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Time of India
14 hours ago
- Science
- Time of India
Interstellar comet or alien tech: Is 3I/ATLAS dropping gadgets near other planets? Here's what a Harvard astronomer says
Space is full of mysteries that have not even been discovered so far, and every year, astronomers come across numerous new objects drifting through the vastness of the universe. Be it distant exoplanets with strange atmospheres or fast-moving asteroids that zip past Earth without warning, each of these comes as a surprise to us. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This time, a mysterious object from beyond our solar system, 3I/ATLAS, has ignited a new wave of excitement about the possibility of alien life in space. Since its discovery on July 1, 2025, the interstellar visitor has intrigued astronomers with its high speed and unusual trajectory. Some researchers believe it may be one of the oldest comets ever observed, while a small group, including Harvard astronomer Avi Loeb, from UK's Initiative for Interstellar Studies in a preprint uploaded to arXiv on July 16, 2025. This paper has controversially suggested it could be a piece of extraterrestrial technology sent by an advanced civilization. Does extra-terrestrial civilisation remain elusive? Loeb, who also leads the Galileo Project, an initiative dedicated to finding signs of alien life, described the theory as a 'pedagogical exercise,' meant more as a thought experiment than a confirmed claim. He wrote in a blog post that if 3I/ATLAS were a 'technological artifact,' it might support the dark forest hypothesis, which suggests extraterrestrial civilizations remain silent to avoid detection by potential threats. 'The consequences, should the hypothesis turn out to be correct, could potentially be dire for humanity,' he warned. However, scientists strongly disagree. According to Darryl Seligman, an astronomer at Michigan State University, 'There have been numerous telescopic observations of 3I/ATLAS suggesting that it's displaying classical signatures of cometary activity,' as reported by Live Science. Samantha Lawler, an astronomer at the University of Regina, added that 3I/ATLAS is most likely 'an ordinary comet that was ejected from another solar system. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now ' NASA has confirmed the discovery of a new interstellar comet, 3I/ATLAS, speeding through our solar system. Spotted by a telescope in Hawaii, the object is likely the biggest yet. It will pass near Mars in October and offers scientists a rare look at materials from another star system. What sets this comet apart from others of its type? The object, traveling at over 2,10,000 km/h, appears to be a massive comet with a coma or an envelope of gas and dust stretching up to 24 km, according to the International Gemini Observatory. Astronomers believe it could be as much as 3 billion years older than our solar system. The paper's authors point to 3I/ATLAS's strange trajectory and speed, noting it entered the solar system from a different angle than previous interstellar visitors like 'Oumuamua or Comet Borisov. Loeb also speculated that the object could avoid detection when closest to the Sun in October by staying hidden on the far side, suggesting it may be dropping off alien 'gadgets' near other planets. Despite Loeb admitting that the alien theory is a long shot, many experts have criticized the speculation. Chris Lintott of the University of Oxford called it 'nonsense on stilts,' saying, 'It's an insult to the exciting work going on to understand this object,' as quoted by Live Science.
