Ancient Comet Shatters Time Records, Mars' Life Signs Intensify, and the ISS Faces Controversial Farewell

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Recorded25 Jun 2026

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In this episode of Astronomy Daily, Anna and Avery explore six remarkable stories from the frontiers of space science. JWST has determined that interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS likely formed 10–12 billion years ago — before our Sun existed — making it the oldest object ever chemically characterised. NASA's Perseverance rover has delivered its most robust organic detection yet in Mars's Jezero Crater. ESA's Euclid telescope has released the largest and most detailed visible-light image ever taken of the Milky Way's galactic bulge. NASA's plan to deorbit the ISS into the Pacific Ocean faces new legal and environmental scrutiny. Research from the University of Glasgow reveals the Chicxulub impact crater hosted an underground hydrothermal system for eight million years — four times longer than previously estimated. And astronomers have discovered the first-ever pair of sibling supernova remnants, hiding in the glow of the famous Jellyfish Nebula. Story 1 — JWST & 3I/ATLAS Origin • Cordiner et al. (2026). 'Isotopic evidence for a cold and distant origin of 3I/ATLAS.' Nature. DOI: 10.1038/s41586-026-10771-6 • Opitom et al. (2026). 'High nitrogen and carbon isotopic ratios in the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS.' Nature (in press). arXiv: 2603.07187 • NASA Science: https://science.nasa.gov/missions/webb/nasas-webb-finds-clues-to-ancient-distant-origin-of-comet-3i-atlas/ • Science Magazine: https://www.science.org/content/article/interstellar-comet-unlike-anything-seen-our-solar-system Story 2 — Perseverance Organic Detection • Murphy et al. (2026). 'Spatially distributed complex organic matter detected in an ancient river valley in Jezero crater, Mars.' Science Advances. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adx0047 • Space.com: https://www.space.com/astronomy/mars/did-nasa-just-find-evidence-of-ancient-life-on-mars-perseverance-rover-spots-complex-carbon-in-red-planet-rocks • ScienceAlert: https://www.sciencealert.com/perseverance-finds-complex-organic-compounds-in-strange-mars-rocks Story 3 — Euclid Milky Way Image • ESA Euclid Mission Press Release, 24 June 2026 • NASA JPL: https://www.nasa.gov/missions/roman-space-telescope/euclid-view-of-milky-way-heart-previews-core-survey-by-nasas-roman/ • Space.com: https://www.space.com/astronomy/galaxies/this-is-the-largest-and-most-detailed-image-of-our-milky-way-with-over-60-million-stars-and-50-exoplanet-systems • CBS News: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/euclid-telescope-most-detailed-image-milky-way-stars/ Story 4 — ISS Deorbit Environmental Concerns • US Government Accountability Office report on ISS deorbit, June 2026 • Space.com: https://www.space.com/space-exploration/international-space-station/nasa-wants-to-dump-the-iss-in-the-sea-experts-say-the-plan-raises-serious-concerns-for-ocean-health • The Ocean Foundation statement, June 2026 Story 5 — Chicxulub Hydrothermal System • Pickersgill et al. (2026). 'Hydrothermal activity persisted for at least 8 Myr at Chicxulub.' Communications Earth & Environment. DOI: 10.1038/s43247-026-03618-5 • Phys.org: https://phys.org/news/2026-06-dino-asteroid-fueled-underground-life.html • EarthSky: https://earthsky.org/earth/dinosaur-killing-asteroid-underground-hydrothermal-habitat/ Story 6 — Jellyfish Nebula Sibling Remnant • Astrophysicists' paper on IC 443 sibling supernova remnant, Universe Today, June 23 2026 • Universe Today: https://www.universetoday.com/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-space-news-updates--5648921/support.Sponsor Details:Ensure your online privacy by using NordVPN. To get our special listener deal and save a lot of money, visit www.bitesz.com/nordvpn. You'll be glad you did!Become a supporter of Astronomy Daily by joining our Supporters Club. Commercial free episodes daily are only a click way... Click HereThis episode includes AI-generated content.

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