The spectacular breakup of comet C/2025 K1 (ATLAS), observed by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, sheds light on the fragile nature of cometary cores and their evolution.
These Hubble images of the fragmenting comet C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) were captured from November 8 to 10, 2025. Image credit: NASA / ESA / D. Bodewits, Auburn / J. DePasquale, STScI.
“Sometimes the best science is a serendipitous discovery,” remarks study co-author John Noonan, a professor at Auburn University.
“This comet was initially observed due to new technical constraints that rendered the original target unobservable following our proposal win.”
“We had to find a new target, and just as we began observing it, it remarkably began to disintegrate. This is immensely rare.”
C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) reached perihelion—its closest approach to the Sun—on October 8, 2025, at a distance of 0.33 AU.
This event occurred inside Mercury’s orbit, about a third of the way between Earth and the Sun, where the comet faced extreme heating and stress.
Hubble’s images taken from November 8 to 10, 2025, captured five distinct pieces, offering a high-resolution glimpse of the comet’s core disintegrating.
“Never before have we observed a comet’s breakup with such precision,” Professor Noonan stated.
“Typically, we see such events weeks or even months later. This time, we captured it just days after it happened.”
“This crucial moment enhances our understanding of the physics at play on comet surfaces.”
“We may be observing the timeline required to generate a significant dust layer that can be expelled by gas.”
Currently, C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) consists of debris approximately 400 million km from Earth.
This comet, located in the constellation Pisces, is on the verge of exiting the solar system and is not expected to return.
Astronomers suggest that long-period comets like C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) are more prone to breakup compared to short-period comets such as 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, which was visited by ESA’s Rosetta mission; the reasons for this remain uncertain.
ESA’s Comet Interceptor, set to launch toward the end of the decade, will mark the first mission destined to visit a long-period comet.
Professor Colin Snodgrass from the University of Edinburgh remarked, “Hubble’s fortunate observation of C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) will significantly aid our understanding of the breakup mechanisms in long-period comets, allowing us to investigate their interiors for the first time.”
“These findings will not just complement the detailed investigations of long-period comets expected from Comet Interceptor, but also assist astronomers in selecting future mission targets.”
Refer to the study published in the Journal Icarus on February 6, 2026.
_____
D. Bodewits et al. Continuous fragmentation after C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) passed near the Sun. Icarus, published online on February 6, 2026. doi: 10.1016/j.icarus.2026.116996
Feedback is the New Scientist’s platform for engaging with our readers, especially those passionate about the latest in science and technology news. If you have insights or suggestions for articles that might interest our audience, please reach out via feedback@newscientist.com.
It’s Gas
Our feedback feels bold, so here’s a prediction: the research discussed here is likely to win an Ig Nobel Prize within the next decade. This project aims to objectively measure human flatulence using innovative biosensors, affectionately dubbed “smart underwear.”
We learned about this intriguing study from a press release featuring Carmela Padavik Callahan, a professor at the University of Maryland and a physics reporter. She noted, “Certainly we could do something with this feedback.”
The main challenge is that, unlike established biomarkers such as blood sugar, we lack a benchmark for bloating. Most existing studies depend on self-reporting, which is unreliable since individuals often forget their flatulence events and can’t accurately judge their frequency or size. Additionally, it’s “impossible to record gas while sleeping.” Anyone who has shared a bed with another person knows that everyone farts during slumber.
This is where smart underwear comes in, developed by Brantley Hall and colleagues. According to the press release, it’s a compact device that discreetly fits over standard underwear and utilizes electrochemical sensors to track intestinal gas production around the clock. Curious about the size? The sensor measures just 26 x 29 x 9 millimeters—pretty small, though participants may want to steer clear of skinny jeans during testing.
Initial research revealed that “healthy adults fart an average of 32 times per day,” approximately double previous assumptions. However, this varies widely, with reported farts per day ranging from 4 to 59.
As smart underwear becomes more widely adopted, data will contribute to the larger initiative known as the Human Flatus Atlas. Interested participants can register at flatus.info to track their gas output. This exciting project invites users to discover whether they are hydrogen over-producers, or if they’re more like Zen digesters who barely fart after a meal of baked beans.
