The James Webb Space Telescope has made a groundbreaking discovery about the origins of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS. Using the telescope, scientists have found that the comet was formed from tiny grains of ice mixed with dust that are distinct from those found in our solar system's comets. These ice grains bear a striking resemblance to those found in trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs), which are icy bodies located beyond the orbit of Neptune. The discovery provides valuable insights into the conditions under which such bodies form in other star systems. The comet, which was discovered entering our solar system in 2025, is believed to have formed around a young star, possibly as long ago as 10 to 12 billion years. This is over twice the age of our solar system. The researchers are unsure about the specific star system where 3I/ATLAS originated, but they are certain that it was produced within a planet-forming disk of gas and dust. The comet's composition is similar to that of familiar comets in our solar system, with grains of ice less than a micron in size. When the comet's surface is warmed by the sun, gas erupts outwards, carrying ice grains into the surrounding cloud of ice and dust. The James Webb Space Telescope was designed to study objects like 3I/ATLAS, and its findings have provided a unique opportunity to learn more about the formation of interstellar comets. The research has been published in a new paper, with Martin Cordiner of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and the Catholic University of America leading the JWST program to study objects like 3I/ATLAS.