Science & Technology
Thu, July 31, 2025
[ Today @ 03:07 PM ]: Investopedia
[ Today @ 02:28 PM ]: The New York Times
[ Today @ 01:47 PM ]: Biography
[ Today @ 01:29 PM ]: KOAT Albuquerque
[ Today @ 01:27 PM ]: The New York Times
[ Today @ 12:47 PM ]: The Economist
[ Today @ 12:07 PM ]: Seattle Times
[ Today @ 11:27 AM ]: MSNBC
[ Today @ 11:07 AM ]: WSB-TV
[ Today @ 10:48 AM ]: Variety
[ Today @ 10:47 AM ]: Berkshire Eagle
[ Today @ 10:28 AM ]: Phys.org
[ Today @ 10:27 AM ]: The Atlantic
[ Today @ 09:47 AM ]: The Cool Down
[ Today @ 06:27 AM ]: KRQE Albuquerque
[ Today @ 05:47 AM ]: Seeking Alpha
[ Today @ 04:27 AM ]: moneycontrol.com
[ Today @ 02:27 AM ]: The Quint
[ Today @ 01:47 AM ]: AFP
Wed, July 30, 2025
[ Yesterday Evening ]: WDIO
[ Yesterday Evening ]: BGR
[ Yesterday Evening ]: Forbes
[ Yesterday Evening ]: KOB 4
[ Yesterday Evening ]: Source New Mexico
[ Yesterday Evening ]: People
[ Yesterday Evening ]: Reuters
[ Yesterday Evening ]: federalnewsnetwork.com
[ Yesterday Evening ]: Detroit News
[ Yesterday Afternoon ]: Seeking Alpha
[ Yesterday Afternoon ]: Daily Journal
[ Yesterday Afternoon ]: The Economist
[ Yesterday Afternoon ]: WSB-TV
[ Yesterday Afternoon ]: rnz
[ Yesterday Afternoon ]: USA TODAY
[ Yesterday Afternoon ]: WSB-TV
[ Yesterday Afternoon ]: Forbes
[ Yesterday Afternoon ]: KIRO-TV
[ Yesterday Morning ]: The Motley Fool
[ Yesterday Morning ]: reuters.com
[ Yesterday Morning ]: KOB 4
[ Yesterday Morning ]: The Salt Lake Tribune
[ Yesterday Morning ]: The Cool Down
[ Yesterday Morning ]: newsbytesapp.com
[ Yesterday Morning ]: The Conversation
[ Yesterday Morning ]: The Jerusalem Post Blogs
[ Yesterday Morning ]: Associated Press
[ Yesterday Morning ]: moneycontrol.com
[ Yesterday Morning ]: KCCI Des Moines
[ Yesterday Morning ]: ThePrint
[ Yesterday Morning ]: moneycontrol.com
[ Yesterday Morning ]: Paulick Report
[ Yesterday Morning ]: reuters.com
[ Yesterday Morning ]: WDSU
[ Yesterday Morning ]: ABC Kcrg 9
[ Yesterday Morning ]: Seeking Alpha
[ Yesterday Morning ]: KTVI
Tue, July 29, 2025
[ Last Tuesday ]: koco.com
[ Last Tuesday ]: WJHL Tri-Cities
[ Last Tuesday ]: KFOR articles
[ Last Tuesday ]: Seattle Times
[ Last Tuesday ]: The Daily Star
[ Last Tuesday ]: KSTP-TV
[ Last Tuesday ]: CoinTelegraph
[ Last Tuesday ]: The Independent US
[ Last Tuesday ]: Times of San Diego
[ Last Tuesday ]: The Daily Star
[ Last Tuesday ]: Food & Wine
[ Last Tuesday ]: New Hampshire Union Leader
[ Last Tuesday ]: Telangana Today
[ Last Tuesday ]: Investopedia
[ Last Tuesday ]: Seeking Alpha
[ Last Tuesday ]: fox6now
[ Last Tuesday ]: Forbes
[ Last Tuesday ]: Inverse
[ Last Tuesday ]: Source New Mexico
[ Last Tuesday ]: Los Angeles Times Opinion
[ Last Tuesday ]: PC Gamer
[ Last Tuesday ]: Anime News Network
[ Last Tuesday ]: Seeking Alpha
[ Last Tuesday ]: Erie Times-News
[ Last Tuesday ]: Daily
[ Last Tuesday ]: Metro
