Physicist Enrico Fermi posed the big question in 1950: "Where is everybody?" This led to the rise of the Fermi Paradox. If the observable universe is filled with hundreds of billions of galaxies, with even more stars, billions of Earth-like planets orbiting habitable zones around their stars in the Milky Way alone, there is a high statistical probability of extraterrestrial life being present in the universe. However, despite looking for signs of life for decades, humans have had no luck. Why haven't we found alien life yet?&nbsp;Chair of the UAP Science Council for the White House, <a href="https://avi-loeb.medium.com/">Avi Loeb</a> says we just haven't looked enough. "We haven't scoured much of the universe. Even within the orbit of the Earth around the Sun, our best telescope can only detect the reflection of sunlight from interstellar objects that are bigger than our largest rocket, Starship," he told WION.&nbsp;Scientists have tried to solve the Fermi Paradox with several hypotheses over the years.&nbsp;Life is hard Complex intelligent life requires a set of conditions - the planet should have plate tectonics, a magnetic field, a large moon and a gas giant like Jupiter to keep asteroids away from us. Besides, biological challenges, such as the transition from single-celled to multicellular life, are a major hurdle for life to evolve. Earth happens to be the rare exception that made it through.&nbsp;Self-destruction Second, it is possible that a technologically advanced civilisation self-destructed through either nuclear weapons, climate change, or artificial intelligence even before they reached the stage of interstellar travel. Asteroids, gamma rays, and supernovae could have also wiped out life before they could expand their footprint in the universe.&nbsp;They don't want to be found Third, aliens might not want to reach out at all. They might know about us and are probably just looking at us. There is also a theory that alien life is silent to prevent a threat from a possibly predatory civilisation. However, even if they have sent a signal to Earth, it would be light-years before they reach us. "Even if there&nbsp;are residents in our cosmic neighbourhood, none of them may be calling us, or they may be using more advanced communication techniques," Loeb says.<h2>Then, how should we search for alien life?</h2> Huge telescopes on Earth and in space are looking for signals that could have originated from an advanced civilisation elsewhere in the universe. But nothing has even been found. Loeb says searching for radio communication signals is like waiting for a phone call. He suggests that a better way is to look for artefacts and equipment belonging to them floating near Earth, just like we have the Voyager probes billions of kilometres away.&nbsp;"Interstellar probes, like Voyager, will remain bound by gravity to the Milky Way and may arrive in our backyard," Loeb says. He has been working on this through the <a href="https://galileo.hsites.harvard.edu/">Galileo Project</a>, which focuses on technosignatures in physical space.<h2>What happens when we find proof of extraterrestrial life?</h2> Loeb says signals are something we don't need to worry about since they take tens of thousands of years to cross the Milky Way. But if we find a “visitor to our backyard requires prompt response. The nature of this response will depend on the intent and technological capabilities of the visitor.”<h2>Could intelligent life be present under impenetrable ice without ever developing space travel or radios?</h2> This is another theory floated by scientists. They believe that places like Europa and Enceladus, which have subsurface oceans, could be harbouring life several kilometres deep inside ice. Loeb agrees that life in the universe might be most common under surface ice. Such life might be living without even the concept of space travel.&nbsp;So what is the answer to "Where is everybody?" Loeb says the most convincing hypothesis is that everyone is right here.&nbsp;

Humans have been searching for alien life for a long time, yet have never found any signs. Newly appointed Chair of the UAP Science Council for the White House, Avi Loeb sheds light on how to search for extraterrestrials and what humans are getting wrong.

Physicist Enrico Fermi posed the big question in 1950: "Where is everybody?" This led to the rise of the Fermi Paradox. If the observable universe is filled with hundreds of billions of galaxies, with even more stars, billions of Earth-like planets orbiting habitable zones around their stars in the Milky Way alone, there is a high statistical probability of extraterrestrial life being present in the universe. However, despite looking for signs of life for decades, humans have had no luck. Why haven't we found alien life yet? Chair of the UAP Science Council for the White House, Avi Loeb says we just haven't looked enough. "We haven't scoured much of the universe. Even within the orbit of the Earth around the Sun, our best telescope can only detect the reflection of sunlight from interstellar objects that are bigger than our largest rocket, Starship," he told WION. Scientists have tried to solve the Fermi Paradox with several hypotheses over the years. Life is hard Complex intelligent life requires a set of conditions - the planet should have plate tectonics, a magnetic field, a large moon and a gas giant like Jupiter to keep asteroids away from us. Besides, biological challenges, such as the transition from single-celled to multicellular life, are a major hurdle for life to evolve. Earth happens to be the rare exception that made it through. Self-destruction Second, it is possible that a technologically advanced civilisation self-destructed through either nuclear weapons, climate change, or artificial intelligence even before they reached the stage of interstellar travel. Asteroids, gamma rays, and supernovae could have also wiped out life before they could expand their footprint in the universe. They don't want to be found Third, aliens might not want to reach out at all. They might know about us and are probably just looking at us. There is also a theory that alien life is silent to prevent a threat from a possibly predatory civilisation. However, even if they have sent a signal to Earth, it would be light-years before they reach us. "Even if there are residents in our cosmic neighbourhood, none of them may be calling us, or they may be using more advanced communication techniques," Loeb says. Then, how should we search for alien life? Huge telescopes on Earth and in space are looking for signals that could have originated from an advanced civilisation elsewhere in the universe. But nothing has even been found. Loeb says searching for radio communication signals is like waiting for a phone call. He suggests that a better way is to look for artefacts and equipment belonging to them floating near Earth, just like we have the Voyager probes billions of kilometres away. "Interstellar probes, like Voyager, will remain bound by gravity to the Milky Way and may arrive in our backyard," Loeb says. He has been working on this through the Galileo Project, which focuses on technosignatures in physical space. What happens when we find proof of extraterrestrial life? Loeb says signals are something we don't need to worry about since they take tens of thousands of years to cross the Milky Way. But if we find a “visitor to our backyard requires prompt response. The nature of this response will depend on the intent and technological capabilities of the visitor.” Could intelligent life be present under impenetrable ice without ever developing space travel or radios? This is another theory floated by scientists. They believe that places like Europa and Enceladus, which have subsurface oceans, could be harbouring life several kilometres deep inside ice. Loeb agrees that life in the universe might be most common under surface ice. Such life might be living without even the concept of space travel. So what is the answer to "Where is everybody?" Loeb says the most convincing hypothesis is that everyone is right here.

Humans have been searching for alien life for a long time, yet have never found any signs. Newly appointed Chair of the UAP Science Council for the White House, Avi Loeb sheds light on how to search for extraterrestrials and what humans are getting wrong.

Why we are searching for alien life all wrong, according to White House UAP Council Chair Avi Loeb

On World UFO Day, we talked to Harvard professor Avi Loeb, who has been appointed the Chair of the UAP Science Council for the White House, Pentagon, FBI and intelligence agencies. He is now leading the Trump administration’s new panel on security risks posed by UFOs. Loeb and his team have asked the Pentagon for videos, images and documents of unexplained encounters and incidents.&nbsp;Loeb also runs the Galileo Project, which aims to "bring the search for extraterrestrial technological signatures of Extraterrestrial Technological Civilizations (ETCs) from accidental or anecdotal observations and legends to the mainstream of transparent." Aliens and extraterrestrial technology have been the talk of the town in the past weeks, with the Pentagon releasing batches of files with information gathered over decades.&nbsp;&nbsp;Now with Loeb leading a panel on UAPs, things might get even more interesting. In an email interview with WION, Loeb talked about the significance of the UFO Files release and the switch to using the term "Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena" from "Unidentified Flying Objects."&nbsp;Excerpts from the interview with Avi Loeb&nbsp;Q. Now that the UFO Files with older records have been released, including Apollo-era transcripts and historical files, how has our understanding of foundational events like the 1947 Roswell incident or early military studies shifted?&nbsp;None of the released records so far indicates beyond a reasonable doubt a non-human origin for the associated objects. It is clear that the Pentagon and the intelligence agencies are puzzled by the properties of objects that remain unidentified.&nbsp;Q. The unexplained sightings are often attributed to thermal camera glitches, radar clutter, or weather balloons. How do modern military pilots cross-verify a visual sighting with advanced multi-sensor data to rule out instrument error?&nbsp;Detection by multiple sensors operating in different wavelength bands (optical, infrared, radio) can verify that we are dealing with real objects and enable us to triangulate the distance of the objects from the camera. This, in turn, allows us to infer the velocity and acceleration of the object and verify whether they lie outside the performance envelope of human-made technologies.&nbsp;Q. There have been several reports where objects have been seen moving seamlessly between space, air, and water. There have been no visible propulsion systems or sonic booms recorded. From a theoretical physics standpoint, what mechanisms could even hypothetically allow an object to defy fluid dynamics this way?&nbsp;Water is a thousand times denser than air, and any human-made object would slow down a thousand times more in water than in air. The only explanation for such incidents based on known physics would be to suggest that the actual velocity of the objects was very small for friction to be negligible, and that the apparent relative speed was mostly a result of the motion of the camera.&nbsp;Q. Has the linguistic shift from 'UFO' to 'Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena' successfully opened the doors to serious academic study, or is it just a political euphemism?&nbsp;The label is less important than the quality of the data. We now have much better cameras and other sensors than decades ago. It is impossible to ignore the existence of anomalous objects given the quality of the new data. The most down-to-earth explanation is that the "orbs" are human-made drones. In case they originate from adversarial nations, this matter presents a breach of national security and must be taken seriously. This is the reason for the shift in attitude. Of course, even if one in a million objects happens to be non-human-made, its finding will constitute the biggest discovery ever made by humanity.&nbsp;Q. Lastly, if data eventually confirms the existence of non-human intelligence, how do you think humanity will react? Do you think humans are ready for it because of years of feeding on science fiction? Humanity will adapt in the same way that it did when the Vatican admitted that Galileo Galilei was right. I discussed this affair in a new essay a couple of days ago.&nbsp;In the blog, Loeb recalls the time when the Catholic Church punished three scientists for saying that the Sun, and not the Earth, was at the centre. Nicolaus Copernicus, Galileo Galilei and Giordano Bruno faced action for their views. "The Vatican’s bureaucrats were never jailed for misleading the public, even after spacecraft provided clear images of the Earth moving around the Sun rather than being at the centre of the Universe," Loeb said. "The general public adapted to the new reality without chants for revenge after the Vatican’s 1992 announcement," he said. &nbsp;

