The mysterious object known as 31/ATLAS, now widely discussed as an Interstellar comet discovered using the Atacama Large Millimeter Array or ALMA, is proving to be one of the most chemically unusual visitors ever observed in our solar system.
Originating from another star system, the comet—officially designated 3I/ATLAS—is offering scientists a rare opportunity to study the building blocks of alien planetary systems as it approaches its closest pass by Earth.
ALMA Detects Extreme Chemical Abundances
ALMA in Chile, a team led by NASA Astro chemist Martin Cordiner, analyzed the gases streaming off 31/ATLAS. Their findings revealed extraordinarily high levels of methanol and hydrogen cyanide, molecules closely linked to prebiotic chemistry.
“Molecules like hydrogen cyanide and methanol are at trace abundances and not the dominant constituents of our own comets,” Cordiner told New Scientist. “Here we see that, actually, in this alien comet, they’re very abundant.”
According to the team, roughly 8% of all vapors released by 31/ATLAS is methanol—about four times higher than what scientists typically observe in comets from our own solar system. The findings were described as “among the most enriched values measured in any comet.”