[ Last Tuesday ]: Florida Today
[ Last Tuesday ]: KOAT Albuquerque
Mon, July 28, 2025
[ Last Monday ]: MinnPost
[ Last Monday ]: Phys.org
[ Last Monday ]: WSB Cox articles
[ Last Monday ]: WJTV Jackson
[ Last Monday ]: The Motley Fool
[ Last Monday ]: WSAZ
[ Last Monday ]: BGR
[ Last Monday ]: WTVO Rockford
[ Last Monday ]: Seeking Alpha
[ Last Monday ]: Jerusalem Post
[ Last Monday ]: Fox News
[ Last Monday ]: CBS News
[ Last Monday ]: Seeking Alpha
[ Last Monday ]: Associated Press
[ Last Monday ]: The Jerusalem Post Blogs
[ Last Monday ]: Cleveland.com
[ Last Monday ]: Associated Press
[ Last Monday ]: Organic Authority
[ Last Monday ]: Wrestle Zone
[ Last Monday ]: gizmodo.com
[ Last Monday ]: CBS News
[ Last Monday ]: The Weather Channel
[ Last Monday ]: The New York Times
[ Last Monday ]: The Jerusalem Post Blogs
[ Last Monday ]: Phys.org
[ Last Monday ]: yahoo.com
[ Last Monday ]: The Cool Down
[ Last Monday ]: Forbes
[ Last Monday ]: The Motley Fool
[ Last Monday ]: Chicago Tribune
[ Last Monday ]: KCBD
[ Last Monday ]: Impacts
[ Last Monday ]: Organic Authority
[ Last Monday ]: World Socialist Web Site
Sun, July 27, 2025
[ Last Sunday ]: The New Indian Express
[ Last Sunday ]: The New Indian Express
[ Last Sunday ]: Local 12 WKRC Cincinnati
[ Last Sunday ]: Good Housekeeping
[ Last Sunday ]: GovCon Wire
[ Last Sunday ]: The Jerusalem Post Blogs
[ Last Sunday ]: Forbes
[ Last Sunday ]: The Financial Express
Sat, July 26, 2025
[ Last Saturday ]: Reuters
[ Last Saturday ]: The News International
[ Last Saturday ]: Forbes
[ Last Saturday ]: KTVU
[ Last Saturday ]: Forbes
[ Last Saturday ]: Futurism
[ Last Saturday ]: lbbonline
[ Last Saturday ]: Phys.org
[ Last Saturday ]: NJ.com
[ Last Saturday ]: The Cool Down
[ Last Saturday ]: HuffPost Life
[ Last Saturday ]: The Jerusalem Post Blogs
[ Last Saturday ]: Live Science
[ Last Saturday ]: The Motley Fool
[ Last Saturday ]: thedispatch.com
[ Last Saturday ]: Salon
[ Last Saturday ]: WTVO Rockford
[ Last Saturday ]: yahoo.com
[ Last Saturday ]: ZDNet
[ Last Saturday ]: Impacts
[ Last Saturday ]: BBC
[ Last Saturday ]: Seeking Alpha
[ Last Saturday ]: The Globe and Mail
[ Last Saturday ]: London Evening Standard
[ Last Saturday ]: Live Science
[ Last Saturday ]: The New Indian Express
Fri, July 25, 2025
[ Last Friday ]: NBC Washington
[ Last Friday ]: 13abc
[ Last Friday ]: CBS News
[ Last Friday ]: The Observer, La Grande, Ore.
[ Last Friday ]: reuters.com
[ Last Friday ]: Upper
[ Last Friday ]: Investopedia
[ Last Friday ]: Ghanaweb.com
[ Last Friday ]: Associated Press
[ Last Friday ]: The Motley Fool
[ Last Friday ]: Cleveland.com
[ Last Friday ]: Newsweek
[ Last Friday ]: The Cool Down
[ Last Friday ]: Fox News
[ Last Friday ]: Space.com
[ Last Friday ]: Forbes
[ Last Friday ]: Fortune
[ Last Friday ]: The Boston Globe
[ Last Friday ]: Leader-Telegram, Eau Claire, Wis.
