A newly observed interstellar object, 3I/ATLAS, contains iron-free nickel alloys — a composition former NASA surgeon Dr. Gregory Rogers calls 'impossible' for a natural body.

According to him, this behavior occurs because comets heat up unevenly as they approach the Sun. The side facing the Sun warms faster, and if a weak spot gets hot enough, it can release material thousands of kilometers into space, much like a geyser, in the Sun’s direction.

New images captured by NASA, which have not yet been released yet, show the changing tail of 3I/Atlas. The comet is currently hidden behind the sun and will not be seen by Earth-based telescopes. NBC News' Gadi Schwartz talks to Harvard Professor Avi Loeb about the latest developments.

The interstellar object 3I/ATLAS is forcing scientists to rethink our understanding of comet formation. Unlike typical comets in the Solar System, its coma—its cloud of gas and dust—is unusually dominated by carbon dioxide (CO₂).

Time is running short for scientists hoping to collect data from 3I/Atlas, a massive interstellar object hurtling away from the Sun.