Are people really alone in the universe or is someone watching us already? The eternal question has been brought to the forefront again after the detection of an enormous new interstellar object known as 3I/ATLAS, sending experts around the world into a tizzy of inquiry and discussion.
What Do We Know About 3I/ATLAS?
Spotted by NASA’s ATLAS telescope, 3I/ATLAS is the third interstellar object ever to be recorded entering the solar system. But it’s not just what makes it distinct, it’s size: it’s almost 20 kilometres wide, the largest such object ever to be spotted. Its sheer size and quirky behaviour have got professionals scratching their heads, including Harvard astronomer Avi Loeb, who suspects this may be more than just a flyby rock.
As described by Loeb, the object is shrouded in a dense veil of gas and dust, increasing its enigma. “Its path, velocity, and makeup don’t match any known natural celestial body,” he said. These discrepancies have caused him to propose that 3I/ATLAS might not be a natural object at all, it is an artificial one, perhaps an alien probe or ship on an intentional trajectory through our solar system.
The ‘Dark Forest’ Theory
Loeb has associated 3I/ATLAS with the ‘Dark Forest Theory’, a sinister idea that implies there can be advanced alien civilisations but they prefer to keep quiet in order not to be discovered and annihilated by others. If 3I/ATLAS is actually an intentional signal or machine, this might imply that our planet is no longer secluded, we may have attracted the notice of a civilisation greatly superior to ours.
“This is not an astrophysical question, merely,” Loeb observed. “If true, it might be an indication of a potential unknown danger to humankind.”
Two-Fold Reaction Among Experts
Loeb’s hypotheses have sparked both excitement and doubt in the scientific world. Some scientists maintain that the object could merely be a remnant from far space—a piece of ancient matter flung out by the gravitational force of distant stars.
Still, Loeb urges caution before ruling out anything. “We shouldn’t dismiss the alien theory until all available data is studied in detail,” he said.
This isn’t the first time Loeb has made bold extraterrestrial claims. Back in 2017, he stirred debate when he proposed that the first known interstellar object, 1I/‘Oumuamua, could have been alien technology. That theory remains unconfirmed, but with 3I/ATLAS now in view, interest has surged once more.
When Will It Come Close?
object should come closest to our planet in December, at a distance of about 270 million kilometres. It will be closely watched by astronomers during this period for its movement and composition so that we can know what we have on our hands.
Is 3I/ATLAS simply an intriguing piece of space junk or perhaps proof of something much greater? Is this perhaps part of a galactic survey, a spy mission, or even a harbinger of first contact?
While Earth readies for this enigmatic arrival, the world waits in increasing fascination and perhaps a little fear about whether or not someone is already gazing back at us.