Feedback raises questions about the sensor’s durability regarding substantial flatulence. Notably, we recently heard about an individual who ended up in a French hospital after attempting to hide unexploded ordnance from World War I, necessitating bomb disposal assistance. We can’t help but wonder if Smart Underwear was overwhelmed by such an incident.
On a brighter note, the principal researchers are keen to enhance technology in this field. Their website is minimalist, featuring a gas animation, a motivating slogan (“Measure. Master. Thrive.”), and the promise that “the future of gut health is just around the corner.” Feedback suggests a monthly subscription app might be on the horizon.
Ghost in the Machine
As AI companies integrate cutting-edge technology into our daily lives, many find it challenging to grasp its implications. With most people lacking a deep understanding of AI, we often rely on metaphors and analogies to conceptualize these advancements.
A particularly insightful analogy comes from a user on Bluesky, who described AI as “a hungry ghost trapped in a bottle.” This serves as a guideline to help us assess our use of AI wisely. If substituting “AI” with “starving ghost in a jar” still makes sense in your context, you’re likely employing AI appropriately.
“Think of it this way: ‘I have a bunch of hungry ghosts in a bottle. They’re mainly writing SQL queries for me.’ That’s reasonable,” the user elaborates. “But ‘My girlfriend is a hungry ghost in a bottle’? Definitely not okay.”
Equally concerning is the flood of unsolicited AI-generated content we encounter. From fake romance novels to AI summaries of searches and conferences, it’s overwhelming. We need an effective way to summarize our responses to such texts.
In this context, the popular internet abbreviation “tl;dr,” meaning “too long to read,” evolves into “ai;dr,” conveying similar sentiments about AI-generated material.
With countless anecdotes highlighting spectacular failures when using AI for critical tasks, one can only marvel at the mishaps. We’ve heard tales of venture capitalists asking AI tools to organize desktops, only to end up erasing 15 years’ worth of photos with a mere “oops” message (luckily, those files were later recovered). Other accounts reveal AI hallucinating entire months’ worth of analytical data.
Reflecting on this, author Nick Pettigrew shared a compelling perspective on Bluesky: “I believe that AI is the radium of our generation. While it has genuinely useful applications in controlled settings, we’ve carelessly infused it into everything from children’s toys to toothpaste, leading to unforeseen complications that future generations may question.”
There’s certainly more to unpack on this topic, but perhaps the AI will humorously eliminate those thoughts as well—definitely a modern twist on the classic “the dog ate my homework” excuse.
Qubit
It seems the feedback has gone years without acknowledging the contributions of quantum information theorists—a notable oversight on our part.
Have a Story for Feedback?
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The visible signs of aging, like wrinkles, gray hair, and joint discomfort, are merely surface reflections of more intricate processes happening within our cells. Deep inside your body, every organ experiences its own subtle molecular shifts as you grow older.
Researchers have now developed the most detailed map to date illustrating how this process unfolds.
For further insights into our findings, which are based on data from over 15,000 samples, please visit this preprint research. The paper, currently awaiting peer review, offers an unprecedented view of how aging modifies our genomic blueprint from head to toe.
A collaborative effort among researchers worldwide has led to the creation of a comprehensive “aging atlas” that maps DNA methylation (chemical tags that regulate gene activity) across 17 different types of human tissues while tracking age-related changes.
“DNA methylation, simply put, is a chemical modification on DNA,” said Dr. Jesse Poganic, co-author of the study and a medical instructor at Harvard Medical School, as reported by BBC Science Focus.
“At a fundamental level, their primary role is to regulate which genes are activated and which are not.”
If you stretched all the DNA in your body, it would span over 300 times the distance from Earth to the sun and back – Photo credit: Getty
Despite a few mutations, each cell shares essentially the same genetic information in the form of its genome. So how do lung cells recognize their identity while stomach cells act as stomach cells? This is where methylation plays a crucial role.
“The methylation or unmethylation status at a specific point on the genome determines whether a particular gene is turned on or off,” Poganik noted.
But what does all this reveal about the aging process?
