A mysterious visitor from beyond our solar system is once again stirring excitement—and controversy—in the scientific community. Comet 3I/ATLAS, first spotted in July 2025 by the ATLAS survey telescope, has revealed bizarre new behavior in recent observations, prompting Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb to suggest it might not be a natural object at all.
Could this be evidence of alien technology? Loeb thinks the possibility deserves serious consideration.
A Comet That Defies Expectations
3I/ATLAS is only the third confirmed interstellar object ever detected (after ‘Oumuamua in 2017 and Borisov in 2019). But unlike its predecessors, this one is putting on a strange show.
- Detected: July 2025
- Origin: Outside our solar system
- Perihelion (closest to Sun): October 29, 2025 (~1.36 AU)
- Latest observations: Nordic Optical Telescope, Canary Islands (September 2025)
What’s raising eyebrows? The comet’s anti-solar tail—a stream of material pointing toward the Sun instead of away from it—suddenly flipped direction in September.
“The anti-tail turned into a tail,” researchers reported.
That’s not supposed to happen with natural comets.
Loeb’s Bold Hypothesis: Alien Spacecraft Braking?
In a new paper, Loeb and colleague Adam Hibberd propose a radical explanation:
“If the object is an alien spacecraft slowing down, and the anti-tail is braking thrust, then this change from anti-tail to tail would be entirely expected near perihelion.”
According to Loeb, this flip could be a technosignature—evidence of controlled maneuvering—possibly to enter a stable orbit between Mars and Jupiter.
He calls it a potential “high-impact Black Swan event”.
Other anomalies include:
- A gas jet pointed toward the Sun
- No typical cometary tail
- Emission of nickel tetracarbonyl—a compound never before seen in natural comets
The object is also absorbing up to 33 gigawatts of solar radiation, shedding material as it hurtles inward.
Skepticism from the Scientific Community
Not everyone is convinced.
NASA has stated that 3I/ATLAS will pass Earth at a safe distance and poses no threat. Most astronomers classify it as a comet with unusual—but natural—properties.
“It has comet-like behavior,” say skeptics.
The International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN) has added 3I/ATLAS to its observation list, calling it a “great opportunity” for study due to its prolonged visibility.
Why This Matters
Whether natural or artificial, 3I/ATLAS is a scientific goldmine. Interstellar objects are rare windows into other star systems. Every anomaly challenges our understanding of cometary physics.
And while Loeb’s alien craft theory remains unproven (and unconfirmed by space agencies), it forces us to ask: What if we’re not alone—and one of them just flew by?
What’s Next?
Astronomers worldwide are training telescopes on 3I/ATLAS as it swings around the Sun tomorrow, October 29, 2025. Mars orbiters have already captured rare images of it zooming past the Red Planet.
More data is coming. And with it, perhaps answers—or bigger questions.
Source: NDTV Science
What do you think? Natural comet… or something more? Drop your thoughts in the comments below. 🚀👽