Daily Mail
21 hours ago
- Science
- Daily Mail
Harvard scientist warns 'hostile' alien craft could strike Earth in just months
A respected Harvard astrophysicist has revealed new evidence suggesting that the mysterious object barreling toward Earth this December is an alien craft. Professor Avi Loeb and his team found that the supposed comet known as 3I/ATLAS is on an extremely unusual course that will take it close to three different planets: Venus, Mars, and Jupiter. Loeb explained that 3I/ATLAS's course is so rare the chance of a natural space rock randomly flying along that path is less than 0.005 percent. Based on those findings, Loeb, an outspoken believer in UFOs, has concluded that 3I/ATLAS may be an alien probe sent to this solar system by an unknown intelligence. Moreover, Loeb said that such a craft and the beings who control it would have one of two motives, one being harmless and the other being hostile. '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),' Loeb and his team warned in their new study. The researchers' theory emerged from a grim scientific concept called the dark forest hypothesis, which assumes that other intelligent civilizations in the galaxy would be hostile and likely view humanity as a threat that needs to be attacked. In 2021, Loeb theorized that Oumuamua, the first interstellar object which passed through our solar system, may have also been an alien probe, citing its strange cigar-like shape and its ability to speed up without the influence of gravity. In May, Professor Loeb was one of the keynote speakers at a congressional hearing regarding UFO sightings. At that event, he said 'there are objects in the sky that we don't understand' while calling for increased funding for UFO detection. Loeb has also claimed that up to 10 percent of the metal fragments recovered from the Pacific Ocean contain 'alien' elements not seen in our solar system. Those remnants came from a meteor-like object that originated from interstellar space and crashed off the coast of Papua New Guinea in 2014. However, Loeb has maintained that the object could have been an alien craft, or at least debris from one. This month, Loeb and co-authors Adam Drowl and Adam Hibberd from the space research non-profit Initiative for Interstellar Studies found other pieces of evidence that suggest 3I/ATLAS is not your average comet. First, its massive size, which studies estimate as between seven and 12 miles long, would make it significantly larger than Oumuamua (300 to 1,300 feet long). Scientists have said that interstellar objects that large should be extremely rare in the cosmos, making 3I/ATLAS's visit to our solar system a statistical long-shot. Loeb's study also revealed 3I/ATLAS does not have a coma, a cloud of gas and dust that typically surround comets. The team said this suggests the giant object is therefore not a comet, which should have a smaller core and be part of a larger population of interstellar objects. Combined with the one-in-20,000 chance of making close passes by multiple planets this year, Loeb argued the possibility that the object headed toward Earth could be artificial can't be ignored. 'When viewed from an open-minded and unprejudiced perspective, these investigations have revealed many compelling insights into the possibility that 3I/ATLAS is technological,' Loeb explained. Their new study was published to the pre-print server arXiv on July 17, meaning the research has not been peer-reviewed yet. Whether it's a comet or an alien craft, 3I/ATLAS is expected to pass by Earth on December 17, speeding through the solar system at more than 41 miles per second (roughly 150,000 miles per hour). On its current trajectory, it'll come within 2.4 astronomical units of our planet (223 million miles). An astronomical unit (AU) is equal to the distance between Earth and the sun, 93 million miles. Technically, 3I/ATLAS has been in the solar system for weeks, and was roughly four AU away from Earth in early July. In October, it'll make its closest approach to a planet, coming within 0.4 AU (37 million miles) of Mars. Loeb's previous analysis of the massive object has found that it has come from a thicker part of the Milky Way galaxy's disk, where older stars are found. The 12-mile-wide visitor is believed to be older than our sun, which is 4.6 billion years old. The July 10 study in Astronomy & Astrophysics found 3I/ATLAS took about 800 million years to travel across part of the Milky Way to reach our solar system.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Science
- Daily Mail
Scientists give chilling update on the mysterious 'interstellar object' racing through our solar system – as they warn it's even BIGGER than we thought
It was first discovered on July 1, sparking fears of an alien invasion. Now, scientists have provided a chilling update on the mysterious 'interstellar object' racing through our solar system. Using data from the Vera C Rubin Observatory, experts have revealed just how big the object, dubbed 3I/ATLAS, really is. According to their analysis, the object measures roughly seven miles (11.2km) in diameter. That's even bigger than Mount Everest – making 3I/ATLAS the largest interstellar object ever spotted. Professor Avi Loeb, a theoretical physicist and cosmologist from Harvard University, has suggested that the object could be an alien spacecraft. However, not everyone is so convinced. Chris Lintott, an astronomer at the University of Oxford, told Live Science: 'Any suggestion that it's artificial is nonsense on stilts, and is an insult to the exciting work going on to understand this object.' The images of the comet were actually snapped by Vera C Rubin before it was officially discovered. However, since it was identified on July 1, scientists have scoured back through the data to find out more about the mysterious object. In a new study, published on arXiv, more than 200 researchers have confirmed the likely size of the comet's main body, known as its nucleus. Their analysis suggests that the nucleus has a radius of around 3.5 miles (5.6km). That translates to a diameter – or width – of about seven miles (11.2km). To put that into perspective, that's even bigger than Mount Everest (5.4 miles), and almost twice the size of Mount Kilimanjaro (3.6 miles)! That makes 3I/ATLAS the largest of the three confirmed interstellar objects discovered to date. For comparison, 'Oumuamua, which was discovered in 2017, was believed to be around 0.2 miles (0.4km) wide, while Comet Borisov, discovered in 2019, was roughly 0.6 miles (1km) wide. Beyond size, the researchers were also able to ascertain details on 3I/ATLAS's coma – the cloud of ice, dust and gas surrounding it. Based on the images, the researchers predict that the comet has large amounts of dust and ice in the coma. For alien hunters, this will likely come as disappointing news. This composition suggests that 3I/ATLAS is likely a natural comet, and not an alien probe. Previously speaking to MailOnline, Professor Loeb pointed to 3I/ATLAS's impressive speed of 130,000mph as an indication that it might be controlled by aliens. 'It is difficult to imagine a natural process that would favour a plunge towards the inner solar system at 60 kilometres per second,' he said. 'An alternative is that the object targets the inner solar system by some technological design.'
