Just days before the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS approaches Earth, scientists from around the world continue debating its origin. One of the most insistent is Avi Loeb, a Harvard researcher, who considers that if this object were artificial, it wouldn’t be strange to think it comes from an advanced civilization. He even compares the situation to the possibility that a “space entrepreneur in the style of Elon Musk” may have sent spacecraft into the cosmos, perhaps without good intentions.
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In an interview with the New York Post, Loeb illustrated his idea with an example: “Just imagine that there’s an empire that, like Spain or the United Kingdom, sends ships to find new territories. And at first they send small vessels, but then they send much more capable ships.”
In an article published on Medium, where he revisited what he said in several interviews, the astrophysicist noted that it is “arrogant” to deny the possibility that 3I/ATLAS is a manufactured object, mentioning several points he finds striking, such as its “strange” trajectory, the nickel-rich composition of its trail, and an acceleration that doesn’t seem to be explained solely by gravity, which could suggest “a propulsion system.” NASA, for its part, continues to affirm that the interstellar visitor is solely a comet; however, Loeb maintains that it wouldn’t be unusual for other civilizations to have been in this area of the universe before.
“My argument is simple: humanity launched technological objects into space, so we must conclude that alien life forms could do the same,” he wrote.
The expert also recalled the case that occurred in January, when the discovery of an “asteroid” was announced that turned out to be a Tesla car launched by Elon Musk as a publicity stunt.
For Loeb, assuming that Musk is the greatest space pioneer in the entire galaxy makes no sense.
“Musk, statistically, is not the most successful space entrepreneur in the Milky Way in the last 13.8 billion years” , he stated, highlighting that there are close to one hundred billion stars like the Sun and many could have habitable planets.
According to his explanation, it’s very likely that in one of those systems a “space entrepreneur” has emerged who has launched something like 3I/ATLAS. He also added that even spacecraft as old as the Voyagers could cross the galaxy in sufficient time. The scientist also posed a more disturbing scenario: that there exists a “Darwinian selection” among civilizations in the galaxy and that the strongest or most dangerous ones are those that arrive first.
“If they developed self-replicating probes, these can eventually fill the Milky Way and dominate it,” he warned. That’s why he insists on reinforcing space surveillance: “If 3I/ATLAS is technological, it could represent a threat to humanity.”
Loeb believes that if we ever confirm the existence of extraterrestrial technology, countries would have to allocate part of their military budgets to protecting the entire planet.
“Most of the real estate is out there in the Milky Way and not on the rock we all occupy,” he told the New York Post. That’s why he proposes creating a planetary defense network with spacecraft capable of monitoring and intercepting technological objects heading toward Earth.
To close, he recalled that the maximum approach of 3I/ATLAS will be on December 19, 2025, making a comment as ironic as it is unsettling:
“Let’s hope we don’t receive unwanted gifts this holiday season.”
What will happen on December 19, the date of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS’s closest approach to Earth
December 19, 2025 will be the date of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS’s closest approach to Earth.
The importance of this day lies in the fact that it will be the best moment to attempt observation of this cosmic traveler. The comet is expected to be visible in the morning sky, moving near constellations such as Virgo and Leo.
Once it passes this point, 3I/ATLAS will continue its path toward the confines of the Solar System, leaving it permanently.