World UFO Day: Avi Loeb, the newly appointed Chair of the UAP Science Council for the White House, Pentagon, FBI and intelligence agencies, spoke to WION about UFOs, UAPs and what to expect.

On World UFO Day, we talked to Harvard professor Avi Loeb, who has been appointed the Chair of the UAP Science Council for the White House, Pentagon, FBI and intelligence agencies. He is now leading the Trump administration’s new panel on security risks posed by UFOs. Loeb and his team have asked the Pentagon for videos, images and documents of unexplained encounters and incidents. Loeb also runs the Galileo Project, which aims to "bring the search for extraterrestrial technological signatures of Extraterrestrial Technological Civilizations (ETCs) from accidental or anecdotal observations and legends to the mainstream of transparent." Aliens and extraterrestrial technology have been the talk of the town in the past weeks, with the Pentagon releasing batches of files with information gathered over decades. Now with Loeb leading a panel on UAPs, things might get even more interesting. In an email interview with WION, Loeb talked about the significance of the UFO Files release and the switch to using the term "Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena" from "Unidentified Flying Objects." Excerpts from the interview with Avi Loeb Q. Now that the UFO Files with older records have been released, including Apollo-era transcripts and historical files, how has our understanding of foundational events like the 1947 Roswell incident or early military studies shifted? None of the released records so far indicates beyond a reasonable doubt a non-human origin for the associated objects. It is clear that the Pentagon and the intelligence agencies are puzzled by the properties of objects that remain unidentified. Q. The unexplained sightings are often attributed to thermal camera glitches, radar clutter, or weather balloons. How do modern military pilots cross-verify a visual sighting with advanced multi-sensor data to rule out instrument error? Detection by multiple sensors operating in different wavelength bands (optical, infrared, radio) can verify that we are dealing with real objects and enable us to triangulate the distance of the objects from the camera. This, in turn, allows us to infer the velocity and acceleration of the object and verify whether they lie outside the performance envelope of human-made technologies. Q. There have been several reports where objects have been seen moving seamlessly between space, air, and water. There have been no visible propulsion systems or sonic booms recorded. From a theoretical physics standpoint, what mechanisms could even hypothetically allow an object to defy fluid dynamics this way? Water is a thousand times denser than air, and any human-made object would slow down a thousand times more in water than in air. The only explanation for such incidents based on known physics would be to suggest that the actual velocity of the objects was very small for friction to be negligible, and that the apparent relative speed was mostly a result of the motion of the camera. Q. Has the linguistic shift from 'UFO' to 'Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena' successfully opened the doors to serious academic study, or is it just a political euphemism? The label is less important than the quality of the data. We now have much better cameras and other sensors than decades ago. It is impossible to ignore the existence of anomalous objects given the quality of the new data. The most down-to-earth explanation is that the "orbs" are human-made drones. In case they originate from adversarial nations, this matter presents a breach of national security and must be taken seriously. This is the reason for the shift in attitude. Of course, even if one in a million objects happens to be non-human-made, its finding will constitute the biggest discovery ever made by humanity. Q. Lastly, if data eventually confirms the existence of non-human intelligence, how do you think humanity will react? Do you think humans are ready for it because of years of feeding on science fiction? Humanity will adapt in the same way that it did when the Vatican admitted that Galileo Galilei was right. I discussed this affair in a new essay a couple of days ago. In the blog, Loeb recalls the time when the Catholic Church punished three scientists for saying that the Sun, and not the Earth, was at the centre. Nicolaus Copernicus, Galileo Galilei and Giordano Bruno faced action for their views. "The Vatican’s bureaucrats were never jailed for misleading the public, even after spacecraft provided clear images of the Earth moving around the Sun rather than being at the centre of the Universe," Loeb said. "The general public adapted to the new reality without chants for revenge after the Vatican’s 1992 announcement," he said.

World UFO Day: Avi Loeb, the newly appointed Chair of the UAP Science Council for the White House, Pentagon, FBI and intelligence agencies, spoke to WION about UFOs, UAPs and what to expect.

Interview: On World UFO Day, Avi Loeb, Chair of UAP Science Council, talks about UFO Files and more

Harvard scientist Avi Loeb has proposed that the dark comet 1998 KY26 could actually be the failed Soviet Union spacecraft Phobos 1. In his new paper, Loeb presents evidence to back this claim. Working alongside Adam Hibberd, Adam Crowl, and Carlos Olea, he states that instead of a dark comet, 1998 KY26 could actually be technological in origin. In fact, it took off from Earth in 1988, nearly 40 years ago. In the paper, the researchers list six reasons to cement their claim that it is not a dark comet but actually Phobos 1, the Russian mission to Mars, which could not make it to the Red Planet. Loeb told WION in an email, “The dark comet is likely the entire Phobos 1 spacecraft.”<h2>What is a dark comet?</h2> Dark comets are considered hybrids between comets and asteroids. Even though they display significant non-gravitational accelerations, there is no outgassing involved, and there is no tail or coma either. At least 14 bodies have so far been identified as dark comets.<h2>What Loeb's paper suggests</h2> The professor wrote in his blog that 1998 KY26 is most likely a "sturdy monolithic object," as suggested by its high reflectance, its size and an exceedingly short rotation period. If it were merely a rubble pile, it would have broken apart from the associated centrifugal force, he says. It is possible that it is technological in origin, "potentially a relic of a historical Russian mission to Mars, the Phobos 1 probe".Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/interstellar-inspired-study-proves-it-is-possible-to-send-messages-back-in-time-1780067491280">‘Interstellar’ inspired study proves it is possible to send messages back in time</a><h2>What went wrong with Phobos 1?</h2> The spacecraft was intended to study Mars and its moon Phobos. It was expected to take 200 days to reach its position. But a faulty command led to the mission being cut short. "On September&nbsp;2, 1988, Phobos 1 stopped transmitting signals towards&nbsp;Earth. This was traced to a faulty key command that was sent unintentionally by a technician on August&nbsp;28 from ground control in Yevpatoria, leaving out a single hyphen in one of the keyed commands," Loeb told WION. "This deactivated the attitude thrusters,&nbsp;causing the spacecraft to lose the lock of its solar arrays on the Sun, depleting its batteries," he added.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/deep-space-signal-that-lasted-25-000-seconds-gets-a-possible-explanation-1779876010241">Deep space signal that lasted 25,200 seconds gets a possible explanation</a><h2>Why 1998 KY26 could be Phobos 1?</h2> Loeb and his team present six reasons why this is possible. Orbits of Phobos 1 and 1998 KY26 are similar; they "converge and are statistically compatible". The second proof is that the "difference between these two orbits is compatible energetically with the overall velocity thrust (∆V) envelope available to Phobos 1." This means that, assuming it is the spacecraft Phobos 1, it would have enough fuel and engine power to transition from the first orbit to the second orbit. "There is a historical record in support of the hypothesis that a propulsive velocity thrust (∆V) was delivered shortly after loss of mission. The Phobos 1 mission was lost early on in the probe’s transit to Mars, enabling a large ∆V capability," the next two points read.&nbsp;The physical properties of the dark comet 1998 KY26 - small size (10 metres), high albedo (the shiny appearance) and unusually large spin - also support their theory. The object also appears to be "elongated", which he says is "expected" for Phobos 1.&nbsp;When asked which are the strongest indications that this dark comet could be Phobos 1, he said, “The strongest support for the association of 1998 KY26 with Phobos 1 is the similarity of their orbits as well as the measured small size (10-meter scale), high reflectance (52%) and unusually large spin (5.4 minutes rotation period), which would break up a rubble pile asteroid.”<h2>Japan to probe dark comet 1998 KY26</h2>&nbsp;The Japanese Aerospace eXploration Agency (JAXA) plans to study the dark comet with Hayabusa2, which is expected to land in 2031. It studied the asteroid 162173 Ryugu in 2018, brought samples back in 2020 and was sent to analyse 1998 KY26. With this mission, astronomers plan to learn about the nature of outgassing from a dark comet.

