JWST Reveals Unusual Ice on Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has detected an unusual ice composition on interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS. Observations from August 2025 to April 2026 showed a strong 3-micron water ice absorption feature, but weaker or absent typical features. Researchers suggest this pattern, possibly tiny ice grains mixed with more dust, indicates the comet may have formed billions of years ago in a stellar nursery predating our Sun.