In a first, scientists observe a comet reversing its spin: "Like pushing a merry-go-round"

TL;DR

Comet 41P/Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresák has shown a unique event where its rotation reversed.
Data from 2017 showed the comet's rotation dramatically slowed and then accelerated in the opposite direction.
Heat from the sun caused ice on the comet's surface to melt, creating gas jets that acted as thrusters.
These jets slowed the comet's original spin, eventually forcing it to rotate in the opposite direction.
The comet's small nucleus and evolving surface contribute to these rapid rotational changes.
Continued instability may lead to the comet's fragmentation or disintegration.
The discovery highlights the value of publicly accessible archival data for new scientific findings.

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