A dark comet, 1998 KY26, that is the target of a probe planned for landing in 2031, could be a lost spacecraft. According to a team of scientists, there are quite a few reasons to theorise that this comet is actually a failed Martian probe. 

Harvard scientist Avi Loeb has proposed that the dark comet 1998 KY26 could actually be the failed Soviet Union spacecraft Phobos 1. In his new paper, Loeb presents evidence to back this claim. Working alongside Adam Hibberd, Adam Crowl, and Carlos Olea, he states that instead of a dark comet, 1998 KY26 could actually be technological in origin. In fact, it took off from Earth in 1988, nearly 40 years ago. In the paper, the researchers list six reasons to cement their claim that it is not a dark comet but actually Phobos 1, the Russian mission to Mars, which could not make it to the Red Planet. Loeb told WION in an email, “The dark comet is likely the entire Phobos 1 spacecraft.” What is a dark comet? Dark comets are considered hybrids between comets and asteroids. Even though they display significant non-gravitational accelerations, there is no outgassing involved, and there is no tail or coma either. At least 14 bodies have so far been identified as dark comets. What Loeb's paper suggests The professor wrote in his blog that 1998 KY26 is most likely a "sturdy monolithic object," as suggested by its high reflectance, its size and an exceedingly short rotation period. If it were merely a rubble pile, it would have broken apart from the associated centrifugal force, he says. It is possible that it is technological in origin, "potentially a relic of a historical Russian mission to Mars, the Phobos 1 probe". Also Read: ‘Interstellar’ inspired study proves it is possible to send messages back in time What went wrong with Phobos 1? The spacecraft was intended to study Mars and its moon Phobos. It was expected to take 200 days to reach its position. But a faulty command led to the mission being cut short. "On September 2, 1988, Phobos 1 stopped transmitting signals towards Earth. This was traced to a faulty key command that was sent unintentionally by a technician on August 28 from ground control in Yevpatoria, leaving out a single hyphen in one of the keyed commands," Loeb told WION. "This deactivated the attitude thrusters, causing the spacecraft to lose the lock of its solar arrays on the Sun, depleting its batteries," he added. Also Read: Deep space signal that lasted 25,200 seconds gets a possible explanation Why 1998 KY26 could be Phobos 1? Loeb and his team present six reasons why this is possible. Orbits of Phobos 1 and 1998 KY26 are similar; they "converge and are statistically compatible". The second proof is that the "difference between these two orbits is compatible energetically with the overall velocity thrust (∆V) envelope available to Phobos 1." This means that, assuming it is the spacecraft Phobos 1, it would have enough fuel and engine power to transition from the first orbit to the second orbit. "There is a historical record in support of the hypothesis that a propulsive velocity thrust (∆V) was delivered shortly after loss of mission. The Phobos 1 mission was lost early on in the probe’s transit to Mars, enabling a large ∆V capability," the next two points read. The physical properties of the dark comet 1998 KY26 - small size (10 metres), high albedo (the shiny appearance) and unusually large spin - also support their theory. The object also appears to be "elongated", which he says is "expected" for Phobos 1. When asked which are the strongest indications that this dark comet could be Phobos 1, he said, “The strongest support for the association of 1998 KY26 with Phobos 1 is the similarity of their orbits as well as the measured small size (10-meter scale), high reflectance (52%) and unusually large spin (5.4 minutes rotation period), which would break up a rubble pile asteroid.” Japan to probe dark comet 1998 KY26 The Japanese Aerospace eXploration Agency (JAXA) plans to study the dark comet with Hayabusa2, which is expected to land in 2031. It studied the asteroid 162173 Ryugu in 2018, brought samples back in 2020 and was sent to analyse 1998 KY26. With this mission, astronomers plan to learn about the nature of outgassing from a dark comet.

A dark comet, 1998 KY26, that is the target of a probe planned for landing in 2031, could be a lost spacecraft. According to a team of scientists, there are quite a few reasons to theorise that this comet is actually a failed Martian probe.&nbsp;

Scientist says THIS dark comet could be a 38-year-old human probe - What Avi Loeb told us

Astrophysicist Avi Loeb shares shocking insights about 3I/Atlas, hinting it may be monitoring our solar system routinely. Could this be evidence of advanced extraterrestrial technology or a natural phenomenon? Explore the mystery and the implications for science and space exploration.

Shocking Loeb Statement: Harvard’s Loeb Suggests 3I/Atlas May Monitor Solar System Routinely 

Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS will reach its closest point to the Sun soon, and this encounter will change it in several ways. The “alien mothership” claims will also be cleared after this event. What all can we expect from 3I/ATLAS and its meeting with the Sun?  

Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS will reach its closest point to the Sun soon, and this encounter will change it in several ways. The “alien mothership” claims will also be cleared after this event. What all can we expect from 3I/ATLAS and its meeting with the Sun? &nbsp;

What to expect as 3I/ATLAS reaches closest point to the Sun

Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb has shared his insight on recent observations of the mysterious interstellar object 3I/ATLAS captured by the Nordic Optical Telescope in the Canary Islands of Spain. The latest finding reveals that the comet's unusual anti-solar tail has shifted its direction and is now pointing away from the Sun.&nbsp;The strange object, which features a distinct tail, has sparked a debate over its origin. In his latest paper, Loeb indicated that the behaviour of the trail might indicate 'controlled manoeuvring' by an alien spacecraft, describing it as a potential high-impact Black Swan event, according to a report in NDTV.&nbsp;It is believed that 3I/ATLAS originated from outside our solar system, and it was first spotted in July 2025 by the ATLAS survey telescope, with an updated image captured in September by the Nordic Optical Telescope in Spain's Canary Islands.&nbsp;Based on July and August 2025 observations, the space object has a rare "anti-solar tail"; however, the recent footage disclosed that the anti-tail turned into a tail in September 2025.<h3>What unusual characteristics does 3I/ATLAS show?</h3>The comet has displayed several unusual characteristics, including a gas jet directed toward the Sun, the absence of a typical cometary tail, and the emission of nickel tetracarbonyl, a compound never before detected in natural comets.&nbsp;"My colleague, Adam Hibberd, pointed out that if the object is an alien spacecraft slowing down, and the anti-tail is braking thrust, then this change from anti-tail to tail would be entirely expected near perihelion," says Loeb.&nbsp;"In that case, the transition would constitute a technosignature in the form of an unexpected phenomenon indicative of controlled manoeuvring, possibly with the intention of achieving a bound heliocentric orbit between Mars's and Jupiter's orbits," he added.&nbsp;The comet was projected to make its closest approach to the Sun on October 29, 2025, coming within about 1.36 astronomical units (AU). Recent observations show that as it moves closer to the Sun, material is being stripped away by intense solar radiation, estimated at up to 33 gigawatts.&nbsp;These findings have prompted Avi Loeb to speculate that the object might be a “manoeuvring” alien craft. However, space agencies have not supported this theory. NASA earlier clarified that the object will pass Earth at a safe distance, posing no danger. While Loeb’s claims have attracted global attention, many scientists remain unconvinced, arguing that the object’s features and motion are consistent with natural cometary behaviour.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/3i-atlas-update-hera-and-europa-clipper-could-soon-enter-interstellar-comet-s-tail-1760675660656">3I/ATLAS update: Hera and Europa Clipper could soon enter interstellar comet's tail</a>

In the latest updates, Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb indicated that the behaviour of the trail might indicate 'controlled manoeuvring' by an alien spacecraft, describing it as a potential high-impact Black Swan event.

Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb has shared his insight on recent observations of the mysterious interstellar object 3I/ATLAS captured by the Nordic Optical Telescope in the Canary Islands of Spain. The latest finding reveals that the comet's unusual anti-solar tail has shifted its direction and is now pointing away from the Sun. The strange object, which features a distinct tail, has sparked a debate over its origin. In his latest paper, Loeb indicated that the behaviour of the trail might indicate 'controlled manoeuvring' by an alien spacecraft, describing it as a potential high-impact Black Swan event, according to a report in NDTV. It is believed that 3I/ATLAS originated from outside our solar system, and it was first spotted in July 2025 by the ATLAS survey telescope, with an updated image captured in September by the Nordic Optical Telescope in Spain's Canary Islands. Based on July and August 2025 observations, the space object has a rare "anti-solar tail"; however, the recent footage disclosed that the anti-tail turned into a tail in September 2025. What unusual characteristics does 3I/ATLAS show? The comet has displayed several unusual characteristics, including a gas jet directed toward the Sun, the absence of a typical cometary tail, and the emission of nickel tetracarbonyl, a compound never before detected in natural comets. "My colleague, Adam Hibberd, pointed out that if the object is an alien spacecraft slowing down, and the anti-tail is braking thrust, then this change from anti-tail to tail would be entirely expected near perihelion," says Loeb. "In that case, the transition would constitute a technosignature in the form of an unexpected phenomenon indicative of controlled manoeuvring, possibly with the intention of achieving a bound heliocentric orbit between Mars's and Jupiter's orbits," he added. The comet was projected to make its closest approach to the Sun on October 29, 2025, coming within about 1.36 astronomical units (AU). Recent observations show that as it moves closer to the Sun, material is being stripped away by intense solar radiation, estimated at up to 33 gigawatts. These findings have prompted Avi Loeb to speculate that the object might be a “manoeuvring” alien craft. However, space agencies have not supported this theory. NASA earlier clarified that the object will pass Earth at a safe distance, posing no danger. While Loeb’s claims have attracted global attention, many scientists remain unconvinced, arguing that the object’s features and motion are consistent with natural cometary behaviour. Also read: 3I/ATLAS update: Hera and Europa Clipper could soon enter interstellar comet's tail

In the latest updates, Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb indicated that the behaviour of the trail might indicate 'controlled manoeuvring' by an alien spacecraft, describing it as a potential high-impact Black Swan event.

Is 3I/ATLAS a comet or ‘manoeuvring’ alien craft? Harvard astrophysicist reveals

The interstellar comet-like object 3I/ATLAS, which is approaching the solar system at 210,000 km/h, will pass close to four planets (but not Earth) and the Sun in its cosmic journey. The pop culture's fascination with interstellar visitors makes the leap from ‘I don’t know what it is' to 'alien spaceship' relatively smooth. Harvard‑trained astrophysicist and the popular host of the show ‘Cosmos’ has weighed in on the conversation. He said that cosmic mystery should be a call to weigh in more data.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/latest-update-on-3i-atlas-interstellar-comet-is-getting-brighter-1758273179867">Latest update on 3I/ATLAS: Interstellar comet is getting brighter</a><h2>Alien spaceship theory for 3I/Atlas</h2>Harvard Professor Avi Loeb made headlines when he came up with some intriguing properties of the interstellar object that didn't match the usual known model of a comet or asteroid. 3I/ATLAS, just like the Oumuamua (2017) and 2I/Borisov (2019), is coming from outside the solar system. Its unusual high speed suggests that it is not rotating in the solar system bound by the sun's gravity. &nbsp;Like Oumuamua, 3I/ATLAS has non-gravitational acceleration and has an unusual shape and brightness.&nbsp;“If it doesn’t behave like a comet or asteroid, we should at least consider an artificial explanation instead of ruling it out”, said Loeb. Some speculation suggests that it just has enough time to observe the solar system while staying hidden from the Earth due to its flight path.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/everything-we-know-about-interstellar-object-3i-atlas-size-speed-origin-arrival-and-alien-speculations-explained-1757413577593">All you should know about interstellar object 3I/Atlas: Size, origin, arrival, and why has it turned green</a><h2>Neil deGrasse Tyson weighs in on the debate</h2>Tyson says that we have recently discovered technology to observe fast-moving objects like the Oumuamua (2017) and 2I/Borisov (2019), and 3I/ATLAS. He says, “They have some weird properties. The brightness, the rotation rate, and so they don’t match some of our models for what comets and asteroids should do.” But he also warns that the explanation of All-powerful aliens should not be a substitute for the ‘I don’t know what it is.’&nbsp;He evoked that 'the God of the Gaps' has been replaced by the ‘alien of the gaps.’&nbsp;In early times, when people didn't understand something, for example, “What causes the weather? The ancient Greeks said it was the rage of Poseidon. Why do orbits deviate over time? Newton said it was the power of God.” Historians called it ‘the God of the Gaps’. Now, when people do not understand something like the Egyptian Pyramid or 3I/ATLAS. It's related to Aliens. Tyson said that “There’s a lot we still don’t know about the ancient Egyptians, and archaeologists should continue to study them.”Similarly, for 3I/ATLAS, “The moment you say, ‘I don’t know what I’m looking at, therefore I know what I’m looking at. I’m looking at aliens.’ That is a leap.” Instead, scientists should try to collect more data. Something Loeb also echoed in his statement, which could be possible from the satellite orbiting the Red planet.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/origin-of-3i-atlas-scientists-claim-the-interstellar-visitor-is-travelling-from-this-point-in-space-1757338521926">Origin of 3I/ATLAS: Scientists claim the interstellar visitor is travelling from THIS point in space</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

Harvard’s Avi Loeb and astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson weigh in on interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS and the rising alien spaceship theories.

The interstellar comet-like object 3I/ATLAS, which is approaching the solar system at 210,000 km/h, will pass close to four planets (but not Earth) and the Sun in its cosmic journey. The pop culture's fascination with interstellar visitors makes the leap from ‘I don’t know what it is' to 'alien spaceship' relatively smooth. Harvard‑trained astrophysicist and the popular host of the show ‘Cosmos’ has weighed in on the conversation. He said that cosmic mystery should be a call to weigh in more data. Also Read: Latest update on 3I/ATLAS: Interstellar comet is getting brighter Alien spaceship theory for 3I/Atlas Harvard Professor Avi Loeb made headlines when he came up with some intriguing properties of the interstellar object that didn't match the usual known model of a comet or asteroid. 3I/ATLAS, just like the Oumuamua (2017) and 2I/Borisov (2019), is coming from outside the solar system. Its unusual high speed suggests that it is not rotating in the solar system bound by the sun's gravity. Like Oumuamua, 3I/ATLAS has non-gravitational acceleration and has an unusual shape and brightness. “If it doesn’t behave like a comet or asteroid, we should at least consider an artificial explanation instead of ruling it out”, said Loeb. Some speculation suggests that it just has enough time to observe the solar system while staying hidden from the Earth due to its flight path. Also Read: All you should know about interstellar object 3I/Atlas: Size, origin, arrival, and why has it turned green Neil deGrasse Tyson weighs in on the debate Tyson says that we have recently discovered technology to observe fast-moving objects like the Oumuamua (2017) and 2I/Borisov (2019), and 3I/ATLAS. He says, “They have some weird properties. The brightness, the rotation rate, and so they don’t match some of our models for what comets and asteroids should do.” But he also warns that the explanation of All-powerful aliens should not be a substitute for the ‘I don’t know what it is.’ He evoked that 'the God of the Gaps' has been replaced by the ‘alien of the gaps.’ In early times, when people didn't understand something, for example, “What causes the weather? The ancient Greeks said it was the rage of Poseidon. Why do orbits deviate over time? Newton said it was the power of God.” Historians called it ‘the God of the Gaps’. Now, when people do not understand something like the Egyptian Pyramid or 3I/ATLAS. It's related to Aliens. Tyson said that “There’s a lot we still don’t know about the ancient Egyptians, and archaeologists should continue to study them.”Similarly, for 3I/ATLAS, “The moment you say, ‘I don’t know what I’m looking at, therefore I know what I’m looking at. I’m looking at aliens.’ That is a leap.” Instead, scientists should try to collect more data. Something Loeb also echoed in his statement, which could be possible from the satellite orbiting the Red planet. Also Read: Origin of 3I/ATLAS: Scientists claim the interstellar visitor is travelling from THIS point in space

Harvard’s Avi Loeb and astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson weigh in on interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS and the rising alien spaceship theories.

