How the ‘Devil Comet,’ almost as big as Everest, brought scientists closer to solving Earth’s biggest mystery

Based on a work of the 12P/Pons-Brooks comet known as the “Devil’s Tailed Star”, the Earth’s water could be caused by comets. The study, published in Nature Astronomy in August 2025, shows that the water vapor detected in this Halley -tailed star has almost the same chemical composition to the oceans of the Earth and offers the most powerful support for this theory.

Close approach of the comet during the solar eclipse

The comet 12P/Pons-Brooks made its first close passage since 1954 during the total solar eclipse of Mount Everest Mountain. The comet follows a 71 -year -old orbit and belongs to a group of ancient Halley -type comets with materials from the formation of the solar system. Advanced Observations confirm the origin of water
Researchers using the Atacama Large Milinter/Subsillimetre series and NASA’s infrared telescope facility in Hawaii are a chemical signature that distinguishes water in the deuterium-hydrogen ratio in the water vapor of the comet. Scientists mapped both normal water (H₂O) and heavy water (HDO) in the coma coma comet, which confirmed the vapor caused by the depths of the nucleus.

By mapping both H₂O and HDO, these gases explained whether these gases came from frozen ice in the solid body of the nucleus, rather than chemistry or other processes in gas coma, NASA, the co -author of the study, Stefanie Milam.

The most powerful evidence for talented water delivery
NASA astrophysicist Martin Cordiner, who pioneered the research, is the most powerful evidence that supports the idea that comets can make our planet livable.
This discovery deals with a long -standing question about the origins of the Earth. Scientists believe that the Earth is largely formed as a dry planet and cannot hold water due to high early temperatures. The dominant theory argued that water later came through the effects of iced objects such as comets or asteroids.
Why is this finding important?
Previous studies could not show a sufficient match between united and terrestrial water. However, 12P/Pons-Brooks has provided one of the closest matches so far and strengthened the state of Halley-type comet playing an important role in shaping the Earth’s environment.

Inferences for future tasks
Findings may affect the upcoming tasks, including the recommended Caesar project, which aims to return NASA’s comets to the Earth, the European Space Agency’s comet and NASA’s comet samples. Researchers argue that these old -tailed stars may not only have given water, but also organic compounds and create conditions for life. Examining the matching deterium-hydrogen ratios and Comet classes can provide more information about the origins of the Earth and the formation of the solar system.