Every atom of iron in your blood was forged inside a star. Every atom of gold, every atom of uranium, every heavy element heavier than iron in the periodic table was created in the violent death of a massive star — a supernova explosion that scattered stellar material across interstellar space. This is not poetry. It is nuclear astrophysics. And now, for the first time, scientists have found a direct physical sample of that supernova debris — stardust — preserved inside Antarctic ice, providing a record of the solar system's journey through the cosmos that stretches back tens of thousands of years.&nbsp;What Is Stardust?&nbsp;Stardust, in the scientific sense, refers to microscopic solid particles produced by stars and ejected into space — either during the slow stellar winds of older, dying stars or in the catastrophic explosions called supernovas. These particles drift through the interstellar medium, the vast near-empty space between star systems, and can travel enormous distances over millions of years. What makes certain stardust particles particularly valuable to scientists is their radioactive signature: supernovas produce specific isotopes that do not exist naturally on Earth, making them unmistakable markers of an extraterrestrial origin.&nbsp;The Radioactive Fingerprint: Iron-60&nbsp;The specific stardust found in Antarctic ice is identified by a radioactive isotope called iron-60, written as ⁶⁰Fe. This isotope is produced almost exclusively in supernova explosions, when a massive star collapses and detonates, fusing lighter elements into heavier ones and scattering them outward at enormous speeds. Iron-60 has a half-life of about 2.6 million years — meaning it decays slowly enough to survive a long journey through space, but fast enough that any iron-60 found on Earth today must have arrived relatively recently in geological terms. It cannot have been here from the formation of the solar system 4.5 billion years ago; it would have long since decayed.&nbsp;Why Antarctica?&nbsp;Antarctica is one of the few places on Earth where interstellar dust can be detected and measured with confidence. The continent's ice sheets have been accumulating material for hundreds of thousands of years, layer by layer, in conditions largely untouched by industrial contamination, human activity, or the geological processes that mix and dilute surface material elsewhere on the planet. By drilling into Antarctic ice cores — cylinders of ice extracted from deep below the surface, each layer corresponding to a different era — scientists can read a continuous record of what has been falling onto Earth from space over vast timescales. It is, in effect, a time capsule written in ice.&nbsp;What The Study Found&nbsp;A research team led by nuclear astrophysicist Dominik Koll of the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf in Germany analysed Antarctic ice cores and found iron-60 embedded in the layers, confirming that supernova-produced stardust has been reaching Earth's surface. The study, published in Physical Review Letters in 2026, revealed something unexpected about the distribution of the iron-60 through the ice layers: concentrations were lower than predicted between approximately 40,000 and 80,000 years ago. This dip in stardust deposition is a clue about how the local interstellar environment has changed over that period.&nbsp;The Local Interstellar Cloud: The Solar System's Current Neighbourhood&nbsp;Our solar system is not sitting in empty space. It is currently moving through a region called the Local Interstellar Cloud — sometimes informally called the Local Fluff — a diffuse mass of gas, dust, and plasma that is believed to have been seeded with material from ancient supernova explosions in the region. Scientists estimate that the solar system has been travelling through this cloud for somewhere between 40,000 and 124,000 years. The iron-60 found in Antarctic ice is direct physical evidence of that passage: stardust from the cloud has been gradually filtering through the heliosphere — the bubble of solar wind that surrounds the solar system — and settling onto Earth's surface over millennia.&nbsp;What It Tells Us About The Solar System's Past&nbsp;The Antarctic ice record of stardust is, as researchers have described it, a flight recorder for the solar system's journey through the Local Interstellar Cloud. The varying levels of iron-60 through different ice layers reflect changes in the density and structure of the cloud as the solar system has moved through it. The lower concentrations between 40,000 and 80,000 years ago suggest the solar system may have been passing through a less dense region of the cloud during that period. As more ice layers are analysed and the record extends further back, scientists hope to map the full structure of the Local Interstellar Cloud and understand how the solar system's immediate cosmic neighbourhood has changed over time — one layer of ice, one grain of stardust, at a time.

Scientists found iron-60 — radioactive supernova stardust — in Antarctic ice in 2026. Here's what stardust is, why Antarctica is the best place to find it, and what it tells us about the solar system.

