Organic Molecules Detected on Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS

Scientists say the comet could be an 'interstellar gardener' seeding the cosmos with life

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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NASA's SPHEREx spacecraft has detected organic chemicals like methanol, cyanide and methane on the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, raising the possibility that the comet could be an 'interstellar gardener' seeding the universe with life. Harvard scientist Avi Loeb suggests the comet may have buried microbes that were released by the sun's energy, or that the methane could have been produced by lifeforms. Loeb has even proposed the idea of intercepting the comet to deposit Earth microbes and allow them to spread to other solar systems.

Why it matters

The discovery of organic molecules on 3I/ATLAS, an interstellar object passing through our solar system, could provide clues about the origins of life and how it may be distributed throughout the cosmos. If the comet is indeed carrying microbes or other lifeforms, it could fundamentally change our understanding of how life can be transported between planetary systems.

The details

NASA's SPHEREx spacecraft observed the infrared light emitted by the dust, water, organic molecules, and carbon dioxide contained within comet 3I/ATLAS. The observations detected the presence of organic molecules like methanol, cyanide and methane, which are potential precursors to life on Earth. Astronomers noted that ATLAS became significantly brighter in the two months after its closest approach to the Sun, as the Sun's energy caused the comet's icy materials to sublimate and release these organic compounds that had been trapped beneath the surface.

  • In December 2025, NASA's SPHEREx spacecraft detected organic molecules on comet 3I/ATLAS.
  • 3I/ATLAS made its closest approach to the Sun in late 2025, causing it to become significantly brighter as the Sun's energy released materials trapped beneath the comet's surface.

The players

Avi Loeb

A Harvard scientist who has speculated that 3I/ATLAS could be an 'interstellar gardener' seeding the universe with life.

Carey Lisse

The lead author of the study on 3I/ATLAS, who works at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory.

Phil Korngut

A scientist on the SPHEREx mission at Caltech in Pasadena, California.

NASA's SPHEREx spacecraft

A spacecraft that scans the sky in near-infrared light to study the universe.

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What they’re saying

“Is it possible that there are microbes or some forms of life on 3I/ATLAS? If such a rock had microbes in it, they would've survived.”

— Avi Loeb (New York Post)

“We are now seeing the usual range of early Solar System materials, including organic molecules, soot and rock dust, that are typically emitted by a comet.”

— Carey Lisse, of Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (New York Post)

“The methane is being produced by something that is thriving, especially when it's illuminated by sunlight like life that came to life suddenly.”

— Avi Loeb (New York Post)

What’s next

Researchers plan to continue studying the gas surrounding 3I/ATLAS for further signs of life, and Avi Loeb has proposed the idea of intercepting the comet to deposit Earth microbes and allow them to spread to other solar systems.

The takeaway

The discovery of organic molecules on the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS raises intriguing possibilities about the potential for life to be transported between planetary systems, challenging our understanding of how life may originate and spread throughout the cosmos.