Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS: New Findings Dismiss Alien Theories

Recent findings regarding the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS have clarified its nature, dismissing earlier speculations of it being an alien spacecraft. According to The New York Sun, a Harvard astronomer had previously suggested that the object might be an alien spacecraft, leading to widespread conspiracy theories.

However, new evidence from South Africa's MeerKAT radio telescope has shown that the detected radio signal from 3I/ATLAS is consistent with natural comet activity rather than a transmission from an extraterrestrial source.

The MeerKAT telescope detected a specific radio frequency pattern associated with hydroxyl radicals, known as OH molecules, which are formed as the comet approaches the sun and its surface ice sublimates.

This discovery aligns with the comet's behaviors and features observed by astronomers, confirming it as a comet rather than an alien craft. Live Science reports that the comet 3I/ATLAS, which is estimated to be the size of a city block, has displayed multiple classic signs of cometary activity, including a visible tail and jets of water vapor.

Notably, the OH absorption signals were detected at frequencies of 1665 and 1667 MHz, which are typical for studying comets, nebulae, and star-forming regions. The comet had been accelerating non-gravitationally, a phenomenon that had puzzled some observers until this new data clarified its behavior.

Avi Loeb, the Harvard astrophysicist who initially proposed the alien theory, acknowledged that the current findings support a natural origin for 3I/ATLAS. He had previously speculated that jets from the comet could be signs of thrusters used for navigation, but he conceded they could also be natural jets of ice vaporizing.

Loeb continues to advocate for further observations of the comet, specifically looking forward to its close approach to Jupiter in March 2026, where additional radio signals might be detected. Despite Loeb's ongoing interest in the possibility of extraterrestrial technology, the scientific consensus remains firmly in support of 3I/ATLAS being a natural object, as reported by Live Science.

The comet's close passage to the sun on October 29 also revealed unexpected brightening and changes in color, but these variations are attributed to standard cometary processes rather than alien activity.

Overall, the scientific community emphasizes the importance of evidence-based conclusions, particularly in discussions surrounding UFOs and extraterrestrial phenomena. As 3I/ATLAS continues its journey through our solar system, the excitement lies in understanding its natural origins and the implications for cometary science.