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NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory has made a groundbreaking discovery by detecting hydroxyl (OH) molecules, a chemical signature of water, in comet 3I/ATLAS, an interstellar comet passing through our solar system. This marks a significant milestone in our understanding of the composition and chemistry of comets originating beyond our solar system. 3I/ATLAS, discovered in July 2025, is only the third confirmed interstellar object observed within our solar system, following 1I/ʻOumuamua and 2I/Borisov. The presence of hydroxyl molecules signifies that 3I/ATLAS contains water ice, which sublimates to water vapor that then dissociates under solar radiation into hydroxyl gas. This finding is important for planetary science as it provides insight into the materials and conditions of cometary bodies formed in other star systems. Such knowledge has broad implications for theories of planetary formation and the distribution of water in the galaxy, which in turn relates to the potential for extraterrestrial life. Observations by Swift, complemented by data from other space telescopes like Hubble and Webb, revealed that 3I/ATLAS's nucleus is likely less than 1 km in diameter but rich in volatile compounds including water vapor, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide. This composition is somewhat similar to comets formed in our solar system, deepening our understanding of the commonality and diversity of cometary bodies across the cosmos. The detection of hydroxyl water molecules in 3I/ATLAS highlights the comet's active nature and opens new avenues for studying water delivery processes beyond Earth’s vicinity, fostering advancements in astrobiology and comparative planetology.

Recent advancements in quantum physics have led to a groundbreaking breakthrough involving topological insulators and light manipulation. Scientists have successfully employed topological insulators embedded in nanostructured resonators to generate both even and odd terahertz (THz) frequencies through high-order harmonic generation (HHG). This innovation marks a significant leap in the field of quantum optics and could revolutionize ultrafast electronics, wireless communication, and quantum computing. Key Details of the Breakthrough Scientists used split-ring resonators combined with materials like Bi2Se3 and van der Waals heterostructures to amplify incident light, enabling the observation of harmonic signals at both 6.4 THz (even) and 9.7 THz (odd) frequencies. This dual harmonic generation was previously thought impossible with conventional materials due to their symmetry constraints, which typically allowed only odd harmonics. Significance and Future Potential This development validates long-standing theoretical predictions and opens new avenues for creating compact and tunable terahertz sources—critical in medical imaging, high-speed data transfer, and quantum devices. The work also highlights how the unique surface states of topological insulators can break the symmetry limitations of traditional materials, thereby paving the way for quantum-enab