DNA methylation serves as one of the body’s essential epigenetic mechanisms, acting as a molecular switch that toggles genes on or off without altering the DNA sequence itself. By adding and removing tiny molecules known as methyl groups, cells can adjust which genes are expressed in response to diet, exercise, infections, and other environmental influences.
As time passes, these methylation patterns alter in specific ways, forming the basis of the so-called epigenetic clock, which serves as a molecular measure of biological age. Until now, most of these clocks relied on blood samples, leaving scientists uncertain if other organs followed similar patterns.
“DNA methylation patterns differ from tissue to tissue. They are specific to both the tissue and the cell type,” said Professor Nir Eynon, the study’s senior author and research group leader at Monash University, as reported by BBC Science Focus. “Thus, blood measurements don’t necessarily represent what happens in your liver, muscles, or brain.”
This gap prompted the team to gather all publicly available datasets on methylation within reach, complemented by new data from global collaborators.
The analysis covered nearly 1 million points across the genome, encompassing 17 organs, from the brain and heart to the skin, liver, stomach, and retina.
Atlas of Aging
The researchers discovered that the proportion of genomes with methylation tags varied significantly across tissues, ranging from approximately 38 percent in the cervix to over 60 percent in the retina. Surprisingly, age-related changes were quite uniform, with most tissues becoming increasingly hypermethylated as they age, resulting in more tagged DNA sites and the silencing of certain genes.
However, two organs defied this trend. Both skeletal muscle and lung tissue can experience a loss of methyl tags over time, leading to excessive or irregular gene expression.
“Most tissues show hypermethylation with age,” explained Dr. Max Jack, the study’s lead author. BBC Science Focus via email. “Yet when you refine it down to methylation rates, distinct tissue-specific patterns emerge.”
Different organs age at varying rates. An aging atlas begins to elucidate why – Credit: Getty
For instance, adipose tissue predominantly shifts toward hypermethylation, while changes are more balanced in the brain. These patterns may illuminate how different organs react to common aging stressors, such as inflammation, according to Jacques.
Overall, significantly age-related methylation changes were observed in brain, liver, and lung tissues, with skin and colon tissues also showing marked alterations. Conversely, pancreatic, retinal, and prostate tissues exhibited the least detectable age-related changes, possibly due to limited data or greater resilience to aging.
Correlation, Not Causation (For Now)
At first glance, the data imply that some organs age quicker than others. However, researchers caution that these distinctions cannot yet be interpreted as a direct rate of aging.
This is partly due to statistical factors. Some organs represent thousands of samples, while others are represented by only a handful.
Moreover, “We know that methylation changes occur as we age,” Poganik states. “What we don’t know is the extent to which they contribute to aging.”
In other words, while scientists are aware of the methylation alterations linked to aging, it’s still unclear whether those changes induce aging or whether aging triggers those changes.
Poganik believes that alterations in methylation likely account for at least some of the observable phenomena associated with aging. “Even cautious scientists would suggest there’s an element of causation,” he remarks.
The allure of this new atlas lies in its revelation of common molecular themes threading throughout the body, he adds.
“One of the most compelling aspects of this study is that it demonstrates some universality in the aging process. When we analyze various tissues, we encounter numerous similar methylation changes, suggesting a universal quality to aging.”
Nevertheless, he warns that not all alterations are causal. With so many ongoing methylation changes, some are almost certainly part of aging, while others may not hold significance.
Old atlases might not pinpoint which changes are critical and which are not, but they offer an invaluable collection of data for researchers to delve deeper into the issue than ever before. The atlas is now openly accessible through an online portal for other scientists to explore and utilize.
“We have consistently prioritized open-source research,” Jack states. “With this, we aim to make it accessible to everyone, not only to advance research but also to foster collaboration.”
Going forward, the research team plans to examine some universal associations prevalent across all tissues as we age, alongside other biomarkers that may be influencing the aging process.
“Advancements in aging pale in comparison to those in cancer,” Poganik adds. With the assistance of this atlas, scientists may finally bridge that gap.
