Harvard has issued a warning about a mysterious interstellar object known as 3I/ATLAS, which has captured the attention of the scientific community. The academic center notes that this body is not a common asteroid and that there are indications that could point to an intentional origin. However, much remains to be clarified about its true nature and origin.
The renowned astronomer Avi Loeb, director of several projects at Harvard, has led the analysis of this enigmatic object. Loeb has explained that 3I/ATLAS stands out for its unusual size, estimated at about 12.4 mi. (20 kilometers) in diameter, which is atypical for an interstellar object. To put it in perspective, the famous Oumuamua, the first interstellar object detected in 2017, was approximately 200 times smaller, which makes this interstellar object a truly exceptional case.
Asteroid or comet? An interstellar enigma that baffles astronomers
In addition to its size, the object's anomalous brightness has also raised doubts among experts. Statistically, it is highly unlikely to detect an interstellar asteroid of that magnitude in our inner solar system. For example, 12.4 mi. (20-kilometer) asteroids are large enough to cause mass extinctions, like the one that wiped out the dinosaurs millions of years ago.
The scientist has also pointed out that, unlike comets, 3I/ATLAS doesn't show clear spectral evidence of gases or dust around it. Instead, the analysis reveals a reddening caused by prolonged exposure to ultraviolet or cosmic radiation, as seen in objects from the Kuiper Belt. This characteristic adds more unknowns about its composition and origin.
3I/ATLAS under the microscope: new clues about its possible origin
For now, the most prudent option is to think that it is a comet, although there is no clear evidence to confirm it. The lack of a gaseous tail and other usual characteristics in these bodies has opened the door to other interpretations. In this scenario, Loeb has suggested that the object was intentionally sent toward the solar system, in the style of Rendezvous with Rama, the novel where an alien ship crosses our system.
The coming months will be crucial to uncover the secrets of this object, as the object will approach its closest point to the Sun on October 29 of this year. However, due to Earth's relative position, ground-based observations will be more difficult. This has opened the discussion about the need to send a technological probe to study it more closely, something that could provide definitive data.
The debate about the role of science in the face of anomalies
Meanwhile, he has criticized the way some platforms, such as Wikipedia, have handled information about the phenomenon, omitting references to the detected anomalies. According to him, science must keep an openness to the unexpected and not close itself off to hypotheses that challenge the prevailing paradigm. For this scientist, hiding anomalies only delays the advancement of knowledge.
Finally, for this astrophysicist, ignoring these signals would be repeating mistakes of the past. He has illustrated this with the case of Galileo, punished for observing moons that should not have existed according to dogmas. "We deserve to remain ignorant if we support a closed-minded culture," he has concluded.