Neil deGrasse Tyson on 3I/ATLAS: ‘Alien of the Gaps’ theory isn’t science

A Congressional hearing on September 9 saw a video showing an Unidentified Anomalous Object (UAP) being hit by the Hellfire missile shot from an MQ-9 Reaper drone. Despite being struck, the object continues to move, as seen in the video. This footage was shared by Rep. Eric Burlison, who got it from an anonymous whistleblower. But was it really a UFO? Or could it be a man-made weapon? Harvard scientist Avi Loeb, who is known for his views on extraterrestrial life, thinks that this UAP was a drone fired by Yemen towards Israel. The video is dated October 30, 2024 and was shot off the coast of Yemen, Loeb says. The MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft is armed with a variety of weapons, including AGM-114 Hellfire missiles. He cited news reports to state that on October 29, the Yemeni Houthis announced that they had attacked Southern Israel with multiple drones. Loeb says that this reasonably hints at the possibility that this UAP was a drone. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-no-way-not-going-to-happen-acting-nasa-chief-duffy-says-china-will-not-beat-us-to-the-moon-1757520784597">'No way, not going to happen': Acting NASA chief Duffy says China will not beat US to the Moon</a>&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Below is the video I revealed in our <a href="https://twitter.com/GOPoversight?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GOPoversight</a> UAP hearing today, made available to the public for the first time. October 30th, 2024: MQ-9 Reaper allegedly tracking orb off coast of Yemen. Greenlight given to engage, missile appears to be ineffective against the target.… <a href="https://t.co/jxJwl0e00S">pic.twitter.com/jxJwl0e00S</a>&mdash; Rep. Eric Burlison (@RepEricBurlison) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepEricBurlison/status/1965438792493355291?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Why Loeb thinks it is not an alien UFO</h2> The reason why he does not think this object is of extraterrestrial origin is that its size is consistent with the Samad drones the Houthis use. Also, he points to its speed and movement. Loeb wrote in his blog that at about 20 seconds in the video, the Hellfire missile hits the object, but only manages to scrape off a few pieces as the warhead failed to detonate. He says that given the size and dimension of the Hellfire missile, which has a mass of about 45 kilograms, the UAP appears to be "a few meters in size." He says this is about the same scale as the Samad drones, which weigh "about 200 kilograms, about 4.4 times larger than the mass of the Hellfire missile." Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/earth-has-been-sharing-its-orbit-with-a-cosmic-body-for-60-years-we-have-only-now-seen-it-1757514121582">WHAT! Earth has been sharing its orbit with a cosmic body for 60 years. We have only now seen it</a>&nbsp;However, the missile moves much faster than the drone. He says that looking at the video, the Hellfire missile "is moving about 6 times faster than the target in the video’s projection. The known speed of the Samad drones goes up to about 70 meters per second, which is about a sixth of the speed of a Hellfire missile." Loeb says going by this data, the size and speed of the UAP hints at the likelihood that it wasn't a UFO, but a Samad drone launched by the Houthis.

Footage of a Hellfire missile from an MQ-9 Reaper drone hitting a mysterious orb near Yemen has once again triggered chatter about UFOs. One scientist thinks it was not an alien object, but a Samad drone launched by Yemen.

A Congressional hearing on September 9 saw a video showing an Unidentified Anomalous Object (UAP) being hit by the Hellfire missile shot from an MQ-9 Reaper drone. Despite being struck, the object continues to move, as seen in the video. This footage was shared by Rep. Eric Burlison, who got it from an anonymous whistleblower. But was it really a UFO? Or could it be a man-made weapon? Harvard scientist Avi Loeb, who is known for his views on extraterrestrial life, thinks that this UAP was a drone fired by Yemen towards Israel. The video is dated October 30, 2024 and was shot off the coast of Yemen, Loeb says. The MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft is armed with a variety of weapons, including AGM-114 Hellfire missiles. He cited news reports to state that on October 29, the Yemeni Houthis announced that they had attacked Southern Israel with multiple drones. Loeb says that this reasonably hints at the possibility that this UAP was a drone. Also Read: 'No way, not going to happen': Acting NASA chief Duffy says China will not beat US to the Moon

Footage of a Hellfire missile from an MQ-9 Reaper drone hitting a mysterious orb near Yemen has once again triggered chatter about UFOs. One scientist thinks it was not an alien object, but a Samad drone launched by Yemen.

Hellfire missile hit a 'UFO' over Yemen. Scientist suggests what it really was - 'Not alien, but...'

Harvard scientist Avi Loeb wants to send a message to the interstellar object, which he claims could be an alien spacecraft that has come to probe Earth and the other planets. He has suggested sending a very specific message to the aliens who he thinks have sent the interstellar object that is hurtling towards us. Loeb has openly claimed on several occasions that the interstellar object is not a natural space rock that was shaped in the universe, but an alien "mothership" that has entered the solar system to probe not only Earth but also other planets. If this is the case, &nbsp;Loeb has suggested humans should reach out to the extraterrestrial beings. He told reporters that the message sent to aliens should be in Morse code. This is what the message should read - "Hello, welcome to our neighbourhood. Peace!" These are the precise words Loeb says humans need to send across to make contact with the alien civilisation. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/scientist-claims-mystery-interstellar-object-is-here-to-test-human-intelligence-and-we-have-already-failed-here-s-why-1755585246596">Scientist claims mystery interstellar object is here to test human intelligence, and we have already failed. Here's why</a>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/baba-vanga-predicted-alien-contact-in-2025-interstellar-spaceship-comet-solar-system-1754538939635">Baba Vanga Predicted Alien Contact In 2025. Is Interstellar 'Mothership' Hurtling Towards Earth Them Reaching Out?</a>&nbsp;<h2>Loeb wants world leaders to prepare for alien attack</h2>Earlier, Loeb also asked world leaders to come together and prepare a plan of action to tackle the alien spacecraft. He said it is imperative that humans are ready if the "alien mothership" attacks Earth. &nbsp;"I believe that we need an international organisation that will make policy decisions about such an object," he told Newsnation in an interview. Loeb has pointed to several things that don't make sense for a comet, according to him. He cited data from the Hubble Space Telescope to state that there is no tail on the object. "There were claims of a tail. But since 3I/ATLAS is accelerating and its current size is not much larger than the angular resolution of Earth-based telescopes, it is not easy to avoid fictitious elongation of the image as a result of the object's motion." Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/harvard-scientist-calls-on-world-leaders-to-prepare-common-plan-on-alien-attack-1755064546960"> 3I/ATLAS and its 'intent': Harvard scientist calls on world leaders to prepare for an alien attack</a>&nbsp;https://www.wionews.com/videos/mystery-rock-or-interstellar-drone-scientists-debate-hostile-alien-craft-1753979384644/embed&nbsp;<h2>Are humans fit to be called intelligent civilisations in the Milky Way?</h2>Another theory proposed by Loeb about the purpose of the spaceship's visit to the solar system is that it is here to ascertain whether or not humans are capable of being termed "a high status in the class of intelligent civilisations within the Milky Way galaxy." Loeb wrote in a blog that those who are not open to the idea that the object could be something other than a space rock would be quickly canned as non-intelligent by the aliens. Almost all astronomers agree that the object is a comet, except Loeb. He says that its size, speed, and the light around it all indicate that it is not natural. Firstly, interstellar object 3I/ATLAS is quite large, and Loeb is convinced it could not have taken the trip from interstellar space if it were a space rock. Secondly, he cites its strange trajectory, which is abnormal for a naturall-occurring space rock.&nbsp;

Humans should send a very specific message to the aliens who have sent the interstellar object that is crashing through our solar system right now. A Harvard scientist thinks it could be an alien spaceship, and humans need to be prepared.

Harvard scientist Avi Loeb wants to send a message to the interstellar object, which he claims could be an alien spacecraft that has come to probe Earth and the other planets. He has suggested sending a very specific message to the aliens who he thinks have sent the interstellar object that is hurtling towards us. Loeb has openly claimed on several occasions that the interstellar object is not a natural space rock that was shaped in the universe, but an alien "mothership" that has entered the solar system to probe not only Earth but also other planets. If this is the case, Loeb has suggested humans should reach out to the extraterrestrial beings. He told reporters that the message sent to aliens should be in Morse code. This is what the message should read - "Hello, welcome to our neighbourhood. Peace!" These are the precise words Loeb says humans need to send across to make contact with the alien civilisation. Also Read: Scientist claims mystery interstellar object is here to test human intelligence, and we have already failed. Here's why Also Read: Baba Vanga Predicted Alien Contact In 2025. Is Interstellar 'Mothership' Hurtling Towards Earth Them Reaching Out? Loeb wants world leaders to prepare for alien attack Earlier, Loeb also asked world leaders to come together and prepare a plan of action to tackle the alien spacecraft. He said it is imperative that humans are ready if the "alien mothership" attacks Earth. "I believe that we need an international organisation that will make policy decisions about such an object," he told Newsnation in an interview. Loeb has pointed to several things that don't make sense for a comet, according to him. He cited data from the Hubble Space Telescope to state that there is no tail on the object. "There were claims of a tail. But since 3I/ATLAS is accelerating and its current size is not much larger than the angular resolution of Earth-based telescopes, it is not easy to avoid fictitious elongation of the image as a result of the object's motion." Also Read: 3I/ATLAS and its 'intent': Harvard scientist calls on world leaders to prepare for an alien attack https://www.wionews.com/videos/mystery-rock-or-interstellar-drone-scientists-debate-hostile-alien-craft-1753979384644/embed Are humans fit to be called intelligent civilisations in the Milky Way? Another theory proposed by Loeb about the purpose of the spaceship's visit to the solar system is that it is here to ascertain whether or not humans are capable of being termed "a high status in the class of intelligent civilisations within the Milky Way galaxy." Loeb wrote in a blog that those who are not open to the idea that the object could be something other than a space rock would be quickly canned as non-intelligent by the aliens. Almost all astronomers agree that the object is a comet, except Loeb. He says that its size, speed, and the light around it all indicate that it is not natural. Firstly, interstellar object 3I/ATLAS is quite large, and Loeb is convinced it could not have taken the trip from interstellar space if it were a space rock. Secondly, he cites its strange trajectory, which is abnormal for a naturall-occurring space rock.

Humans should send a very specific message to the aliens who have sent the interstellar object that is crashing through our solar system right now. A Harvard scientist thinks it could be an alien spaceship, and humans need to be prepared.

A message in Morse: Humans should reach out to interstellar 'mothership', scientist says

Harvard scientist Avi Loeb has claimed that the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS hurtling towards the inner solar system is an alien spaceship sent by an advanced civilisation. Other astronomers agree that it is a comet, but Loeb has proposed his alternate theory, one that has been dismissed by almost every other expert. This could have flagged humans as undeserving of a "high status in the class of intelligent civilisations within the Milky Way galaxy." Loeb has now claimed that the probe is something like a Turing Test for humanity. He says that anyone who dismisses the object as a space rock could have failed the test in the eyes of an extraterrestrial being. Interstellar object 3I/ATLAS is only the third visitor to our solar system from outer space. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/baba-vanga-predicted-alien-contact-in-2025-interstellar-spaceship-comet-solar-system-1754538939635">Baba Vanga Predicted Alien Contact In 2025. Is Interstellar 'Mothership' Hurtling Towards Earth Them Reaching Out?</a>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/when-will-alien-invasion-on-earth-happen-spacecraft-ship-probe-1754106497174">Scientist reveals HOW and WHEN alien 'mothership' could attack Earth, warns governments to take action</a>&nbsp;<h2>Interstellar ‘mothership’ is here to test human intelligence: Loeb</h2>In a new blog post, Loeb explained what the aliens could be trying to do with the "mothership" they have sent to the solar system. He wrote, "It is well known to any interstellar traveller that there are plenty of icy rocks in planetary systems. These constitute the leftover building blocks from the construction process of the planets." He argued that since space rocks impact the Earth on a regular basis, "an alien might assume that any intelligent observer on Earth must be familiar" with them. He then went on to point at "terrestrial comet expert" Chris Lintott of Oxford, who called his "alien spaceship" theory &nbsp;"nonsense on stilts", to say, that aliens who come across someone who dismisses the idea, will "justifiably conclude that humans failed the test and do not deserve a high status in the class of intelligent civilizations within the Milky-Way galaxy." Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/harvard-scientist-calls-on-world-leaders-to-prepare-common-plan-on-alien-attack-1755064546960">3I/ATLAS and its 'intent': Harvard scientist calls on world leaders to prepare for an alien attack</a>&nbsp;<h2>Why Loeb thinks 3I/ATLAS could be an alien ship</h2>Loeb has presented several arguments to claim that 3I/ATLAS is not a natural occurrence, and there is a high chance that it is a probe sent by an advanced alien civilisation. He thinks that astronomers across the world who have quickly labelled it a comet have missed out on the crucial clues that it is hiding. Loeb cited Hubble telescope images to state that even though the object has a "glow" ahead of it, it doesn't have a tail, as is common with comets. He added in a blog post that there is "no evidence for a bright cometary tail in the opposite direction." While astronomers think that this shows that the dust was evaporating from the object's Sun-facing side. However, Loeb claims the object is creating its own light. He wrote that it is a "spacecraft powered by nuclear energy, and the dust emitted from its frontal surface might be from dirt that accumulated on its surface during its interstellar travel." Also Read: A<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/alien-attack-in-november-harvard-scientist-flags-mysterious-object-hurtling-towards-earth-1753526257304">lien attack in November? Harvard scientists warn mysterious object hurtling towards Earth</a>&nbsp;Loeb has suggested a way to approach the "spacecraft" - send a Morse code message to 3I/ATLAS, and wait for a response. He told reporters the exact message humans should send to the aliens - "Hello, welcome to our neighbourhood. Peace!"

 Mysterious interstellar object 3I/ATLAS is here to test human intelligence, Harvard scientist Avi Loeb has claimed. He says if we are not able to comprehend how it could be different from a space rock, then we do not deserve a place “in the class of intelligent civilisations.” 

Harvard scientist Avi Loeb has claimed that the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS hurtling towards the inner solar system is an alien spaceship sent by an advanced civilisation. Other astronomers agree that it is a comet, but Loeb has proposed his alternate theory, one that has been dismissed by almost every other expert. This could have flagged humans as undeserving of a "high status in the class of intelligent civilisations within the Milky Way galaxy." Loeb has now claimed that the probe is something like a Turing Test for humanity. He says that anyone who dismisses the object as a space rock could have failed the test in the eyes of an extraterrestrial being. Interstellar object 3I/ATLAS is only the third visitor to our solar system from outer space. Also Read: Baba Vanga Predicted Alien Contact In 2025. Is Interstellar 'Mothership' Hurtling Towards Earth Them Reaching Out? Also Read: Scientist reveals HOW and WHEN alien 'mothership' could attack Earth, warns governments to take action Interstellar ‘mothership’ is here to test human intelligence: Loeb In a new blog post, Loeb explained what the aliens could be trying to do with the "mothership" they have sent to the solar system. He wrote, "It is well known to any interstellar traveller that there are plenty of icy rocks in planetary systems. These constitute the leftover building blocks from the construction process of the planets." He argued that since space rocks impact the Earth on a regular basis, "an alien might assume that any intelligent observer on Earth must be familiar" with them. He then went on to point at "terrestrial comet expert" Chris Lintott of Oxford, who called his "alien spaceship" theory "nonsense on stilts", to say, that aliens who come across someone who dismisses the idea, will "justifiably conclude that humans failed the test and do not deserve a high status in the class of intelligent civilizations within the Milky-Way galaxy." Also Read: 3I/ATLAS and its 'intent': Harvard scientist calls on world leaders to prepare for an alien attack Why Loeb thinks 3I/ATLAS could be an alien ship Loeb has presented several arguments to claim that 3I/ATLAS is not a natural occurrence, and there is a high chance that it is a probe sent by an advanced alien civilisation. He thinks that astronomers across the world who have quickly labelled it a comet have missed out on the crucial clues that it is hiding. Loeb cited Hubble telescope images to state that even though the object has a "glow" ahead of it, it doesn't have a tail, as is common with comets. He added in a blog post that there is "no evidence for a bright cometary tail in the opposite direction." While astronomers think that this shows that the dust was evaporating from the object's Sun-facing side. However, Loeb claims the object is creating its own light. He wrote that it is a "spacecraft powered by nuclear energy, and the dust emitted from its frontal surface might be from dirt that accumulated on its surface during its interstellar travel." Also Read: Alien attack in November? Harvard scientists warn mysterious object hurtling towards Earth Loeb has suggested a way to approach the "spacecraft" - send a Morse code message to 3I/ATLAS, and wait for a response. He told reporters the exact message humans should send to the aliens - "Hello, welcome to our neighbourhood. Peace!"

&nbsp;Mysterious interstellar object 3I/ATLAS is here to test human intelligence, Harvard scientist Avi Loeb has claimed. He says if we are not able to comprehend how it could be different from a space rock, then we do not deserve a place “in the class of intelligent civilisations.”&nbsp;

Scientist claims mystery interstellar object is here to test human intelligence, and we have already failed. Here's why

Harvard professor Avi Loeb, who is known for investigating the existence of aliens, in&nbsp;fresh claims has stated that&nbsp;aliens are likely to be present 300 feet below Earth's surface.

Notably, the United States government has never confirmed any mysterious sightings of UFOs. Avi Loeb has said that aliens have been using hidden dimensions created by researchers at the CERN particle accelerator to enter Earth.

The accelerator, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), blasts particles at the speed of light to recreate a situation similar to that of the Big Bang, with hopes of finding hidden dimensions which will reveal how the universe was formed.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/alien-art-or-earthly-stunt-mysterious-toblerone-shaped-monolith-appears-in-wales-baffling-locals-699280">Alien art or earthly stunt? Mysterious Toblerone-shaped monolith appears in Wales, baffling locals</a>

Speaking about the hidden aliens, Loeb said that the extra-terrestrial creatures have most likely spent billions of years developing dimension-hopping technology.

