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News18
5 days ago
- Science
- News18
‘They're Intelligent & Hostile': This ‘Alien' Tech Object Is Near Earth! On October 30, It Will...
Last Updated: According to NASA, the so-called 'alien tech object' will come within about 130 million miles of Earth on October 30. A mysterious object speeding through our Solar System has caught the attention of astronomers around the world and some believe it may not be just a comet. With its unusual movement and interstellar origin, a new theory suggests it could be alien technology. The object, named 3I/ATLAS, is set to pass relatively close to Earth on October 30. While many experts say it's likely a natural icy comet, a fresh claim from a group of researchers led by Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb is raising eyebrows. What Is 3I/ATLAS? 3I/ATLAS was first detected earlier in July by a NASA-funded telescope in Chile, part of the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS). When it was spotted, it appeared to be an unknown object entering Earth's neighbourhood from outside the Solar System which makes it one of three known interstellar objects ever discovered. The object is large measuring over 12 miles wide and is traveling at a speed of 37 miles per second. According to NASA, it will pass within about 130 million miles of Earth on October 30. Avi Loeb's Alien Theory 'This hypothesis proposes that our cosmic neighborhood is dangerous, filled with intelligent civilizations that are hostile and silent to avoid detection by potential predators," Loeb wrote in a post on online platform Medium. However, several experts have strongly pushed back against Loeb's dramatic theory. Speaking to LiveScience, University of Oxford astronomer Chris Lintott, who was part of the team that simulated 3I/ATLAS's galactic origins, dismissed the idea of it being alien-made. 'Any suggestion that it's artificial is nonsense on stilts, and is an insult to the exciting work going on to understand this object," Lintott said. Loeb too has clarified that the likelihood of 3I/ATLAS being alien technology remains very low. 'By far, the most likely outcome will be that 3I/ATLAS is a completely natural interstellar object, probably a comet," he wrote in the blog post. Not Avi Loeb's First Time This is not the first time Loeb has raised the possibility of alien artifacts. In 2017, he famously suggested that another interstellar object, Oumuamua, could have been an alien spacecraft. Last year, he also led a mission to recover fragments of a meteor named IM1 from the ocean floor near Papua New Guinea which had crashed in 2014. He later said the metallic spheres retrieved were composed of substance unmatched to any existing alloys in our solar system. The only other time an interstellar object has been spotted travelling through our solar system occurred in 2019 when comet Borisov passed by. JD Vance Says He's 'Obsessed' With UFOs The curiosity around unidentified objects in space has also caught the attention of US political leaders. Vice President JD Vance recently revealed that he is 'obsessed" with the UFO phenomenon. 'Like I'm obsessed with the whole UFO thing. 'What's actually going on?' 'What were those videos all about?'" Vance said during a recent appearance on the Ruthless Podcast. He added, 'I haven't gotten to the bottom of it yet but we're only six months in, we've been very busy." Another key figure from the previous administration, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has also expressed serious concern about UFOs. In an interview with NewsNation in 2023, he once claimed that top officials had 'first-hand knowledge" of a secret Pentagon crash retrieval program. Buzz Staff A team of writers at bring you stories on what's creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture. News18's viral page features trending stories, videos, and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Economic Times
30-07-2025
- Science
- Economic Times
3I/ATLAS Interstellar Comet or Alien Spacecraft? Here's complete truth
iStock NASA confirms 3I/ATLAS as an interstellar object; some scientists suggest it may be alien in origin. 3I/ATLAS Interstellar Comet or Alien Spacecraft? Let's find out. In July 2025, astronomers identified a new object passing through the solar system. Named 3I/ATLAS, this interstellar object became the subject of global attention. While it is officially classified as a comet, one team of researchers has introduced a controversial idea: Could it be an alien spacecraft? The debate raises questions about what we know about space and what may lie beyond.3I/ATLAS was first observed in July 2025 by a telescope in Chile that is part of NASA's Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS). The telescope initially detected what appeared to be an unknown asteroid. The discovery was reported to the Minor Planet Center. Follow-up observations confirmed the object was a comet, later named 3I/ATLAS. Scientists established that it had interstellar origins, making it the third known object to enter the solar system from beyond. Also Read: Denise Richards Aaron Phypers Ugly Court Battle: Star accuses estranged husband of… Here's what she said NASA estimates that 3I/ATLAS is more than 12 miles wide. It is traveling at 37 miles per second relative to the Sun. On October 30, 2025, it will come within about 130 million miles of Earth. Most scientists agree that 3I/ATLAS has the features of a typical icy