A new paper questioning whether the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS is a “possibly hostile” alien probe has sparked outrage among experts, with many labeling it as “nonsense.” The paper, written by renowned astronomer Avi Loeb and his colleagues, suggests that the comet-like object’s unusual trajectory and characteristics could be evidence of an extraterrestrial origin.
However, most scientists believe that 3I/ATLAS is a natural object, likely a comet ejected from another solar system. They point out that the object has displayed classical signatures of cometary activity and that its composition will likely become apparent in the coming weeks and months.
Loeb’s team argues that the object’s trajectory offers benefits to an extraterrestrial intelligence, such as making close approaches to planets and allowing for discreet deployment of “gadgets.” However, experts argue that these claims are unfounded and distract from the work of other scientists studying 3I/ATLAS.
The majority of researchers who have studied 3I/ATLAS agree that it is not an alien probe but rather a natural object. The evidence presented by Loeb’s team is not extraordinary enough to support their claims, according to experts.
As with previous controversies surrounding interstellar objects, the scientific community remains open-minded and focused on understanding 3I/ATLAS. While Avi Loeb continues to advocate for the possibility of extraterrestrial life, most scientists remain skeptical of his claims, emphasizing that extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.
Source: https://www.livescience.com/space/extraterrestrial-life/here-we-go-again-controversial-paper-questions-whether-interstellar-visitor-3i-atlas-is-possibly-hostile-alien-tech-in-disguise