<h2>Only particle accelerators such as CERN can detect these dimensions: Loeb</h2>

The physicist further claimed that the aliens may have been using theoretical quantum gravity engineering to travel through 'curled' dimensions which&nbsp;humans can detect only in particle accelerators such as CERN.

In the documentary, 'The Paranormal UFO Connection', the Harvard scientist says that if some day alien technology reaches us,&nbsp;we will be completely dumbfounded.

"Just like a cave dweller coming to a city like London or Europe, and seeing all the technological gadgets there," said Loeb.

"There will be a sense of religious awe, and we wouldn't understand it, especially if we are dealing with the effects of quantum gravity that we have any clue about," he added.

Loeb claimed that using extra-spatial dimensions to travel will mean that there is&nbsp;a 'much smaller' chance of collisions.

Watch:&nbsp;Search for aliens in Peru's Nazca attracts grave robbers

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/search-for-aliens-in-perus-nazca-attracts-grave-robbers-708972/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

At CERN, scientists have made an attempt to detect six 'extra spatial' dimensions and find particular particles as evidence in such existing dimensions.

"Quantum mechanics was discovered exactly a century ago. And all the most sophisticated technologies we currently employ, such as the Internet, artificial intelligence, and so forth, rely on our understanding of quantum mechanics," said Loeb.

"But the process of learning is incomplete - there are several major puzzles in modern physics. Within the mainstream of theoretical physics for the past decades, the prevailing paradigm is that it is possible to unify quantum mechanics and gravity unless you work with extra-spatial dimensions," he added.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Harvard professor Avi Loeb, who is known for investigating the existence of aliens, in fresh claims has stated that aliens are likely to be present 300 feet below Earth's surface.

Harvard professor Avi Loeb, who is known for investigating the existence of aliens, in fresh claims has stated that aliens are likely to be present 300 feet below Earth's surface. Notably, the United States government has never confirmed any mysterious sightings of UFOs. Avi Loeb has said that aliens have been using hidden dimensions created by researchers at the CERN particle accelerator to enter Earth. The accelerator, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), blasts particles at the speed of light to recreate a situation similar to that of the Big Bang, with hopes of finding hidden dimensions which will reveal how the universe was formed. Also Read: Alien art or earthly stunt? Mysterious Toblerone-shaped monolith appears in Wales, baffling locals Speaking about the hidden aliens, Loeb said that the extra-terrestrial creatures have most likely spent billions of years developing dimension-hopping technology. Only particle accelerators such as CERN can detect these dimensions: Loeb The physicist further claimed that the aliens may have been using theoretical quantum gravity engineering to travel through 'curled' dimensions which humans can detect only in particle accelerators such as CERN. In the documentary, 'The Paranormal UFO Connection', the Harvard scientist says that if some day alien technology reaches us, we will be completely dumbfounded. "Just like a cave dweller coming to a city like London or Europe, and seeing all the technological gadgets there," said Loeb. "There will be a sense of religious awe, and we wouldn't understand it, especially if we are dealing with the effects of quantum gravity that we have any clue about," he added. Loeb claimed that using extra-spatial dimensions to travel will mean that there is a 'much smaller' chance of collisions. Watch: Search for aliens in Peru's Nazca attracts grave robbers At CERN, scientists have made an attempt to detect six 'extra spatial' dimensions and find particular particles as evidence in such existing dimensions. "Quantum mechanics was discovered exactly a century ago. And all the most sophisticated technologies we currently employ, such as the Internet, artificial intelligence, and so forth, rely on our understanding of quantum mechanics," said Loeb. "But the process of learning is incomplete - there are several major puzzles in modern physics. Within the mainstream of theoretical physics for the past decades, the prevailing paradigm is that it is possible to unify quantum mechanics and gravity unless you work with extra-spatial dimensions," he added. (With inputs from agencies)

Aliens have likely travelled to Earth via 'curled dimensions', claims Harvard professor

Making a new addition to a string of claims made by Harvard's former head of astronomy and alien-hunting physicist Avi Loeb said to have found the source of a UFO, whose sounds had rattled the windows of New England for 12 seconds.&nbsp;

On the evening of October 20, the residents of New England had reported a strange ‘boom’ sound, which had shook homes and rattled the windows for nearly 12 seconds.

The noise was recorded by Harvard University's astronomical instrument and they observed that it did not resemble anything similar to birds, wind or aircraft.&nbsp;

Now, while investigating the unidentified flying object’s source, Loeb stated that explosive energy which was equivalent to 2,400 pounds of TNT was released by the UFO and detected from a&nbsp;10-mile radius.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/earth-was-more-charming-for-aliens-when-dinosaurs-existed-657525">Earth was more charming for aliens when dinosaurs existed, suggests study</a>

At the time when the observatory in Cambridge detected the sound, it was moving at a speed of 1,115 feet per second.&nbsp;

<h2>'Boom' sound lasts for 12 seconds</h2>

It was determined by Loeb that the energy source was likely released from a meteor which exploded amid the Orionid shower, which had peaked on October 21.&nbsp;

The Galileo Project observatory of Loeb recorded the boom by using a giant and ultra-sensitive microphone which was installed by him on the roof of a building on the campus of Harvard University.&nbsp;

Andy Mead, who had constructed and designed the system, had reached out to Loeb on October 21 after he saw some strange observations made by the sensors.&nbsp;

“I started getting messages this morning about a 'viral' sound that was heard throughout New England,” stated Mead, in the shared note.

WATCH |&nbsp;European Space Agency released first images taken by Euclid's telescope

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/european-space-agency-released-first-images-taken-by-euclids-telescope-656604/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

“Notably, the Mount Washington Observatory made a post about it as they had so many inquiries,” he added.&nbsp;

“That post now has over 4,000 reactions, 1,000 comments, and 751 shares, many of whom heard the sound and are following the story,” he stated.&nbsp;

As per the report, people heard the explosion from their homes around 7:43 pm ET on October 20. &nbsp;Speaking to Loeb, Mead said that he checked the AMOS system and found 'a very interesting sound' which lasted for 12 seconds.

(With inputs from agencies)

Making a new addition to a string of claims made by Harvard's former head of astronomy and alien-hunting physicist Avi Loeb said to have found the source of a UFO, whose sounds had rattled the windows of New England for 12 seconds.

Making a new addition to a string of claims made by Harvard's former head of astronomy and alien-hunting physicist Avi Loeb said to have found the source of a UFO, whose sounds had rattled the windows of New England for 12 seconds. On the evening of October 20, the residents of New England had reported a strange ‘boom’ sound, which had shook homes and rattled the windows for nearly 12 seconds. The noise was recorded by Harvard University's astronomical instrument and they observed that it did not resemble anything similar to birds, wind or aircraft. Now, while investigating the unidentified flying object’s source, Loeb stated that explosive energy which was equivalent to 2,400 pounds of TNT was released by the UFO and detected from a 10-mile radius. ALSO READ | Earth was more charming for aliens when dinosaurs existed, suggests study At the time when the observatory in Cambridge detected the sound, it was moving at a speed of 1,115 feet per second. 'Boom' sound lasts for 12 seconds It was determined by Loeb that the energy source was likely released from a meteor which exploded amid the Orionid shower, which had peaked on October 21. The Galileo Project observatory of Loeb recorded the boom by using a giant and ultra-sensitive microphone which was installed by him on the roof of a building on the campus of Harvard University. Andy Mead, who had constructed and designed the system, had reached out to Loeb on October 21 after he saw some strange observations made by the sensors. “I started getting messages this morning about a 'viral' sound that was heard throughout New England,” stated Mead, in the shared note. WATCH | European Space Agency released first images taken by Euclid's telescope “Notably, the Mount Washington Observatory made a post about it as they had so many inquiries,” he added. “That post now has over 4,000 reactions, 1,000 comments, and 751 shares, many of whom heard the sound and are following the story,” he stated. As per the report, people heard the explosion from their homes around 7:43 pm ET on October 20. Speaking to Loeb, Mead said that he checked the AMOS system and found 'a very interesting sound' which lasted for 12 seconds. (With inputs from agencies)

Alien-hunting physicist claims explosive sound heard in New England was of a UFO

In an unbelievable achievement, Harvard Professor Avi Loeb said that he was able to recover the microscopic remnants of what he claimed belonged to an unidentified space object that had crashed into the Pacific Ocean around a decade ago, hoping that they are proof of an advanced alien civilisation. 
 
Loeb, along with his team, had gone on a 'historic expedition' and managed to gather 50 microscopic particle spherules that appear like specs of dust and collectively weigh 35mg. The particles were collected off the coast of Papua New Guinea. 
 
