The workings of our solar system are roughly the same now as they have been for millions of years. Moons circle their planets, the planets circle the sun, the sun’s magnetic fields and sunspots wax ...

Once in the solar system, their trajectory might trace complex fractal-like patterns, a path Belbruno compares to the Mandelbrot set. This wild but constrained motion implies predicting precise ...

Discovery: On July 2, 2025, astronomers confirmed Comet 3I/ATLAS, marking only the third interstellar object (ISO) ever detected passing through our Solar System, after 1I/ʻOumuamua (2017) and ...

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or ...

Last month, astronomers made an exciting discovery, observing an interstellar object — only the third ever observed — hurtling toward the center of the solar system. The object, dubbed 3I/ATLAS, has ...

Ian Whittaker does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond ...