Astronomers using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope report new evidence about the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, indicating it may be extremely ancient—possibly dating to about 12 billion years ago. Multiple outlets describe the comet as potentially among the oldest objects detected in the solar system, with estimates framed as “up to” that age rather than an exact time since formation. The findings focus on the comet’s chemical and isotopic composition, which researchers say provides clues about the environment in which the comet formed. In particular, reports highlight carbon isotope ratios and other “odd” chemistry that appear inconsistent with a younger origin. Several sources characterize the result as surprising and suggest it may reflect formation in an ancient planetary system or within material that originated in very early cosmic history. While the studies are still being developed through ongoing analysis, the overall message across coverage is that Webb observations are helping narrow the comet’s origin and age, pointing to a timeframe close to the universe’s early history.