Loeb claimed to have seen a "runaway fireball" in 2014 which he said had exploded in the lower atmosphere and then dropped into the ocean.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/harvard-physicist-in-search-for-alien-artefact-that-fell-from-space-575881">Harvard physicist in search for ‘alien artefact’ that fell from space</a>

The mysterious object, which has been labelled as "IM1", "is actually tougher and has material strength that is higher than all the space rocks that were cut along by NASA," said Professor Loeb, while speaking to Fox News from the expedition boat.

<h2 lang="en-US">'Perfectly round' particles discovered</h2>

"Given IM1’s high speed and anomalous material strength, its source must have been a natural environment different from the solar system, or an extraterrestrial technological civilisation,” he added. The researcher stated that the particles they found were "perfectly round." 
 
Once inspected using a microscope, he said that "the objects appear to look like molten raindrops," which he compared to blood droplets. 
 
"My daughter asked me if she could put one on a necklace, but I told her, ‘It’s too small to thread,'" said Loeb. Prof Loeb and his team have been hoping to discover more about the origin of the object. 
 
"This could be the first time humans put their hands on interstellar material. This has never been done before. We never received a package at our doorstep from a cosmic neighbour,” he said.

WATCH |&nbsp;UFO-like vehicle takes flight in China, iUFO turns sci-fi into reality

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/ufo-like-vehicle-takes-flight-in-china-iufo-turns-sci-fi-into-reality-603706/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The process of extracting microscopic space materials from the ocean bed was a task, which Prof Loeb and his team managed to do by using powerful magnets and following the trajectory taken by the mysterious object. 
 
"The interpretation will be left to follow-up papers. In response to the nay-sayers we say nothing other than show our data in our first publication. One cannot argue with facts, only with interpretations,” Prof Loeb wrote in the latest of his 33 essays.&nbsp; 
 
The particles will be carried back to the lab by the team where they will analyse their elemental and isotopic composition, and prepare a report on the basis of data gathered which will be published in a paper submitted to a peer-reviewed journal.&nbsp;

You can&nbsp;now write for wionews.com&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

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In an unbelievable achievement, Harvard Professor Avi Loeb said that he was able to recover the microscopic remnants of what he claimed belonged to an unidentified space object that had crashed into the Pacific Ocean around a decade ago, hoping that they are proof of an advanced alien civilisation.

In an unbelievable achievement, Harvard Professor Avi Loeb said that he was able to recover the microscopic remnants of what he claimed belonged to an unidentified space object that had crashed into the Pacific Ocean around a decade ago, hoping that they are proof of an advanced alien civilisation. Loeb, along with his team, had gone on a 'historic expedition' and managed to gather 50 microscopic particle spherules that appear like specs of dust and collectively weigh 35mg. The particles were collected off the coast of Papua New Guinea. Loeb claimed to have seen a "runaway fireball" in 2014 which he said had exploded in the lower atmosphere and then dropped into the ocean. ALSO READ | Harvard physicist in search for ‘alien artefact’ that fell from space The mysterious object, which has been labelled as "IM1", "is actually tougher and has material strength that is higher than all the space rocks that were cut along by NASA," said Professor Loeb, while speaking to Fox News from the expedition boat. 'Perfectly round' particles discovered "Given IM1’s high speed and anomalous material strength, its source must have been a natural environment different from the solar system, or an extraterrestrial technological civilisation,” he added. The researcher stated that the particles they found were "perfectly round." Once inspected using a microscope, he said that "the objects appear to look like molten raindrops," which he compared to blood droplets. "My daughter asked me if she could put one on a necklace, but I told her, ‘It’s too small to thread,'" said Loeb. Prof Loeb and his team have been hoping to discover more about the origin of the object. "This could be the first time humans put their hands on interstellar material. This has never been done before. We never received a package at our doorstep from a cosmic neighbour,” he said. WATCH | UFO-like vehicle takes flight in China, iUFO turns sci-fi into reality The process of extracting microscopic space materials from the ocean bed was a task, which Prof Loeb and his team managed to do by using powerful magnets and following the trajectory taken by the mysterious object. "The interpretation will be left to follow-up papers. In response to the nay-sayers we say nothing other than show our data in our first publication. One cannot argue with facts, only with interpretations,” Prof Loeb wrote in the latest of his 33 essays. The particles will be carried back to the lab by the team where they will analyse their elemental and isotopic composition, and prepare a report on the basis of data gathered which will be published in a paper submitted to a peer-reviewed journal. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Are aliens visiting Earth? Harvard professor finds UFO debris in Pacific Ocean

A Pacific expedition is being planned by a prominent Harvard physicist to find what he believes to be an alien artefact which has fallen from space into the ocean.

Physicist Avi Loeb announced that an ocean expedition worth $1.5 million to Papua New Guinea is being organised by him in search of fragments of an object which crashed off the coast of the country's Manus Island in 2014.

The object was noticed by Loeb in 2019 and it was identified as the first ever discovered interstellar meteor, which means its origin lies outside our solar system.

As per Loeb, the interstellar origin of the meteor was confirmed to NASA by the Department of Defence’s space command in April 2022.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/aliens-on-distant-exoplanets-scientists-say-terminator-zones-could-harbour-life-573183">Aliens on distant exoplanets? Scientists say ‘terminator zones’ could harbour life</a>

Loeb and his team also reached the conclusion that the meteor was tougher compared to all other 272 meteors listed in the Centre for Near Earth Object Studies catalogue of NASA.

“Intrigued by this conclusion, I established a team that designed a two-week expedition to search for the meteor fragments at a depth of 1.7km on the ocean floor. Analysing the composition of the fragments could allow us to determine whether the object is natural or artificial in origin,” wrote Loeb in a post on Medium.

“We have a boat. We have a dream team, including some of the most experienced and qualified professionals in ocean expeditions. We have complete design and manufacturing plans for the required sledge, magnets, collection nets and mass spectrometer,” he further stated.

As per Loeb, there is a possibility that the meteor is tough “because they are artificial in origin…launched a billion years ago from a distant technological civilisation.”

WATCH | Is an alien looking at us from Mars?

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/is-an-alien-looking-at-us-from-mars-488132/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

A ship with a magnetic sledge is expected to be used for the ocean expedition. The team will include seven sledge operations along with a scientific team.

“We will tow a sledge mounted with magnets, cameras and lights on the ocean floor inside of a 10km×10km search box. A number of sources have been used to narrow the search site to this relatively small search box,” wrote Loeb and his team.&nbsp; 
 
(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

You can&nbsp;now write for wionews.com&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>. 
&nbsp;

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A Pacific expedition is being planned by a prominent Harvard physicist to find what he believes to be an alien artefact which has fallen from space into the ocean.

A Pacific expedition is being planned by a prominent Harvard physicist to find what he believes to be an alien artefact which has fallen from space into the ocean. Physicist Avi Loeb announced that an ocean expedition worth $1.5 million to Papua New Guinea is being organised by him in search of fragments of an object which crashed off the coast of the country's Manus Island in 2014. The object was noticed by Loeb in 2019 and it was identified as the first ever discovered interstellar meteor, which means its origin lies outside our solar system. As per Loeb, the interstellar origin of the meteor was confirmed to NASA by the Department of Defence’s space command in April 2022. ALSO READ | Aliens on distant exoplanets? Scientists say ‘terminator zones’ could harbour life Loeb and his team also reached the conclusion that the meteor was tougher compared to all other 272 meteors listed in the Centre for Near Earth Object Studies catalogue of NASA. “Intrigued by this conclusion, I established a team that designed a two-week expedition to search for the meteor fragments at a depth of 1.7km on the ocean floor. Analysing the composition of the fragments could allow us to determine whether the object is natural or artificial in origin,” wrote Loeb in a post on Medium. “We have a boat. We have a dream team, including some of the most experienced and qualified professionals in ocean expeditions. We have complete design and manufacturing plans for the required sledge, magnets, collection nets and mass spectrometer,” he further stated. As per Loeb, there is a possibility that the meteor is tough “because they are artificial in origin…launched a billion years ago from a distant technological civilisation.” WATCH | Is an alien looking at us from Mars? A ship with a magnetic sledge is expected to be used for the ocean expedition. The team will include seven sledge operations along with a scientific team. “We will tow a sledge mounted with magnets, cameras and lights on the ocean floor inside of a 10km×10km search box. A number of sources have been used to narrow the search site to this relatively small search box,” wrote Loeb and his team. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Harvard physicist in search for ‘alien artefact’ that fell from space

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Are aliens visiting Earth? Harvard professor finds UFO debris in Pacific Ocean

Are aliens visiting Earth? Harvard professor finds UFO debris in Pacific Ocean

Harvard physicist in search for ‘alien artefact’ that fell from space