A strong warning has been issued by Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb, who raises concerns about the interstellar object designated 3I/ATLAS. This object, which is comparable in size to Manhattan, may not simply be a benign visitor from another star system, but rather a potential extraterrestrial “Trojan horse” that could pose significant risks to humanity.
The contemplation of its nature comes at a time when the International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN), backed by NASA, has launched an emergency monitoring campaign due to the unusual behavior exhibited by 3I/ATLAS. Although official communications assert that there is no immediate threat, Loeb insists that the object”s massive scale and erratic trajectory require a heightened level of scrutiny and proactive defense measures, extending beyond mere scientific interest.
Loeb has consistently suggested since the object”s discovery in July that its origins might be extraterrestrial. He elaborated on his concerns during a segment on “Elizabeth Vargas Reports.” His primary issue lies with the extraordinary mass of 3I/ATLAS, which, according to observations from the James Webb Space Telescope, could weigh as much as 33 billion tonnes. “It”s at least a thousand times more massive than the previous interstellar objects we”ve seen,” he stated. “The question arises: why is such a colossal object arriving in our inner solar system when we have only observed smaller ones before?”
This unusual occurrence has prompted Loeb to classify 3I/ATLAS as a potential “black swan event,” a term that refers to unforeseen events of significant impact that seem obvious in retrospect. He fears that while the object may initially appear natural, it could ultimately be something entirely different, akin to a Trojan Horse.
To illustrate the uncertainty surrounding this interstellar visitor, Loeb drew a compelling analogy to a “blind date,” highlighting that while one may expect a friendly encounter, there is always the possibility of encountering danger. This analogy reinforces his view that it is unwise to presume that a mysterious entity arriving from the depths of space has only benign intentions.
Loeb”s apprehensions are grounded in a mounting list of unexplained phenomena associated with 3I/ATLAS, which challenge traditional cometary science. In a thought-provoking paper released in July, he proposed the idea that 3I/ATLAS could potentially be an active, intelligent probe from another civilization, possibly with harmful intentions. Despite NASA“s official position that the object poses no threat, the initiation of a monitoring campaign by the IAWN acknowledges the unprecedented nature of this situation.
The monitoring initiative is set to take place from November 27, 2025, to January 27, 2026, focusing on refining tracking methodologies specifically for 3I/ATLAS. Currently, the object is approaching its closest point to the Sun, which is scheduled for October 29, after which it will temporarily become less visible. Loeb emphasizes that this moment could be crucial; if the object utilizes the Sun”s gravity to alter its course or speed in a manner not predicted by gravitational physics, it would lend substantial weight to the theory of its artificial origin. “If 3I/ATLAS is indeed a massive mothership, it will likely continue along its original path and eventually exit the Solar System,” Loeb remarked in a recent blog post.
As the situation develops, the ensuing weeks are poised to be critical in determining the true nature of this enigmatic cosmic visitor.
