It Is Speeding Up: Scientists Baffled as Mystery Asteroid Defies All Known Physics | GRAVITAS

An 11 metre asteroid called 1998 KY26 is accelerating in an unusual way, with out of plane non gravitational acceleration and a spin of once every 5.35 minutes. One leading theory called it a hidden dark comet using escaping gas to propel itself. New research in Icarus by Korbin Hansen and Masatoshi Hirabayashi shows KY26 is too warm to retain the ice needed for that process. So what is pushing it? Solar radiation pressure, Yarkovsky effect, dust shedding or something unknown. Japan's Hayabusa2 spacecraft will reach it in July 2031 for closer answers. Earlier, 3I/ATLAS, the third interstellar object discovered 1 July 2025, also showed strange non gravitational acceleration after perihelion on 30 Oct 2025. #asteroid #atlas #science #wion About Channel: WION The World is One News examines global issues with in-depth analysis. We provide much more than the news of the day. Our aim is to empower people to explore their world. With our Global headquarters in New Delhi, we bring you news on the hour, by the hour. We deliver information that is not biased. We are journalists who are neutral to the core and non-partisan when it comes to world politics. People are tired of biased reportage and we stand for a globalized united world. So for us, the World is truly One. Please keep discussions on this channel clean and respectful and refrain from using racist or sexist slurs and personal insults. Subscribe to our channel at https://goo.gl/JfY3NI Check out our website: http://www.wionews.com Join our WhatsApp Channel: https://bit.ly/455YOQ0 Connect with us on our social media handles: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WIONews Twitter: https://twitter.com/WIONews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wionews/ Follow us on Google News for the latest updates Zee News:- https://bit.ly/2Ac5G60 Zee Business:- https://bit.ly/36vI2xa DNA India:- https://bit.ly/2ZDuLRY WION: https://bit.ly/3gnDb5J Zee News Apps: https://bit.ly/ZeeNewsApps