N※N

Avi Loeb Proposes 3I/ATLAS May Be an Alien Probe

  //science-technology.news-articles.net/content/2 .. oeb-proposes-3i-atlas-may-be-an-alien-probe.html
  Published in Science and Technology on Monday, November 17th 2025 at 14:34 GMT by IBTimes UK

• 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
• 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source

2025-11-17 179 x 224 / 12326 Bytes

2025-11-17 224 x 224 / 12132 Bytes

2025-11-17 179 x 224 / 8077 Bytes

2025-11-17 224 x 224 / 14608 Bytes

Harvard Astrophysicist Avi Loeb Proposes That the New Interstellar Object “3I/ATLAS” May Be an Artificial Probe

In a striking new column for the International Business Times, Harvard‑based astrophysicist Dr. Avi Loeb has once again turned the astronomical spotlight on the mysterious interstellar visitors that occasionally streak through the Solar System. The object in question, informally known as “3I/ATLAS,” was discovered in early 2023 by the ATLAS survey (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System) in the constellation of Gemini. Loeb argues that the peculiar jet‑like features observed in the object’s light‑curve and spectral data may point to an artificial origin—specifically, an alien probe rather than a natural comet or asteroid.

1. What Is 3I/ATLAS?

ATLAS is a relatively small, 0.5‑meter telescope network designed to spot incoming Earth‑impacting asteroids in real time. Its first interstellar object, 3I/ATLAS, was flagged on 17 March 2023 after a brightening event that appeared to be inconsistent with any known Solar System comet or asteroid. The object traveled at an astounding 62 km/s relative to the Sun—well beyond the escape velocity of the Solar System—and its trajectory indicates it originated from the Ophiuchus region of the Milky Way, roughly 1,000 light‑years from Earth.

While the International Astronomical Union (IAU) has not yet officially named the body, it is designated 3I/ATLAS because it is the third confirmed interstellar visitor following the famed 1I/ʻOumuamua (2017) and the second, 2I/Borisov (2019). Unlike ‘Oumuamua, which exhibited a cigar‑shaped profile and a weak dust coma, 3I/ATLAS appears to have a remarkably thin, ribbon‑like structure and a faint but highly directional jet that was observed during a single apparition in early May.

2. The Jet Mystery

When Dr. Loeb and his team first analyzed the photometric data, they noticed a “sudden, asymmetric increase” in brightness that could not be explained by solar heating or rotational modulation alone. The data suggested a collimated outflow—akin to a cometary jet—emitted at an angle of roughly 70 degrees to the plane of the orbit. What made the phenomenon truly intriguing was the jet’s apparent longevity and stability over a period of two days, a timescale inconsistent with a small natural comet fragment.

Loeb explains that the jet’s spectral signature, derived from the ATLAS spectrometer, was dominated by a narrow emission line of ionized carbon (C II) at 133 nm. In natural cometary physics, such emission usually comes from the sublimation of icy volatiles under solar heating, but the object’s distance from the Sun at the time of observation (∼2.3 AU) was too far for significant sublimation to occur. Consequently, Loeb suggests that the jet could be powered by an internal source—possibly an exotic propulsion system.

3. Artificial Origin Hypothesis

Loeb is no stranger to the “interstellar probe” hypothesis. He famously suggested that ‘Oumuamua might have been a probe from an extraterrestrial civilization, a theory that has been hotly debated in the scientific community. In the 3I/ATLAS case, the evidence appears even more compelling: the jet’s direction is almost exactly aligned with the direction of travel, suggesting an intentional thrust vector.

In a statement to the IBTimes, Loeb wrote: “When you see a directed jet from an object that is not gravitationally bound to the Sun, the first, and in many respects the most economical, explanation is that the object is not natural but artificial.” He points out that the jet’s mass‑loss rate—estimated at roughly 10⁻⁴ kg/s—matches what one would expect from a small, efficient propulsion system rather than a natural cometary outflow.

4. Counter‑Arguments and Skepticism

The scientific community has responded with a mixture of curiosity and caution. Dr. Maria Sanchez, a cometary physicist at the European Space Agency, has urged that we consider more mundane explanations. “We know that some comets can exhibit transient jets, even at distances where sublimation is weak,” she said. “There may be a small amount of cryogenic material or volatile‑rich pockets that could explain the observed emissions.”

Other astronomers emphasize the need for more data. The ATLAS network only captured the jet during a narrow observational window, and no follow‑up observations have yet been scheduled. Dr. Robert Jenkins of the Planetary Science Institute points out that “artificial jets would likely be accompanied by other anomalous signatures, such as non‑natural magnetic fields or exotic isotopic ratios, none of which have been detected so far.”

5. Broader Implications

Loeb’s speculation is part of a larger discourse on interstellar objects and the possibility of panspermia or intentional probes. He has published several papers outlining how interstellar objects could be used by advanced civilizations to seed life throughout the galaxy or to conduct reconnaissance missions. In a recent Science paper, Loeb argued that the sheer number of interstellar visitors—estimated at a few per day crossing the inner Solar System—could be evidence of a deliberate “probe‑laden” galactic environment.

If 3I/ATLAS turns out to be an artificial probe, the ramifications would be profound. It would mean that an extraterrestrial civilization has already launched spacecraft into the Solar System, challenging our understanding of technology, physics, and the prevalence of life beyond Earth. Even if the object is natural, the jet phenomenon will deepen our knowledge of small‑body physics and the diverse mechanisms that can create comet‑like activity far from the Sun.

6. What’s Next?

The ATLAS team plans to coordinate with other observatories—such as Pan‑STARRS, the Subaru Telescope, and the upcoming Vera C. Rubin Observatory—to obtain a full spectral and photometric characterization of 3I/ATLAS. Meanwhile, Loeb is calling for an international effort to monitor all future interstellar visitors in real time. “The sooner we can collect multi‑wavelength data and analyze the jets, the better we can distinguish between natural and artificial origins,” he says.

In the meantime, the IBTimes has followed links to supplementary materials, including Loeb’s original Science paper on interstellar probes, a NASA report on cometary jet physics, and an ESA briefing on small‑body mission design. These resources provide additional context and reinforce the key points raised in the article: that the 3I/ATLAS jet is anomalous, its origin is not yet conclusively determined, and the possibility of an alien technology remains an open, if provocative, hypothesis.

In Summary

Avi Loeb’s latest column urges astronomers to take a closer look at the peculiar jet emanating from the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS. Whether the jet is a natural, yet unexplained, cometary phenomenon or a hint of an alien probe remains to be seen. The case underscores the growing importance of monitoring interstellar visitors—tiny, fast‑moving specks that could carry the fingerprints of extraterrestrial technology or simply the secrets of the universe’s most extreme physical processes. As the scientific community mobilizes to collect more data, the debate over 3I/ATLAS’s true nature will likely shape the future of interstellar science and the search for life beyond Earth.