NASA Unveils Fresh Images of Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS

Comet 3I/ATLAS is the third known interstellar object to pass through our solar system, a cosmic rock first discovered by the NASA-funded Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) telescope in Chile on July 1, 2025. At this point, 12 NASA cameras have captured imagery of 3I/ATLAS as it’s traversed our solar system, but a brand-new batch of NASA photos — taken between late September and mid-October — expand on that catalog with some of the clearest and most detailed looks at the comet so far.

The images were taken by NASA’s sun-observing PUNCH satellites, the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution mission, and the Perseverance Rover on Mars. The photos mostly show 3I/ATLAS as an illuminated dot, but some also showcase the comet’s tail as a faint, elongated smudge. Non-U.S. cosmic cameras have taken photos of the comet, too, including the European Space Agency and Russia’s Federal Space Agency’s shared probe, the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter.

At this time, 3I/ATLAS isn’t visible to ground-based telescopes because of its proximity to the sun, but it’s expected to fly by Earth on December 19, at which point it should be viewable by the James Webb Space Telescope and ground tech like the W.M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii. Scientists and space enthusiasts are elated by comet 3I/ATLAS’s pilgrimage through the inner solar system. The only other confirmed objects to have visited from different areas of the galaxy were 1I/’Oumuamua in 2017 and comet 2I/Borisov in 2019 — the former of which helped NASA discover seven more dark comets.

Our solar system seldom gets interstellar visitors

3I/ATLAS’s emergence has stoked the extraterrestrial bonfire, with some folks thinking the comet could be a form of alien technology. But Nicky Fox, the associate administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, speaking to NBC, confirms that all observations thus far point toward nothing more than a rock in space. “We certainly haven’t seen any techno signatures or anything from it that would lead us to believe it was anything other than a comet.” Still, that doesn’t mean we can’t learn more about distant star systems from 3I/ATLAS, especially as it gets closer to Earth. “It could be from something that existed before our own solar system. That is so cool,” remarked Fox.

In the weeks ahead, scientists should be able to gather data on 3I/ATLAS’s chemical makeup, appearance, speed, and a potential place of origin. And if you’re wondering if comet 3I/ATLAS could be a threat to our planet, rest assured, the cosmic comet is expected to stay 170 million miles away as it flies by us.

Researchers have already speculated that comet 3I/ATLAS’s acceleration might not be caused by gravity, and we already know that 3I/ATLAS is rich in carbon dioxide. Here’s hoping we get to learn even more about this space-bound boulder when it rears its head again in mid-December.

Sam Altman Suggests OpenAI’s Growth into Space Exploration Beyond Mars

The Wall Street Journal – a development that could escalate the competition between Altman and Elon Musk. Nevertheless, Altman’s intentions do not necessarily align with Musk’s vision for his prominent rocket enterprise. While Musk has been creating reusable SpaceX rockets aimed at facilitating human journeys to Mars, Altman is said to have an interest in a distinct form of space exploration and settlement. A rocket venture managed by or associated with OpenAI would enable it to establish AI data centers in space, utilizing solar energy to power these facilities. Establishing AI data centers in space might ultimately become more cost-effective over time, as well as lessen the environmental impact on Earth.

As reported by WSJ, Altman struck up discussions regarding a space initiative with a startup known as Stoke Space, which is developing Nova — a reusable rocket. Stoke was established by former staff of Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos’ rocket venture — one of the primary rivals to Musk’s SpaceX. Y Combinator, a startup accelerator, has funded Stoke. The talks between Altman and Stoke commenced in the summer and resumed in the fall, yet did not culminate in a formal agreement. Altman aimed for OpenAI to either acquire a rocket firm or collaborate with one. One of the suggested arrangements involved the AI organization making a series of investments in Stoke, which would have provided OpenAI with a controlling interest. Ultimately, OpenAI was poised to invest billions in the startup.

Data Encryption in Proton Sheets: Guaranteeing Your Information Remains Protected

**What Occurs In Proton Sheets Remains In Proton Sheets: All Your Information Is Encrypted**

The Swiss software firm Proton has introduced a new end-to-end encrypted solution named Proton Sheets, expanding its emerging productivity suite. This spreadsheet application acts as an alternative to the popular Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets, with a central emphasis on privacy and security. Proton Sheets guarantees that data within its documents is solely accessible to the account owner, preserving confidentiality even from Proton itself.

In today’s world, privacy is crucial, particularly with the swift progress in AI technology. As AI models demand extensive data sets for training, tools like Proton Sheets become vital in protecting sensitive information from third-party access, including AI models.

**What can Proton Sheets provide?**

Anant Vijay Singh, Head of Product at Proton Drive, highlighted Proton Sheets’ significance in reclaiming data sovereignty. Unlike Big Tech spreadsheet applications that might take advantage of user information, Proton Sheets presents a privacy-centric alternative, ensuring users’ data remains protected and free from surveillance.

Proton Sheets not only emphasizes security but also delivers an interface that is user-friendly and familiar to many. It facilitates collaboration, enabling teams to work concurrently on documents, with control over viewing and editing rights. Users can import CSV and XLS files, apply common Excel formulas, and generate charts, all while experiencing smooth functionality across different devices.

Proton Sheets is connected to Proton Drive, which also includes the secure Proton Docs word processor. Users can begin with a free account, with premium plans available for additional storage and features, starting at $3.99/month.

AI-Created Evidence More Frequently Utilized in Courtrooms: Present Perspectives

George R. R. Martin is taking legal action against ChatGPT for copyright violation. A novel concern regarding AI usage has emerged with its advent in legal settings.

A property disagreement escalated to the California judiciary in Mendones v. Cushman & Wakefield, Inc. A video was presented as purported witness evidence. Judge Victoria Kolakowski, however, sensed that something was awry with the footage. It was ultimately revealed that the video was a deepfake generated by AI. The term deepfake refers to AI-produced media that imitates an individual’s voice or likeness performing actions they did not actually undertake. In spite of the submitting party contending that it was the judge’s responsibility to demonstrate the video’s AI origin, the case was thrown out.

This incident has raised alarms within the legal framework as well as among citizens nationwide. While AI can be advantageous in legal proceedings, such as elucidating evidence or generating models for enhanced comprehension, it can also be employed for deceptive purposes. There are widespread fears that fabricated audio recordings, images, or videos could be used against individuals, and judges are apprehensive about AI deepfakes potentially leading to wrongful convictions.