Earlier this month, I wrote about the thrilling discovery of a new interstellar comet: C/2025 N1 (ATLAS), now officially designated 3I/ATLAS, making it only the third known object from outside our solar system to be tracked as it passes by. For astronomy lovers like me, it was already a rare gift—a cosmic message-in-a-bottle from deep space.
But now, the conversation around 3I/ATLAS has exploded into something much larger. And strangely enough, it’s not just astronomers talking—it’s mechanics, carpenters, radio hosts, and even political commentators. Everyone seems to have an opinion.
Why? Because a Harvard astrophysicist just suggested it might be alien.
A New Paper—and a New Firestorm
Avi Loeb, head of Harvard’s Galileo Project, published a new essay this week defending his controversial theory that interstellar objects like ʻOumuamua (2017), IM1 (2023), and now 3I/ATLAS could possibly be alien probes—artifacts of distant civilizations that launched their own spacecraft eons ago.
Loeb’s essay, titled “Did 3I/ATLAS Go Viral?”, pushes back against the scientific gatekeeping he says is stifling curiosity. After being asked by an editor to remove any suggestion of alien origin in his original submission, Loeb co-authored a second, more explicit paper asking:
To be clear, the paper admits that the most likely explanation is a natural comet. But Loeb’s central point isn’t really about aliens. It’s about who gets to ask which questions—and why.
A Culture Clash in Science
Loeb is no crank. He’s a widely respected theoretical physicist, the former chair of Harvard’s astronomy department, and director of multiple scientific institutions. But his willingness to entertain “alien” hypotheses has turned him into something of a lightning rod in academic circles.
Oxford astronomer Chris Lintott called the alien idea “nonsense on stilts.” Other scientists have accused Loeb of chasing headlines, especially with the timing of his new paperback book Interstellar. Maybe they’re right. But maybe that’s also beside the point.
Science is supposed to be driven by evidence, not authority. Yet again and again, we see how tightly controlled narratives can discourage unconventional thinking—whether it’s about interstellar visitors, the origin of COVID-19, or the nature of dark matter.
The Public Is Listening
Here’s the twist: While academics argue over protocol, the public is fascinated. Over 70 news outlets have run stories on 3I/ATLAS in the past few weeks. Social media is buzzing. People from every walk of life are talking about it—not because they think a comet is going to invade Earth, but because they sense a mystery worth exploring.
Loeb joked that he knew his paper had gone viral when his porch carpenter and the guy changing his wife’s oil both asked about it. That’s not a joke to me. That’s beautiful. That’s science doing what it’s meant to do—inspiring wonder.
Red Sky and Real Life
This moment is also eerily familiar to me because it echoes a central scene in Red Sky, the novel Carol and I have been working on for years. A scientist in our story sees strange anomalies in space and dares to say: “Something’s not right here.”
Instead of applause, he’s ridiculed. Shut down. Laughed off the stage.
And yet… he’s right.
So What Do We Do with 3I/ATLAS?
We keep watching.
3I/ATLAS will pass near Mars in October and make its closest approach to the Sun on October 29. It may not be visible to the naked eye, but it’s already being tracked by some of the most powerful telescopes in existence, including Hubble and James Webb.
It probably won’t be an alien probe. But even if it’s “just” a comet, it’s still an ancient wanderer from beyond our solar system. It still carries the dust of a different star.
And it still reminds us to look up.
Final Thoughts
We need more humility in science. We need more courage to ask the “what ifs.” And we need fewer gatekeepers and more guides—people willing to explore, question, and wonder without fear.
Because the universe isn’t done surprising us. Not by a long shot.
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Stay curious. Stay tuned. And yes—I’ll keep watching this one.
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