up these preserved secrets. The
carbon dioxide sublimating from its surface carries with it information
(07:17):
about stellar formation processes that occurred in a completely different
part of the galaxy, possibly when the universe itself was
younger and very different from today. As Three Eye Atlas
continues to approach the Sun over the coming weeks, more
of its carbon dioxide ice will sublimate, creating an increasingly
(07:39):
spectacular tail. This process will reveal even more about its
internal composition and structure. Each burst of gas and dust
tells us something new about the alien world from which
this visitor came. The story of three Eye Atlas reminds
(07:59):
me that chemistry is truly universal. The same physical laws
that govern the behavior of molecules on Earth apply throughout
the cosmos. Yet the specific combinations and abundances of these
molecules can vary dramatically from one stellar system to another,
(08:20):
creating a rich tapestry of cosmic chemistry that we're only
beginning to explore. As you prepare for sleep, imagine the
molecular dance taking place on three I Atlas. Picture individual
carbon dioxide molecules awakening after eons of frozen slumber, beginning
(08:41):
their escape from the comet's surface. Feel the gentle acceleration
as they're carried away by solar radiation pressure, joining the
growing tail that streams behind this interstellar wanderer. Let the
cosmic chemistry of distant worlds fill your dreams tonight. When
(09:02):
you wake, remember that the very atoms in your body
were once forged in the hearts of ancient stars, connecting
you to the same cosmic processes that created the exotic
ices of three I Atlas. Sleep peacefully, knowing that the
universe continues to surprise us with its endless creativity and
(09:26):
diversity until our next cosmic journey together. This is sleep
from space, wishing you dreams filled with the gentle sublimation
of alien ices and the patient chemistry of the stars.
(10:07):
S
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.