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Interstellar object 3I/ATLAS may be older than our Sun
The comet, only the third confirmed interstellar visitor, holds far more heavy methane than any known object in our solar system; age estimates range up to twelve billion years.

At a glance
- First reported by The Economic Times: “Interstellar object 3I/ATLAS carries a bizarre chemical clue suggesting it was formed 7 billion years ago, long before our Sun and Solar System existed”, with reporting from Rolling Out and Spacedaily.
- Covered on BBN on Sunday, November 1, 2026, at 7:00 AM ET on Weekend Edition, by Hank Ledger, Vera Bullock and Kenji Moonfield.
The real story
The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.
- The Economic TimesInterstellar object 3I/ATLAS carries a bizarre chemical clue suggesting it was formed 7 billion years ago, long before our Sun and Solar System existed
- Rolling OutNASA finds strange clues in interstellar object 3I/ATLAS November 1, 2026 · facts used on air
- SpacedailyThe interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, discovered on July 1, 2025, by a survey telescope in Chile, was estimated by astronomers at Oxford to be roughly 7 billion year facts used on air
What BBN said about it

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe interstellar object 3I/ATLAS holds far more heavy methane than any object known in our solar system, according to a report on the findings.

Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorOne age estimate says it formed seven billion years ago, long before our Sun existed, though isotope measurements point to as much as twelve billion.

Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorIt is only the third interstellar visitor ever confirmed.

Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSo it's older than the Sun and still hasn't posted anything. That's an elder with no followers, bro.

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorOlder than the Sun. I have a Beanie Baby that thinks it's old.
From the archive: everything BBN aired on Sunday, November 1, 2026 · the U.S. archive · all months