Every atom of iron in your blood was forged inside a star. Every atom of gold, every atom of uranium, every heavy element heavier than iron in the periodic table was created in the violent death of a massive star — a supernova explosion that scattered stellar material across interstellar space. This is not poetry. It is nuclear astrophysics. And now, for the first time, scientists have found a direct physical sample of that supernova debris — stardust — preserved inside Antarctic ice, providing a record of the solar system's journey through the cosmos that stretches back tens of thousands of years. What Is Stardust? Stardust, in the scientific sense, refers to microscopic solid particles produced by stars and ejected into space — either during the slow stellar winds of older, dying stars or in the catastrophic explosions called supernovas. These particles drift through the interstellar medium, the vast near-empty space between star systems, and can travel enormous distances over millions of years. What makes certain stardust particles particularly valuable to scientists is their radioactive signature: supernovas produce specific isotopes that do not exist naturally on Earth, making them unmistakable markers of an extraterrestrial origin. The Radioactive Fingerprint: Iron-60 The specific stardust found in Antarctic ice is identified by a radioactive isotope called iron-60, written as ⁶⁰Fe. This isotope is produced almost exclusively in supernova explosions, when a massive star collapses and detonates, fusing lighter elements into heavier ones and scattering them outward at enormous speeds. Iron-60 has a half-life of about 2.6 million years — meaning it decays slowly enough to survive a long journey through space, but fast enough that any iron-60 found on Earth today must have arrived relatively recently in geological terms. It cannot have been here from the formation of the solar system 4.5 billion years ago; it would have long since decayed. Why Antarctica? Antarctica is one of the few places on Earth where interstellar dust can be detected and measured with confidence. The continent's ice sheets have been accumulating material for hundreds of thousands of years, layer by layer, in conditions largely untouched by industrial contamination, human activity, or the geological processes that mix and dilute surface material elsewhere on the planet. By drilling into Antarctic ice cores — cylinders of ice extracted from deep below the surface, each layer corresponding to a different era — scientists can read a continuous record of what has been falling onto Earth from space over vast timescales. It is, in effect, a time capsule written in ice. What The Study Found A research team led by nuclear astrophysicist Dominik Koll of the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf in Germany analysed Antarctic ice cores and found iron-60 embedded in the layers, confirming that supernova-produced stardust has been reaching Earth's surface. The study, published in Physical Review Letters in 2026, revealed something unexpected about the distribution of the iron-60 through the ice layers: concentrations were lower than predicted between approximately 40,000 and 80,000 years ago. This dip in stardust deposition is a clue about how the local interstellar environment has changed over that period. The Local Interstellar Cloud: The Solar System's Current Neighbourhood Our solar system is not sitting in empty space. It is currently moving through a region called the Local Interstellar Cloud — sometimes informally called the Local Fluff — a diffuse mass of gas, dust, and plasma that is believed to have been seeded with material from ancient supernova explosions in the region. Scientists estimate that the solar system has been travelling through this cloud for somewhere between 40,000 and 124,000 years. The iron-60 found in Antarctic ice is direct physical evidence of that passage: stardust from the cloud has been gradually filtering through the heliosphere — the bubble of solar wind that surrounds the solar system — and settling onto Earth's surface over millennia. What It Tells Us About The Solar System's Past The Antarctic ice record of stardust is, as researchers have described it, a flight recorder for the solar system's journey through the Local Interstellar Cloud. The varying levels of iron-60 through different ice layers reflect changes in the density and structure of the cloud as the solar system has moved through it. The lower concentrations between 40,000 and 80,000 years ago suggest the solar system may have been passing through a less dense region of the cloud during that period. As more ice layers are analysed and the record extends further back, scientists hope to map the full structure of the Local Interstellar Cloud and understand how the solar system's immediate cosmic neighbourhood has changed over time — one layer of ice, one grain of stardust, at a time.

Scientists drilling into Antarctic ice have found something extraordinary: radioactive dust produced by ancient supernova explosions, which has been drifting through interstellar space for millions of years and slowly settling onto Earth's surface. The discovery, published in Physical Review Letters in 2026, is helping researchers map the solar system's journey through a vast cloud of stellar debris — and understand how the cosmos is leaving its fingerprints on our planet.

What is Stardust And why was it found in Antarctica?

The Antarctic Treaty, one of the world's most significant international agreements, marks its 65th anniversary in 2026 after entering into force on June 23, 1961. Signed at the height of the Cold War, the treaty transformed Antarctica into a continent dedicated to peace and scientific research, making it a rare example of lasting international cooperation.&nbsp;The agreement was signed in Washington on December 1, 1959, following the successful International Geophysical Year of 1957 to 1958, when countries worked together on scientific research in Antarctica. It applies to the entire region south of 60 degrees south latitude, covering nearly 10 per cent of the Earth's surface. Every year on December 1, Antarctica Day is observed to commemorate the signing of the treaty.&nbsp;The treaty was originally signed by 12 countries that participated in Antarctic research during the International Geophysical Year. Today, it has expanded to 58 parties, including Consultative members with voting rights and Non-Consultative members without voting powers.<h2>How the treaty preserved Antarctica for peace</h2>The Antarctic Treaty established that the continent would be used only for peaceful purposes. It prohibits military activities, including the establishment of military bases and weapons testing, while allowing scientific cooperation to continue without restrictions.&nbsp;Another key feature of the agreement is the freezing of territorial claims. The treaty neither recognises nor rejects existing claims, preventing disputes over sovereignty. Seven countries have historical claims in Antarctica, but these remain suspended while the treaty is in force.&nbsp;The agreement also declared Antarctica a nuclear-free zone by banning nuclear explosions and the disposal of radioactive waste. It further requires countries to exchange scientific observations and research findings freely, encouraging international collaboration.&nbsp;Over the years, the treaty has expanded into the Antarctic Treaty System through additional agreements aimed at protecting the continent's fragile environment. These include the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals, the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources and the Madrid Protocol. Adopted in 1991, the protocol designates Antarctica as a "natural reserve, devoted to peace and science" and prohibits all commercial mineral resource extraction.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/as-us-turns-250-77-say-nation-s-founders-would-be-disappointed-with-how-the-country-has-turned-out-gallup-poll-1782440084684">As US turns 250, 77% say nation's founders would be disappointed with how the country has turned out: Gallup poll</a><h2>India's growing scientific presence in Antarctica</h2>India became a signatory to the Antarctic Treaty in 1983 and was granted Consultative status in the same year. It ratified the Madrid Protocol in 1998 and has steadily expanded its scientific presence on the continent.&nbsp;India established its first permanent research station, Dakshin Gangotri, in 1983. Although it has since been decommissioned, it continues to serve as a supply base. The country also opened its first post office there in 1984.&nbsp;The Maitri research station was commissioned in 1989 in the Schirmacher Oasis and remains operational. India later established a freshwater lake nearby, named Lake Priyadarshini, and opened another post office at Maitri on January 26, 1990.&nbsp;In 2012, India commissioned the Bharati research station between Thala Fjord and Quilty Bay, about 3,000 kilometres east of Maitri. Designed to support year-round scientific research under the Indian Antarctic Programme, Bharati also houses the country's second active post office on the icy continent.