News18
a day ago
- Science
- News18
3I/ATLAS Is Racing Toward Earth At 209,214 KM/H – Could It Be An Alien Probe?
Last Updated: Mysterious object 3I/ATLAS is hurtling toward Earth at over 209,000 KM/H. Some scientists say it's just a comet, others suspect it could be an alien probe A baffling space object known as 3I/ATLAS is racing towards Earth at a staggering 209,214 km/h, stirring heated debate among astronomers. First observed on July 1, the object quickly revealed itself as the third interstellar visitor ever documented, only after the famous 'Oumuamua and Borisov. Its remarkable speed, unusual approach angle, and remarkable journey through the solar system have set it apart from any previously observed entity. While a majority of scientists interpret 3I/ATLAS as a conventional comet originating from beyond our solar system, a more speculative theory has captured public attention. Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb proposes that the object might be an alien surveillance device, driven by its trajectory, silent passage through planetary orbits, and speed. He suggests these could point to intentional design rather than chance. Supporting this idea, Loeb and his team, Adam Hibbard and Adam Croll, invoked the Dark Forest Theory, which posits that advanced extraterrestrial civilisations may choose to remain hidden to avoid hostile encounters. According to them, 3I/ATLAS could represent a cautious probe performing reconnaissance without drawing attention. Ancient Material Older Than Our Solar System It is projected to pass closest to the Sun towards the end of November, offering a rare opportunity for close study. Skepticism And Scientific Debate Not all experts are convinced by the alien surveillance hypothesis. Canadian astronomer Samantha Lawler has countered that 3I/ATLAS is likely just another interstellar comet. She also noted that Loeb's hypothesis is not yet peer-reviewed, emphasising that the notion of an alien origin is speculative at best. Even Loeb acknowledges the possibility that the object may be entirely natural in origin, despite its unusual characteristics. Invisible At Closest Approach – Coincidence Or Cover? Intriguingly, 3I/ATLAS will not be visible from Earth around the time it passes closest to the Sun, making direct observation difficult. Avi Loeb suggests this invisibility could be purposeful, if the object is indeed an alien probe; staying hidden might be part of its strategy to avoid detection. view comments First Published: July 28, 2025, 14:21 IST 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.