comet. These include a trajectory and speed consistent with other known interstellar astrophysicist Avi Loeb and two other researchers recently released a paper suggesting an alternate possibility. Published on July 16, 2025, on the preprint server arXiv, the paper questions whether 3I/ATLAS could be alien is known for encouraging scientists to consider extraterrestrial explanations. He co-founded the Galileo Project, which focuses on scientifically searching for alien a blog post, Loeb described the paper as a 'pedagogical exercise.' He explained that it explores the unusual trajectory of the object and does not claim a definitive conclusion. He also noted that the hypothesis suggests that intelligent civilizations might avoid detection to protect themselves from cosmic experts have dismissed the theory. Chris Lintott, an Oxford University astronomer involved in tracing 3I/ATLAS's origin, called the alien theory 'nonsense' in a statement to Live Science. He emphasized that it distracts from ongoing himself admitted that the object is most likely a natural comet. However, he believes that exploring different possibilities can lead to scientific discovery. Also Read: Leagues Cup 2025 New Format Explained: Start, end date, teams, structure, grouping, rules, points system, ranking, tickets, how to watch and stream online This is not the first time Loeb has made such claims. In 2017, he suggested that the interstellar object Oumuamua could be alien technology. The object had a strange shape and accelerated near the Sun. Loeb proposed that it moved like a light sail, a method that could be used by intelligent 2023, Loeb recovered fragments from a meteor labeled IM1 that struck Earth in 2014. He claimed the metallic spherules found off Papua New Guinea were interstellar and unmatched by known solar system alloys. The origin—natural or artificial—remains 3I/ATLAS, only two other interstellar objects had been confirmed. Oumuamua was detected in 2017. Comet Borisov passed through in 2019. Both sparked discussions among scientists about what they could tell us about other star systems. What is 3I/ATLAS and why is it important? 3I/ATLAS is an interstellar comet observed in 2025. It is only the third known object to enter our solar system from beyond, raising questions about cosmic activity. Did scientists confirm 3I/ATLAS is an alien spacecraft? No. Most scientists believe it is a comet. One theory by Avi Loeb explores the idea of alien origin but is not backed by evidence or peer-reviewed.
Time of India
30-07-2025
- Science
- Time of India
3I/ATLAS Interstellar Comet or Alien Spacecraft? Here's complete truth
3I/ATLAS Interstellar Comet or Alien Spacecraft? Let's find out. In July 2025, astronomers identified a new object passing through the solar system. Named 3I/ATLAS, this interstellar object became the subject of global attention. While it is officially classified as a comet, one team of researchers has introduced a controversial idea: Could it be an alien spacecraft? The debate raises questions about what we know about space and what may lie beyond. 3I/ATLAS NASA Statement 3I/ATLAS was first observed in July 2025 by a telescope in Chile that is part of NASA's Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS). The telescope initially detected what appeared to be an unknown asteroid. The discovery was reported to the Minor Planet Center. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Artificial Intelligence MBA Technology Degree others Finance Leadership CXO Digital Marketing Cybersecurity Product Management Data Science Healthcare MCA Project Management Public Policy Data Analytics Design Thinking Others healthcare PGDM Data Science Management Operations Management Skills you'll gain: Duration: 7 Months S P Jain Institute of Management and Research CERT-SPJIMR Exec Cert Prog in AI for Biz India Starts on undefined Get Details Follow-up observations confirmed the object was a comet, later named 3I/ATLAS. Scientists established that it had interstellar origins, making it the third known object to enter the solar system from beyond. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo Also Read: Denise Richards Aaron Phypers Ugly Court Battle: Star accuses estranged husband of… Here's what she said 3I/ATLAS Interstellar Comet or Alien Spacecraft? NASA estimates that 3I/ATLAS is more than 12 miles wide. It is traveling at 37 miles per second relative to the Sun. On October 30, 2025, it will come within about 130 million miles of Earth. Live Events Most scientists agree that 3I/ATLAS has the features of a typical icy comet. These include a trajectory and speed consistent with other known interstellar objects. Harvard Astrophysicist Avi Loeb Proposes Alien Technology Theory Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb and two other researchers recently released a paper suggesting an alternate possibility. Published on July 16, 2025, on the preprint server arXiv, the paper questions whether 3I/ATLAS could be alien technology. Loeb is known for encouraging scientists to consider extraterrestrial explanations. He co-founded the Galileo Project, which focuses on scientifically searching for alien artifacts. In a blog post, Loeb described the paper as a 'pedagogical exercise.' He explained that it explores the unusual trajectory of the object and does not claim a definitive conclusion. He also noted that the hypothesis suggests that intelligent civilizations might avoid detection to protect themselves from cosmic threats. 