This browser aims to enhance the web experience with a ChatGPT sidebar, enabling users to ask questions and engage with various features of each site they explore, as demonstrated in a video shared with the announcement. Atlas is currently accessible worldwide on Apple’s macOS and will soon be released for Windows, iOS, and Android, according to OpenAI’s announcement.
With the ChatGPT sidebar, users can request “content summaries, product comparisons, or data analysis from any website.” Website for more details. The company has also begun presenting a preview of its virtual assistant, dubbed “Agent Mode,” to select premium users. Agent Mode allows users to instruct ChatGPT to execute a task “from start to finish,” such as “travel research and shopping.”
While browsing, users can also edit and modify highlighted text within ChatGPT. An example on the site features an email with highlighted text along with a recommendation prompt: “Please make this sound more professional.”
OpenAI emphasizes that users maintain complete control over their privacy settings: “You decide what is remembered about you, how your data is utilized, and the privacy settings that govern your browsing.” Currently, Atlas users are automatically opted out of having their browsing data employed to train ChatGPT models. Additionally, similar to other browsers, users can erase their browsing history. However, while the Atlas browser may not store an exact duplicate of searched content, ChatGPT will “retain facts and insights from your browsing” if users opt into “browser memory.” It remains unclear how the company will handle browsing information with third parties.
OpenAI is not the first to introduce an AI-enhanced web browser. Companies like Google have incorporated their Gemini AI models into Chrome, while others such as Perplexity AI are also launching AI-driven browsers. Following the OpenAI announcement, Google’s stock fell 4%, reflecting investor concerns regarding potential threats to its flagship browser, Chrome, the most widely used browser globally.
Researchers from the Wellcome Sanger Institute and the Spanish Institute of Biology have mapped the female genome of the Atlas Blue Butterfly (Polyommatus atlantica), revealing 227 pairs of autosomes and four sex chromosomes, marking it as the organism with the highest chromosome count among all multicellular animals globally.
Atlas Blue Butterfly (Polyommatus atlantica). Image credit: Roger Villa.
The Atlas Blue Butterfly is native to the mountainous regions of Morocco and Northeast Algeria.
Previously suspected to have the highest chromosome count in the Animal Kingdom, this is the first instance where scientists have successfully sequenced the butterfly’s genome to confirm this assumption.
Variations in chromosome numbers are believed to facilitate the formation of new species and assist in adaptation to changing environments.
The Atlas Blue Butterfly belongs to a group of closely related species that have evolved rapidly over a short geological timeframe.
“The genome is crucial for understanding how organisms develop and what the future may hold,” stated Professor Mark Blaxter from the Wellcome Sanger Institute.
“To narrate the stories of our planet, we must explore various tales and observe their interactions.”
“Insights gained from one genome can also enrich our understanding of others.”
“For instance, chromosomal rearrangements are also present in human cancer cells, and investigating these patterns in the Atlas Blue Butterfly could lead to methods for mitigating cancer cell growth in the future.”
In their research, Professor Blaxter and his team discovered that chromosomal structure was altered due to less tightly packed DNA.
This indicates that while the amount of genetic information remained similar, it was organized into smaller segments.
Except for the sex chromosomes, all chromosomes were found to be fragmented, leading researchers to estimate a dynamic range of 24 to 229 chromosomes emerging over approximately 3 million years, a brief period in evolutionary terms.
Generally, such drastic chromosomal modifications are considered detrimental; however, the Atlas Blue Butterfly has thrived for millions of years.
Its population faces threats primarily from climate change and human environmental impact.
This study opens numerous avenues for future exploration.
Chromosomal division is thought to enhance genetic diversity by allowing for increased genomic mixing or possibly offering other unforeseen advantages.
While this may enable butterflies to adapt quickly, possessing numerous chromosomes can also introduce complications, potentially making them more susceptible to extinction in the long run.
Further studies comparing other butterfly species will clarify whether genes are lost or retained, offering greater insights into butterfly biology and evolution.
“Observing chromosomal degradation at this level is uncommon, yet evident in butterflies of other species, hinting at a significant need for exploration in this area,” noted Dr. Roger Villa, a researcher at the Evolutionary Biology Institute in Spain.
