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Harvard Astronomer Avi Loeb Suggests Interstellar Object Could Be Alien Probe

Harvard Astronomer Avi Loeb Suggests Interstellar Object Could Be Alien Probe

NDTV4 days ago
A senior Harvard astronomer has reignited speculation about the origins of a vast interstellar object hurtling through the solar system. He has suggested that it might be an engineered probe instead of a natural phenomenon.
Professor Avi Loeb, who heads Harvard's astronomy department, told CNN on August 7 that the Manhattan-sized body, officially designated 3I/ATLAS, was detected in early July by the Deep Random Survey telescope in Chile.
Comet created by alien technology?
While NASA has said that the comet doesn't pose a threat to the Earth, Loeb believes its characteristics raise questions about whether it could have been created by an intelligent civilisation. In a blog post, he wrote, 'Is 3I/ATLAS alien technology?'
He told CNN, 'Usually, for comets, you see a tail trailing behind the object. Here, the glow is actually in front of it. We've never seen such a thing. A comet doesn't glow in front.'
Loeb described the feature as 'puzzling' in another blog post and speculated on its potential mission. '(3I/ATLAS) may come to save us or destroy us. We'd better be ready for both options and check whether all interstellar objects are rocks,' he said.
NASA says the comet will stay at least 1.8 astronomical units away (around 270 million kilometres) and reach its closest point to the Sun on October 30, 2025.
Why is this comet different?
Comet 3I/ATLAS is only the third confirmed object to originate from beyond the solar system, according to NASA. It has been identified as interstellar due to the hyperbolic shape of its orbit, which does not loop around the Sun.
Two new Hubble Space Telescope images, taken on July 21, appear to show light concentrated ahead of the object rather than behind. In his post, Loeb wrote, 'The existence of a glow ahead of 31/ATLAS but no evidence of gas molecules is puzzling.'
The astrophysicist also pointed to its unusual path. Speaking to CNN, he said, 'It lies in the plane of the orbits of the planets around the Sun to within five degrees. It will arrive closest to the sun when the Earth is on the opposite side. We won't be able to observe it. But that's the perfect time for it to manoeuvre.'
According to Loeb's recent paper, that trajectory could allow the object to discreetly study planetary motion within our system. The closest approach to the Sun is expected on October 31.
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What Happens After Death? Baba Vanga's Insights Vs Science
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What Happens After Death? Baba Vanga's Insights Vs Science

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When a NASA intern stole $21 million worth of Lunar rocks— to impress his girlfriend
When a NASA intern stole $21 million worth of Lunar rocks— to impress his girlfriend

Mint

time8 hours ago

  • Mint

When a NASA intern stole $21 million worth of Lunar rocks— to impress his girlfriend

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NASA intern stole $21 million in Moon rocks, and hid them under a blanket for a bizarre reason
NASA intern stole $21 million in Moon rocks, and hid them under a blanket for a bizarre reason

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NASA intern stole $21 million in Moon rocks, and hid them under a blanket for a bizarre reason

It was one of NASA 's most bizarre scandals, blending science fiction and true-crime thrillers. In 2002, a young intern committed an audacious heist, stealing valuable moon rocks from the Johnson Space Center. What followed was romance, undercover FBI agents, and one of the most bizarre "symbolic gestures" ever attempted. Thad Roberts, a NASA intern, stole moon rocks worth $21 million in 2002 with the help of other interns. The theft, which was inspired by a strange symbolic act, came to an end when an undercover FBI sting recovered the samples. Roberts spent six years in prison, and the rocks were rendered useless for research. Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 4 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 3 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals By Vaibhav Sisinity View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 2 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass Batch-1 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program How did a NASA intern commit a $21 million moon rock theft? Thad Roberts, a 24-year-old University of Utah student majoring in physics, geology, and geophysics, devised a heist plan straight out of a movie in July 2002. Roberts, who was already married and struggling financially, worked as a NASA intern at Houston's Johnson Space Center, where priceless lunar samples from each Apollo mission were stored in a 600-pound safe, as quoted in a report by The NY Post. Roberts conspired with friend Gordon McWhorter and fellow interns Tiffany Fowler and Shae Saur to steal the rocks and sell them to a buyer in Belgium for $1,000 to $5,000 per gram. Live Events Using their NASA IDs, the trio entered the Lunar Sample Lab one night and wheeled the safe away. Inside were approximately 17 pounds of moon rocks and a rare meteorite worth $21 million. ALSO READ: Who was Danielle Spencer, child star of the '70s sitcom, who passed away at 60? What bizarre "symbolic" act followed the robbery? While waiting to meet the alleged buyer, Roberts and Fowler stayed at an Orlando hotel. On July 20, 2002, the 33rd anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, Roberts chose to commemorate the occasion in an unusual way, as quoted in a report by The NY Post. He put moon rocks under the bed covers before being intimate with Fowler, later calling it "symbolic" and describing it as "being intimate on the moon." In a subsequent interview, Roberts admitted that the act was uncomfortable, but emphasized that it was about the meaning, not the experience, as quoted in a report by The NY Post. ALSO READ: Orca attack mystery: What really happened to marine trainer Jessica Radcliffe How did the FBI bring the operation down? The Belgian "buyer" turned out to be working with the FBI. Agents set up a sting operation, planning to meet Roberts and his accomplices in Orlando. When they arrived expecting to conduct a transaction, undercover agents were already waiting, as quoted in a report by The NY Post. The moon rocks were recovered from their hotel room, but at a significant loss. According to the FBI, the theft rendered the samples "virtually useless to the scientific community" and destroyed a NASA scientist's handwritten research notes spanning three decades. Following the Moon Rock caper, Roberts admitted to conspiracy to commit theft and interstate transportation of stolen property. He was sentenced to eight years in federal prison and served six. Fowler and Saur received house arrest and community service, while McWhorter, who was convicted at trial, received a six-year sentence, as quoted in a report by The NY Post. Following his arrest, Roberts admitted to stealing dinosaur bones and fossils from the Natural History Museum in Salt Lake City. His stated goal was to use any money raised to fund scientific research, not to purchase luxury items, which was met with skepticism. The heist remains one of NASA's most notorious security breaches, remembered as much for its audacity as for its bizarre "moon romance" twist. FAQs What were the stolen moon rocks worth? The FBI estimates that the amount is around $21 million. Whatever happened to Thad Roberts? Following his guilty plea, he served six years in federal prison.

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