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The comet 31/ATLAS, roughly the size of Manhattan and weighing around 33 billion tons, has become a focus of international astronomical study. According to Avi Loeb from Harvard University, this object far exceeds previously observed interstellar bodies, with a mass at least a thousand times greater than similar comets.
Loeb highlighted several unusual characteristics of 31/ATLAS. Notably, the comet exhibits an anti-tail—a stream of particles pointing toward the Sun rather than away, contrary to normal comet behavior. There was also detection of nickel emissions without iron, a rare phenomenon for such objects.
The comet also shows non-gravitational acceleration, and its trajectory suggests close approaches to several planets in the Solar System, including Jupiter, Venus, and Mars. Although NASA has not reported any threat, the International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN) has initiated monitoring of the object. Observations are planned from November 27, 2025, to January 27, 2026.
Loeb urged the international community to remain vigilant regarding the comet and be prepared for potential unpredictable events.
A rye-wheat loaf preserved in a freezer for 36 years has been put on public display as part of the permanent exhibition at the Deutschlandmuseum in Berlin. Dubbed "The Last Loaf of the GDR," it was originally purchased on June 26, 1990, by student Michael Hagedorn, who bought an extra loaf fearing potential food shortages amidst the economic unification of East and West Germany.
The museum's director, Robert Rückel, described the unusual artifact as a unique poignant symbol of everyday human decisions during times of monumental geopolitical change. To maintain its preserved state, the museum installed a custom refrigeration unit where the historical loaf remains permanently frozen for visitors to view.
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