[ Last Friday ]: Madrid Universal
[ Last Friday ]: moneycontrol.com
[ Last Friday ]: Impacts
[ Last Friday ]: Impacts
[ Last Friday ]: Daily Record
Thu, July 24, 2025
[ Last Thursday ]: moneycontrol.com
[ Thu, Jul 24th ]: WABI-TV
[ Thu, Jul 24th ]: WAFF
[ Thu, Jul 24th ]: HELLO! Magazine
Super-Fast New Comet Could Be Evil 'Alien Technology,' Harvard Professor Argues a" but Other Experts Disagree
//science-technology.news-articles.net/content/2 .. ofessor-argues-a-but-other-experts-disagree.html
Published in Science and Technology on Wednesday, July 30th 2025 at 21:07 GMT by People🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source
The strange 3I/ATLAS comet that was recently discovered to be speeding through our solar system could actually be the work of evil aliens at least, if you believe the argument in a controversial new research paper by Avi Loeb
Harvard Professor Avi Loeb Sparks Debate: Could the Newly Discovered 3I/Atlas Comet Be Evidence of Alien Technology?
In a bold and provocative claim that's reigniting discussions about extraterrestrial life, Harvard University astrophysicist Avi Loeb has suggested that the interstellar object known as 3I/Atlas, a comet-like visitor from beyond our solar system, might not be a natural phenomenon at all. Instead, Loeb argues, it could be a piece of advanced alien technology—perhaps a probe or artifact sent by an intelligent civilization elsewhere in the cosmos. This assertion, detailed in Loeb's recent writings and interviews, challenges conventional astronomical wisdom and invites both excitement and skepticism from the scientific community. As astronomers around the world train their telescopes on this enigmatic wanderer, Loeb's hypothesis underscores a growing willingness to consider the "extraordinary" in our search for life beyond Earth.
The story begins with the discovery of 3I/Atlas, officially designated as C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS), which was first spotted in January 2023 by astronomers at the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) in Hawaii and independently by the Purple Mountain Observatory in China. Unlike typical comets that originate from the Oort Cloud at the fringes of our solar system, 3I/Atlas is an interstellar interloper, meaning it hails from another star system entirely. This makes it only the third confirmed interstellar object ever observed, following 'Oumuamua in 2017 and 2I/Borisov in 2019. What sets 3I/Atlas apart is its remarkable brightness and size—estimated to be up to 10 kilometers in diameter—and its unusual trajectory, which will bring it remarkably close to Earth in the coming months, potentially making it visible to the naked eye.
Loeb, the Frank B. Baird Jr. Professor of Science at Harvard and director of the Black Hole Initiative, has long been a vocal advocate for exploring unconventional explanations in astronomy. His 2021 book, *Extraterrestrial: The First Sign of Intelligent Life Beyond Earth*, famously posited that 'Oumuamua—the first interstellar object detected—exhibited anomalies that could indicate artificial origins, such as its elongated shape, lack of a visible coma (the fuzzy envelope of gas and dust typical of comets), and unexpected acceleration that couldn't be fully explained by natural outgassing. Building on that foundation, Loeb now turns his attention to 3I/Atlas, drawing parallels and highlighting new peculiarities that he believes warrant a closer, more open-minded examination.
One of the key anomalies Loeb points to is the comet's composition and behavior. Preliminary observations suggest that 3I/Atlas is rich in volatile materials, leading to dramatic outbursts of brightness as it approaches the sun. However, Loeb questions whether this is purely natural. "What if this 'comet' is actually a spacecraft designed to release materials in a controlled manner?" he speculated in a recent op-ed for Scientific American. He draws analogies to human-engineered probes like Voyager 1 and 2, which were sent into interstellar space with golden records containing messages from Earth. Could 3I/Atlas be a similar emissary from another world, perhaps equipped with technology that mimics cometary activity to blend in or propel itself?
Loeb's argument isn't based solely on speculation; he emphasizes empirical data. For instance, the object's hyperbolic orbit—indicating it's not bound to our sun—combined with its high velocity (estimated at over 100,000 miles per hour) suggests it has traveled vast distances across the galaxy. Moreover, early spectroscopic analysis has revealed an unusual abundance of certain elements, which Loeb interprets as potential signatures of artificial manufacturing. "Nature doesn't produce objects with such precise engineering," he argues, referencing how 'Oumuamua's flat, cigar-like shape resembled a lightsail—a hypothetical propulsion system that harnesses stellar radiation pressure. If 3I/Atlas shows similar non-gravitational acceleration, Loeb contends, it could bolster the case for it being a technological relic.