3I/ATLAS Interstellar Comet or Alien Spacecraft? Scientific Community Responds with Skepticism Many experts have dismissed the theory. Chris Lintott, an Oxford University astronomer involved in tracing 3I/ATLAS's origin, called the alien theory 'nonsense' in a statement to Live Science. He emphasized that it distracts from ongoing research. Loeb himself admitted that the object is most likely a natural comet. However, he believes that exploring different possibilities can lead to scientific discovery. Also Read: Leagues Cup 2025 New Format Explained: Start, end date, teams, structure, grouping, rules, points system, ranking, tickets, how to watch and stream online Avi Loeb's Previous Claims About Interstellar Objects This is not the first time Loeb has made such claims. In 2017, he suggested that the interstellar object Oumuamua could be alien technology. The object had a strange shape and accelerated near the Sun. Loeb proposed that it moved like a light sail, a method that could be used by intelligent beings. In 2023, Loeb recovered fragments from a meteor labeled IM1 that struck Earth in 2014. He claimed the metallic spherules found off Papua New Guinea were interstellar and unmatched by known solar system alloys. The origin—natural or artificial—remains unclear. Interstellar Visitors in Past Before 3I/ATLAS, only two other interstellar objects had been confirmed. Oumuamua was detected in 2017. Comet Borisov passed through in 2019. Both sparked discussions among scientists about what they could tell us about other star systems. FAQs What is 3I/ATLAS and why is it important? 3I/ATLAS is an interstellar comet observed in 2025. It is only the third known object to enter our solar system from beyond, raising questions about cosmic activity. Did scientists confirm 3I/ATLAS is an alien spacecraft? No. Most scientists believe it is a comet. One theory by Avi Loeb explores the idea of alien origin but is not backed by evidence or peer-reviewed.
USA Today
30-07-2025
- Science
- USA Today
Could comet 3I/ATLAS be alien technology? Controversial Harvard astrophysicist says yes
An interstellar object whizzing through our solar system was widely determined to be a comet. But a trio of researchers led by Avi Loeb recently posed a different idea. One thing about 3I/ATLAS is for certain: It's definitely not from Earth's solar system. But what exactly is the intriguing interstellar object discovered speeding through our cosmic neighborhood? Most astrophysicists widely agree that 3I/ATLAS displays all the tell-tale signs of an icy comet. Now, a trio of researchers led by Avi Loeb, a controversial astrophysicist from Harvard University, are positing a very different theory: What if 3I/ATLAS isn't just some random space rock that incurred upon our solar system by happenstance, but an intelligently controlled alien spacecraft? Even the authors of the recent research paper posing the wild idea aren't completely sold on it, but – hey – extraterrestrial visitors are always fun to think about. Black holes: Physicists detect largest-ever merger of 2 black holes equal in size to 240 suns What is 3I/ATLAS? A comet known as 3I/ATLAS made news earlier in July when it was confirmed to have originated outside of Earth's solar system, making it just one of three known interstellar objects ever discovered in our cosmic neighborhood. What's more, the object, which scientists estimate to be more than 12 miles wide, is whizzing at 37 miles per second relative to the sun on a trajectory that on Oct. 30 will bring it within about 130 million miles of Earth, according to NASA. A telescope in Chile – part of the NASA-funded Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) – was the first to spot what initially looked like an unknown asteroid on a path potentially coming close to Earth's orbit. The observation was reported to the Minor Planet Center, the official authority for observing and reporting new asteroids, comets and other small bodies in the solar system. The object, eventually confirmed as a comet and named 3I/ATLAS, was later confirmed to have interstellar origins after follow-up observations. Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb suggests 3I/ATLAS is alien tech But is 3I/ATLAS definitely an icy comet? A trio of researchers that most prominently includes Avi Loeb, an astrophysicist at Harvard University, recently published a paper speculating about whether the object could be "hostile" alien technology. Loeb, who is renowned for encouraging astrophysicists to have an open mind about extraterrestrials, is the co-founder of the Galileo Project, a research program at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics dedicated to the scientific search for extraterrestrials. The recent paper that Loeb co-authored, uploaded July 16 to the preprint server arXiv, is more a "pedagogical exercise" examining the unusual trajectory of 3I/ATLAS and how fast it is traveling through space than a study meant to offer definitive conclusions. The paper has also, it's important to say, not been peer-reviewed. Loeb further explained the new paper in a blog post on Medium, writing that it was simply an "interesting exercise in its own right, and is fun to explore." "This hypothesis proposes that our cosmic neighborhood is dangerous, filled with intelligent civilizations that are hostile and silent to avoid detection by potential predators," Loeb wrote. However, experts who spoke to science news website LiveScience cast serious doubt