Harvard Physicist Suggests 3I/ATLAS Comet May Indicate Alien Technology

The interstellar comet known as 3I/ATLAS has garnered significant attention since its discovery, particularly due to its unusual behavior and movement through the Solar System. Recently, Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb raised eyebrows by suggesting that the jets emitted from the comet may not be of natural origin, hinting at the possibility of extraterrestrial technology. His claims have sparked a debate within the scientific community regarding the nature of this celestial object.

Unusual Characteristics of 3I/ATLAS

In an update on his blog, Loeb highlighted several distinctive features of 3I/ATLAS that he believes could suggest the presence of alien life. Among these characteristics are the comet’s ‘anti-tail’ and the recent detection of radio waves. Notably, Loeb pointed out that despite 3I/ATLAS passing close to the Sun on November 11, 2025, it has not disintegrated as expected for a typical comet.

He wrote, “Images taken of 3I/ATLAS show a single body, with no evidence for breakup following the perihelion passage two weeks earlier. Given the large-scale jets reported recently, the fact that 3I/ATLAS remains a single body is surprising for a natural comet.” This observation raises questions about the comet’s behavior and its potential artificiality.

Speculations on Alien Technology

Loeb expanded on his theory by proposing a “Loeb Scale” for categorizing interstellar objects, where “0” represents a natural object and “10” indicates a technological object. He currently rates 3I/ATLAS a 6 on this scale, suggesting that its characteristics may align with those of an alien spacecraft. “Technological thrusters which point their exhaust towards the Sun would accelerate away from the Sun,” he explained, indicating that such a maneuver could be used by a spacecraft aiming for increased speed.

Despite the intrigue surrounding Loeb’s assertions, not all scientists agree with his interpretation. Qicheng Zhang, a postdoctoral fellow at the Lowell Observatory, contended that 3I/ATLAS appears to be a healthy comet without any signs of disintegration. “All the images I’ve seen show a fairly ordinary/healthy looking comet,” Zhang stated, adding that there is no evidence to support Loeb’s claims about the comet’s acceleration being misinterpreted.

As 3I/ATLAS re-emerges after a period of being obscured by the Sun, it is set to make its closest approach to Earth on December 19, 2025. The ongoing observations of this celestial object continue to fuel speculation about its origins and the potential for extraterrestrial life.

The contrasting viewpoints between Loeb and Zhang exemplify the excitement and skepticism surrounding 3I/ATLAS. As more data becomes available, the scientific community may gain a clearer understanding of this enigmatic interstellar visitor.