“Moreover, chromosomes hold the secrets of species, and examining how these changes influence butterfly behavior could help us form a comprehensive understanding of species emergence.”
“When we embarked on studying butterfly evolution, we realized that sequencing the extraordinary Atlas Blue Butterfly was essential,” remarked Dr. Charlotte Wright from the Wellcome Sanger Institute.
“This research emphasizes the collaborative spirit of scientific inquiry.”
“By examining how the chromosomes of the Atlas Blue Butterfly have split over time in specific environments, we can begin to uncover the potential benefits of this phenomenon, how it influences adaptability, and whether there are lessons in the DNA that could aid our future conservation efforts.”
The findings have been published in this week’s edition of Current Biology.
____
Charlotte J. Wright et al. Chromosomal evolutionary constraints revealed by the 229 chromosome pairs of the Atlas Blue Butterfly. Current Biology, published online on September 10th, 2025. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2025.08.032
Do you notice your muscles becoming more rigid and harder to manage as you age? A new ‘Atlas of Aging’ has been developed to explain why this happens and to provide potential treatments to prevent it. Additionally, it may lead to legal action.
Focusing on the effects of natural aging, this atlas delves into the intricate changes that occur in muscle tissue at the cellular and molecular levels as we grow older. It also highlights how our muscles actively combat the aging process, potentially aiding in the development of new treatments to enhance the aging body.
As we age, our muscles can weaken, making everyday activities like standing and walking more challenging. However, the underlying causes of this decline are not fully understood. Frailty can lead to an increased risk of falls, reduced mobility, and loss of independence.
Lead author, Dr. Sarah Teichman from the Wellcome Sanger Institute, states that these insights into healthy skeletal muscle aging are empowering researchers worldwide to explore various strategies to combat inflammation, promote muscle regeneration, maintain neural connections, and more.
Longevity expert Andrew Steele emphasizes the importance of understanding the cellular changes that contribute to the loss of physical strength as we age. He underscores the potential of this research to develop therapeutic interventions that support healthier aging in future generations.
The creation of the atlas of aging muscle involved utilizing advanced imaging and single-cell sequencing techniques to analyze skeletal muscle samples from 17 adult donors aged between 20 and 75. The findings shed light on gene activity related to protein production and revealed how muscle fibers age at different rates.
Age-related loss of primary fast-twitch muscle fibers is mitigated by the body’s ability to enhance the properties of remaining fibers and rebuild connections between weakened nerves and aging muscles. This understanding can potentially inform strategies to maintain strength and independence as we grow older.
To learn more about the experts involved in this research, Dr. Andrew Steele, a scientist, author, and presenter, has authored “Ageless: The new science of growing older without getting older.” Combining his background in physics with biology, Steele’s work focuses on deciphering human DNA at the Francis Crick Institute in London.
Read more:
What happens to my body as I get older?
9 simple science-backed changes to reverse your biological age
Groundbreaking discovery of anti-aging cells could help people stay young for longer
Global collaboration has led to the creation of the world’s most comprehensive primate brain atlas, consisting of 4.2 million cells. This atlas has provided insights into region-specific functions, associations with neurological diseases, and has guided future brain research and disease intervention. The project aims to explore the evolution of the human brain and discover new targets for disease treatment. The initiative, known as the “Brain Initiative Cell Census Network” project by the National Institutes of Health, has been working towards mapping the cell groups and understanding their functions for over 21 years. The recent breakthrough discovery has allowed scientists to gain a deeper understanding of the brain and the medical mysteries behind disorders such as autism and depression. The research team, led by scientists from Arizona State University, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Washington, and the Brotman Beatty Institute, created the largest atlas of the primate brain to date. The atlas consists of profiles of over 4 million cells, providing valuable information on the evolution of human cognition and behavior, as well as the occurrence of neurological diseases. The data collected has been made publicly available for the scientific community and the general public. The research team utilized state-of-the-art single-cell techniques and analyzed gene expression and DNA regulatory regions to identify molecularly distinct brain cell types and their functional characteristics. They also investigated the genetic architecture of neurological disease risk at the cellular level. The atlas serves as a crucial resource for further research on the human brain and potential interventions for neurological diseases.
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