When online chatter exploded with the question, “Is 3I/ATLAS carrying weapons of mass destruction?,” scientists were forced to step in. The controversy began when new observations revealed hydrogen cyanide (HCN) and methanol (CH₃OH) around the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, instantly fuelling speculation. But what researchers uncovered paints a far more fascinating and far less dangerous story.

The ALMA Observations That Sparked Viral Panic

The Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA) recorded methanol and hydrogen-cyanide emissions around 3I/ATLAS on multiple dates:

Methanol: August 28, Sept 18, Sept 22, Oct 1 - 2025

Hydrogen cyanide: Sept 12 & 15 - 2025

During these scans, the comet was 1.7-2.6 AU from the Sun.

Researchers found:

1. Methanol production high toward the Sun

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