Number 266 (Story #3), April 12, 1996 by Phillip F. Schewe and Ben Stein THE FIRST X RAYS EVER SEEN COMING FROM A COMET have been observed by the orbiting Rosat x-ray telescope. Without really expecting to see much signal, the Rosat scientists monitored Comet Hyakutake, the brightest comet in more than 20 years, on its swing past Earth a few weeks ago. One provisional explanation for the phenomenon is that x rays from the sun were absorbed by and then reradiated by gas clouds at the comet. Another theory holds that the x rays result from solar wind particles striking the comet. (NASA press release, 27 March.)