UPDATE: A leading US astrophysicist has made alarming claims about a potential alien threat, suggesting that a mysterious interstellar object, known as 3I/ATLAS, could be an extraterrestrial spacecraft rather than a comet. Professor Avi Loeb of Harvard University warns that this object, detected on July 1, measures roughly the size of Manhattan and weighs an estimated 33 billion tonnes, traveling at nearly double the speed of previous interstellar visitors.
Loeb’s extraordinary claims are raising eyebrows across the scientific community, as he believes 3I/ATLAS could reach its closest approach to the sun on October 29, 2023. He noted, “It may come to save us or destroy us. If you want to take a vacation, take it before that date. Because who knows what will happen?”
The object has drawn attention due to its unusual composition. It is reportedly emitting four grams of nickel per second without any iron, resulting in nickel tetracarbonyl — an alloy “never before observed in nature,” according to Loeb. He stated, “There is only one place where that is known to exist, and that is in industrially produced nickel alloys. This was never observed for any other object.”
Loeb’s observations have led him to question the very nature of 3I/ATLAS. He remarked, “We usually see beautiful tails extending from the object away from the Sun, and in this case, there was no evidence for such a tail. Why are we seeing a jet pointed at the Sun?” His concerns highlight a new angle in the ongoing debate about the origins of interstellar objects.
However, many in the scientific community remain skeptical. Chris Lintott of Oxford University dismissed Loeb’s assertions as “nonsense on stilts,” arguing that such claims undermine legitimate scientific inquiry. Meanwhile, NASA has sought to reassure the public, stating that 3I/ATLAS poses no threat to Earth. The agency has confirmed the object will safely pass through the inner solar system later this month.
As the date of closest approach approaches, the implications of Loeb’s statements are igniting discussions worldwide. Scientists and the public alike are left to ponder the possibilities surrounding 3I/ATLAS and the potential for unknown phenomena lurking in our solar system.
With experts split on the nature of 3I/ATLAS, all eyes are now focused on the upcoming date. Will this interstellar object reveal secrets of advanced civilizations, or is it merely a cosmic coincidence? Stay tuned for updates as this story develops.