on Loeb's sensational theory. "Any suggestion that it's artificial is nonsense on stilts, and is an insult to the exciting work going on to understand this object," Chris Lintott, an astronomer at the University of Oxford who was part of the team that simulated 3I/ATLAS's galactic origins, told Live Science. Even Loeb admits that 3I/ATLAS being alien technology is unlikely. "By far, the most likely outcome will be that 3I/ATLAS is a completely natural interstellar object, probably a comet," he wrote in the blog post. Loeb previously claimed metallic spheres were extraterrestrial This is far from the first time that Loeb had theorized that an object in our solar system could be not only interstellar, but an extraterrestrial artifact. Loeb made headlines in August 2023 when he claimed that remnants of a meteor he and a team recovered in the Pacific Ocean were interstellar in origin. An unusual meteorite Loeb and his team named IM1 had crashed into Earth's atmosphere in 2014. The researchers then retrieved suspected remnants of the meteor in June 2023 off the coast of Papua New Guinea. By August, Loeb announced that early analysis suggested the metallic spherules were composed of substance unmatched to any existing alloys in our solar system. At the time, Loeb did not yet have an answer to the question of whether the metallic spheres were either artificial or natural in origin. Loeb also theorized that comet Oumuamua was alien spaceship In 2017, the comet Oumuamua, Hawaiian for 'scout' or 'messenger,' became the first interstellar object ever detected flying through the solar system, puzzling scientists with its strange shape and trajectory. But Loeb posited that the comet − as long as a football field and thin like a cigar − was able to accelerate as it approached the sun by harnessing its solar power as a "light sail," not unlike the way a ship's sail catches the wind. Because no natural phenomenon would be capable of such space travel, Loeb was essentially suggesting Oumuamua could have been an alien spaceship. A study in March explained the comet's odd orbit as a simple physical mechanism thought to be common among many icy comets: outgassing of hydrogen as the comet warmed in the sunlight. The only other time an interstellar object has been spotted traveling through our solar system occurred in 2019 when comet Borisov passed by. Contributing: Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@
Daily Mirror
25-07-2025
- Science
- Daily Mirror
Mystery object spotted in space 'may be alien spacecraft coming to attack Earth'
A new research paper, written by a prominent Harvard astrophysicist, has claimed a mystery object in our Solar System could be an alien spacecraft which may attack Earth in just months A mysterious object the size of Manhattan could be a hostile alien spacecraft and may attack Earth in November, according to a new study. Earlier this month, experts confirmed the discovery of a rare interstellar visitor, the third ever detected, hurtling through our Solar System at extraordinary speed. A draft scientific paper, which was published on Tuesday, has proposed that the object, 3I/ATLAS, might be alien technology and could make a surprise attack on our planet. The researchers suggest the object's orbit is such that it would make it easier for an intelligent alien craft to approach Earth without being noticed. The report claims that when it gets closest to the Sun in late November, the object will be hidden from Earth's view, allowing it to carry out a secret high-speed manoeuvre to slow down and stay in the Solar System to secretly prepare for an attack. Scientists add that 3I/ATLAS has an unusual path that comes very close to planets like Venus, Mars and Jupiter, something very unlikely to happen by chance, with less than 0.005% probability. One of the authors of the paper, which is not yet peer-reviewed, is Avi Loeb, a prominent Harvard astrophysicist known for his provocative research and outspoken views on the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. He gained widespread attention for suggesting the 2017 interstellar object ʻOumuamua might be an artificial probe created by an alien civilisation, based on its unusual acceleration and shape. His co-authors are Adam Hibberd and Adam Crowl from the Initiative for Interstellar Studies in London. The authors make it clear that their paper is purely from a hypothetical point of view and not necessarily something they believe to be true. They write: "This paper is contingent on a remarkable but, as we shall show, testable hypothesis, to which the authors do not necessarily ascribe, yet is certainly worthy of an analysis and a report." However, they warn in the study: "The consequences, should the hypothesis turn out to be correct, could potentially be dire for humanity, and would possibly require defensive measures to be undertaken (though these might prove futile)." The study goes on to say: "The hypothesis is an interesting exercise in its own right, and is fun to pursue, irrespective of its likely validity." The object, now officially designated 3I/ATLAS (previously known as A11pl3Z), is believed to have come from a distant star system and is travelling at over 60 kilometres per second. 3I/ATLAS was first spotted on July 1 by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) survey telescope at Río Hurtado, Chile. Estimates suggest it could be between 10 and 20 kilometres wide, though it may be smaller if composed mostly of reflective ice.