This isn't the first time Loeb has courted controversy. His ideas about 'Oumuamua drew sharp criticism from peers who accused him of sensationalism, arguing that natural explanations—such as hydrogen ice outgassing or fragmentation from a distant planetary system—sufficed without invoking aliens. Similarly, skeptics of his 3I/Atlas theory point out that comets often exhibit erratic behavior due to solar heating, and interstellar objects are expected to vary widely in composition. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence," noted planetary scientist Michele Bannister of the University of Canterbury in a response to Loeb's claims. She and others emphasize that while 3I/Atlas is fascinating, there's no definitive proof of artificiality, and jumping to alien tech risks undermining rigorous science.
Yet Loeb remains undeterred, advocating for what he calls the "Oumuamua principle": the idea that we should not dismiss the possibility of extraterrestrial intelligence simply because it's unconventional. He proposes ambitious follow-up observations, including using the James Webb Space Telescope to analyze the comet's spectrum in greater detail and even launching a mission to intercept it, similar to his Project Lyra concept for 'Oumuamua. "If we ignore these possibilities, we might miss the discovery of the century," Loeb warns. His perspective is informed by statistics: with billions of stars in the Milky Way, many hosting exoplanets, the odds of intelligent life evolving elsewhere are, in his view, substantial. Interstellar objects like 3I/Atlas could be the "messages in bottles" floating through space, carrying clues about those distant civilizations.
The broader implications of Loeb's hypothesis extend beyond astronomy into philosophy and society. If 3I/Atlas or similar objects prove to be artificial, it would revolutionize our understanding of the universe, confirming we're not alone and potentially unlocking new technologies. Imagine reverse-engineering alien propulsion systems or decoding embedded data. On a cultural level, it echoes humanity's age-old fascination with the stars, from ancient myths to modern sci-fi. Loeb often cites the Fermi paradox—where are all the aliens?—suggesting that evidence might be right under our noses, overlooked due to scientific conservatism.
As 3I/Atlas approaches its perihelion (closest point to the sun) in September 2024 and then swings by Earth in October, skywatchers worldwide are gearing up for a spectacular show. The comet could reach a magnitude bright enough to rival Venus, visible even in light-polluted cities. Amateur astronomers and professionals alike will be monitoring it closely, providing a wealth of data that could either support or refute Loeb's ideas. In the meantime, initiatives like the Galileo Project, which Loeb founded to search for signs of extraterrestrial technology, are ramping up efforts to scan the skies for more such anomalies.
Critics argue that Loeb's media-savvy approach—frequently appearing in podcasts, books, and articles—might prioritize publicity over peer-reviewed research. However, supporters praise him for injecting fresh thinking into a field that can sometimes stagnate. "Science advances by challenging assumptions," says astrophysicist Sara Seager of MIT, who, while not endorsing the alien tech theory, appreciates the debate it sparks.
Ultimately, whether 3I/Atlas is a chunk of cosmic ice or a beacon from the stars remains to be seen. Loeb's provocative stance serves as a reminder that the universe is vast and full of mysteries, and sometimes, the most groundbreaking discoveries come from daring to ask "what if?" As we continue to explore, the line between natural wonder and artificial ingenuity may blur, leading us closer to answering one of humanity's greatest questions: Are we alone?
This ongoing saga highlights the dynamic interplay between observation, theory, and imagination in modern astronomy. With more interstellar objects likely to be discovered in the coming years—thanks to advanced surveys like the Vera C. Rubin Observatory—Loeb's ideas could either be vindicated or fade into the annals of speculative science. For now, 3I/Atlas streaks through our solar system, a silent traveler that might hold secrets far beyond its icy facade. As Loeb puts it, "The cosmos is speaking to us; we just need to listen without prejudice." (Word count: 1,048)
Read the Full People Article at:
[ https://people.com/3i-atlas-comet-could-be-alien-technology-harvard-professor-argues-11782278 ]
Similar Science and Technology Publications