Harvard Scientist Suggests Interstellar Object May Be Alien Spacecraft

A mysterious interstellar object named 3I/ATLAS, traveling through our solar system at about 130,000 mph, has sparked significant debate among scientists after Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb suggested it might be an alien spacecraft rather than a natural comet. Unlike typical comets, 3I/ATLAS follows a retrograde orbit closely aligned with the plane of the inner planets, lacks a cometary tail, and emits an unusual glow, leading Loeb to propose it could be a 'mothership' potentially carrying smaller probes. Loeb has called for increased observation efforts, including possibly intercepting the object with NASA's Juno spacecraft, and recommends creating an interstellar risk scale to manage unknown space objects. However, many experts remain skeptical, arguing that 3I/ATLAS likely is a comet exhibiting unusual but natural characteristics, with no evidence of artificial origin. The object will pass behind the sun in late October and is expected to come near Earth between late November and early December 2025, providing a critical window for further study. This ongoing investigation has prompted calls for international coordination to prepare for all possible scenarios, balancing scientific curiosity with caution.