News18
a day ago
- Science
- News18
Is Earth In Danger? Mystery Object May Be ‘Hostile' Alien Spacecraft Approaching Our Planet
The mystery object is on a stealth path through the inner Solar System, and Earth's fastest rockets aren't nearly quick enough to intercept it A strange object the size of a small city is hurtling through our Solar System, and a team of scientists think it might not be just a comet. In fact, they're toying with a far more dramatic possibility: that it could be alien technology, potentially even 'hostile", hiding behind the Sun. The object, officially named 3I/ATLAS (and earlier known as A11pl3Z), was first spotted on July 1 by a telescope in Chile. Within 24 hours, scientists confirmed it had come from outside our Solar System, making it just the third known interstellar visitor ever recorded, according to Live Science. It's not small either. Estimates say it measures 10 to 20 kilometres wide, making it potentially larger in area than Manhattan, and it's tearing through space at over 130,000 mph (60 km per second). Over the next few months, it's expected to swing past Jupiter, Mars and Venus, before disappearing behind the Sun in late November, out of sight from Earth. Is It Just A Rock Or Something More? A new, non-peer-reviewed scientific paper published on July 16 has turned heads for suggesting that this might not be a comet at all, but an extraterrestrial spacecraft on a stealth mission. The study was written by Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb, known for his bold claims about alien life, along with researchers Adam Hibberd and Adam Crowl from the Initiative for Interstellar Studies in London. They're not claiming this is definitely alien, but they are proposing a testable theory. In their words, it's 'an interesting exercise in its own right," worth exploring 'irrespective of its likely validity." Still, they warn that if the theory does hold true, the consequences could be serious, even requiring 'defensive measures," though they admit those might not be effective. A Suspicious Flight Path? So why the suspicion? Loeb and his co-authors point to the object's trajectory, which is oddly precise. It's moving faster than the last interstellar visitor, ʻOumuamua', and it entered the Solar System from a different angle, which, they suggest, could offer 'various benefits to an extraterrestrial intelligence." Even more puzzling, the object's orbital path is aligned with Earth's within just 5 degrees. Loeb told Newsweek that the odds of this happening randomly are only 0.2 per cent. In his view, this could mean the object is deliberately targeting the inner Solar System, something one might expect from alien tech. Then there's the route itself. 3I/ATLAS is set to make close passes by three major planets — Venus, Mars and Jupiter — which scientists say is highly improbable without calculated guidance. According to the Mirror UK, the chances of such a path occurring by chance are less than 0.005 per cent. The timing also raises eyebrows. In late November, the object will pass behind the Sun, making it invisible to Earth-based telescopes. Loeb speculates this might not be a coincidence. 'This could be intentional to avoid detailed observations from Earth-based telescopes when the object is brightest or when gadgets are sent to Earth from that hidden vantage point," he wrote in a blog post. They even suggest the planetary flybys could allow for 'gadgets" to be planted, spy tech dropped off on Mars, Venus or Jupiter en route. Unfortunately, even if Earth wanted to investigate, we simply can't catch up. Loeb notes that our fastest rockets can only reach a third of 3I/ATLAS's speed, making a rendezvous impossible with current technology. The theory has sparked curiosity online, but not everyone is convinced. Samantha Lawler, an astronomer at Canada's University of Regina, says the evidence points clearly to a natural comet, one that was simply ejected from another solar system, as billions of others likely have been. Others were more critical. Chris Lintott from the University of Oxford, who helped trace the object's galactic origin, dismissed the alien theory outright, calling it 'nonsense on stilts" and saying it undermines the real science being done by teams worldwide. Even Loeb concedes the most probable explanation is that 3I/ATLAS is just another icy interstellar wanderer. 'By far, the most likely outcome will be that 3I/ATLAS is a completely natural interstellar object, probably a comet," he said. This Isn't Loeb's First Rodeo This isn't the first time Loeb has floated the idea of alien probes in our cosmic neighbourhood. Back in 2022, he revived global buzz around ʻOumuamua', the cigar-shaped interstellar object spotted in 2017. He suggested it could be a 'lightsail" — a spacecraft powered by light particles — or even a deliberately sent probe from an alien civilisation. 'Oumuamua may be a fully operational probe sent intentionally to Earth vicinity by an alien civilisation," he wrote at the time. So What Now? For now, astronomers across the world are closely tracking 3I/ATLAS as it continues its journey toward the Sun. Whether it turns out to be a piece of cosmic spyware or just an unusually fast space rock, it has already reignited one of humanity's oldest questions — are we really alone out here? About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk More Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : alien invasion comet spacecraft view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: July 28, 2025, 14:01 IST News world Is Earth In Danger? Mystery Object May Be 'Hostile' Alien Spacecraft Approaching Our Planet 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.
