A Strange Object Has Entered Our Solar System—and One Scientist Says It May Be An Alien Craft

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Object 3I/ATLAS is now too far from Earth to aim a telescope at, but prior observations showed some unusual behavior.

The anomalous nature of the object led astrophysicist Avi Loeb to apply a thought experiment to it, highlighting everything about it that might align with a hypothetical alien spacecraft.

Even if this supposed space rock is not powered by aliens (as is the dominant opinion of the field), Loeb's methodology could be applied to analyze other interstellar objects in the future.

Every time an interstellar object comes whizzing into our Solar System , it brings with it a certain intrigue.

Where is it from? How did it form? Why was it gravitationally kicked out of its own star system? Could it be an alien spacecraft?

Something like Oumuamua, 21/Borisov and now 3I/ATLAS (the latest space rock to go viral) doesn't exactly appear like the starships of science fiction. But, to be fair, we Earthlings really have no idea what spacecraft from other intelligent civilizations (if they do exist) would actually look like.

Controversial astrophysicist Avi Loeb from Harvard University—founding director of the Black Hole Initiative and increasingly known for frequently crying "alien"—continues to be curious about what is really out there. Maybe aliens are eluding us by launching probes or ships that only appear to be chunks of rocky debris.

Even though Loeb is aware that the debate about this possibility is "mired in bitter controversy," as he said in a study recently submitted to Research Notes of the American Astronomical Society , the "hypothesis is an interesting exercise in its own right, and is fun to pursue, irrespective of its likely validity."

Whether or not 3I/ATLAS really is powered by aliens, Loeb thinks there is a reason applying his hypothesis to the object is worthwhile.

Alien intentions could be completely benign or could mean doom for humanity . It could be that there are beings out there who are just trekking from star to star, possibly seeking out a new home or just enjoying the scenery, without intending to deploy any, say, missiles that could vaporize an entire planet. But others could mean us harm.

Whether or not our defensive capabilities are enough to take on a hostile civilization is unknown, because we are unaware of what kind of technology they might threaten us with.