Key facts
- Methane has been detected on the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS.
- The detection was made using the James Webb Space Telescope.
- Spectral data from the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) was utilized.
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a powerful observatory capable of analyzing the chemical composition of celestial objects. Detecting methane on an interstellar comet provides insights into the chemical makeup of objects originating from outside our solar system, potentially shedding light on the building blocks of planetary systems. A Harvard scientist has suggested that the release of methane could be evidence of dormant lifeforms within the comet, drawing parallels to microbes hibernating in permafrost.