The treaty ensures Antarctica is used only for peaceful purposes by banning military activities and promoting scientific cooperation, while also freezing territorial claims to prevent sovereignty disputes.

The Antarctic Treaty, one of the world's most significant international agreements, marks its 65th anniversary in 2026 after entering into force on June 23, 1961. Signed at the height of the Cold War, the treaty transformed Antarctica into a continent dedicated to peace and scientific research, making it a rare example of lasting international cooperation. The agreement was signed in Washington on December 1, 1959, following the successful International Geophysical Year of 1957 to 1958, when countries worked together on scientific research in Antarctica. It applies to the entire region south of 60 degrees south latitude, covering nearly 10 per cent of the Earth's surface. Every year on December 1, Antarctica Day is observed to commemorate the signing of the treaty. The treaty was originally signed by 12 countries that participated in Antarctic research during the International Geophysical Year. Today, it has expanded to 58 parties, including Consultative members with voting rights and Non-Consultative members without voting powers. How the treaty preserved Antarctica for peace The Antarctic Treaty established that the continent would be used only for peaceful purposes. It prohibits military activities, including the establishment of military bases and weapons testing, while allowing scientific cooperation to continue without restrictions. Another key feature of the agreement is the freezing of territorial claims. The treaty neither recognises nor rejects existing claims, preventing disputes over sovereignty. Seven countries have historical claims in Antarctica, but these remain suspended while the treaty is in force. The agreement also declared Antarctica a nuclear-free zone by banning nuclear explosions and the disposal of radioactive waste. It further requires countries to exchange scientific observations and research findings freely, encouraging international collaboration. Over the years, the treaty has expanded into the Antarctic Treaty System through additional agreements aimed at protecting the continent's fragile environment. These include the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals, the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources and the Madrid Protocol. Adopted in 1991, the protocol designates Antarctica as a "natural reserve, devoted to peace and science" and prohibits all commercial mineral resource extraction. Also Read: As US turns 250, 77% say nation's founders would be disappointed with how the country has turned out: Gallup poll India's growing scientific presence in Antarctica India became a signatory to the Antarctic Treaty in 1983 and was granted Consultative status in the same year. It ratified the Madrid Protocol in 1998 and has steadily expanded its scientific presence on the continent. India established its first permanent research station, Dakshin Gangotri, in 1983. Although it has since been decommissioned, it continues to serve as a supply base. The country also opened its first post office there in 1984. The Maitri research station was commissioned in 1989 in the Schirmacher Oasis and remains operational. India later established a freshwater lake nearby, named Lake Priyadarshini, and opened another post office at Maitri on January 26, 1990. In 2012, India commissioned the Bharati research station between Thala Fjord and Quilty Bay, about 3,000 kilometres east of Maitri. Designed to support year-round scientific research under the Indian Antarctic Programme, Bharati also houses the country's second active post office on the icy continent.

The treaty ensures Antarctica is used only for peaceful purposes by banning military activities and promoting scientific cooperation, while also freezing territorial claims to prevent sovereignty disputes.

Wonderful World | Antarctic Treaty turns 65; how one pact kept an entire continent free of war

These extreme cold locations worldwide regularly experience temperatures below -40°C, from Antarctic research stations reaching -93°C to Siberian settlements where residents endure -50°C winters in adapted communities.

10 places where winter temperatures regularly drop below -40°C

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What is Stardust And why was it found in Antarctica?

Antarctic Treaty turns 65; how one pact kept an entire continent free of war

10 places where winter temperatures regularly drop below -40°C