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Harvard Scientist Claims Interstellar Object Could Be Nuclear-Powered Spacecraft
21 Aug
Summary
- Harvard astrophysicist believes interstellar object 3I/ATLAS exhibits signs of being artificial
- Object's unusual light signature and trajectory suggest it may not be a typical comet
- Scientist advocates for further investigation, including diverting NASA's Juno probe to study it
As of August 21, 2025, a prominent Harvard astrophysicist, Professor Avi Loeb, has made a bold claim about the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS. Loeb, the director of the Galileo Project which searches for signs of extraterrestrial intelligence, believes the object exhibits characteristics suggesting it is not a typical comet, as assessed by NASA.
One of the key factors Loeb points to is the object's appearance of generating its own light, which he suggests could indicate a source of nuclear energy on its surface. This is in contrast to the usual cometary tail that trails behind such objects, pushed by the sun's radiation. Loeb also notes that the object's unusual trajectory, which will bring it close to Venus, Mars, and Jupiter, is highly unlikely to be a random occurrence.
Despite Loeb's claims, not everyone in the scientific community is convinced. Chris Lintott, an astronomer at the University of Oxford, has dismissed the idea that 3I/ATLAS is an artificial spacecraft as "nonsense on stilts." However, Loeb remains adamant that there is something unusual about the object that warrants further investigation.
In fact, Loeb has revealed that he has spoken with Florida congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna, who is in charge of the House Oversight Committee's task force on unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs). Loeb says Luna has already contacted NASA about diverting the Juno space probe, which is currently orbiting Jupiter, to intercept and study 3I/ATLAS as it approaches our solar system.
As 3I/ATLAS is expected to make its closest approach to Earth on December 17, 2025, before leaving our solar system in early 2026, scientists will have a better opportunity to understand the true nature of this mysterious interstellar object in the coming months.
