A Harvard professor is raising eyebrows after suggesting that a mysterious object flying into our solar system might not be natural.
Sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie; folks are responding with a mix of humor and healthy skepticism.
A Strange Visitor from Deep Space
The object, officially named 3I/ATLAS, is the third known interstellar object to enter our solar system, after ‘Oumuamua in 2017 and 2I/Borisov in 2019.
It was discovered in early 2023 and is expected to reach its closest point to the Sun (perihelion) on October 29, 2025.
Harvard astronomer Avi Loeb, along with Adam Hibberd and Adam Crowl, published a scientific paper in July 2025 proposing that 3I/ATLAS might be an artificial object – possibly a probe sent by an extraterrestrial civilization.
They speculate it could attempt a “reverse Solar Oberth maneuver” between November 21 and December 5, using the Sun’s gravity to secretly change direction, possibly toward Earth or Jupiter.
This maneuver is a real, tested method used by spacecraft like NASA’s Parker Solar Probe, but there’s no hard evidence yet that 3I/ATLAS is doing anything other than coasting on a normal gravitational path.
In short, Loeb and his colleagues are saying it’s worth keeping an eye on, not that an alien attack is imminent.
Humor and Serious Questions
Folks have cracked jokes about open borders, poking fun at the idea that aliens might get the same welcome some say illegal immigrants already receive.
Others took the satire further, tossing out comments about needing a wall in space or giving extraterrestrials access to government benefits.
Some pushed back against the credibility of the claim itself, pointing to Harvard as an example of elite institutions that often seem more interested in headlines than hard facts.
Others brought up long-running concerns about government overreach and global control, including references to conspiracy theories like Project Blue Beam, which imagines a fake alien invasion used to justify tighter government power.
The underlying message was clear: don’t trust the elites, and definitely don’t trust global agencies like the United Nations to handle something this big.
What’s Real, What’s Not
To be clear: There is no evidence right now that 3I/ATLAS is an alien spacecraft.
No radio signals. No engine flares. Just a weird rock flying through space.
Even Avi Loeb isn’t claiming otherwise – he’s saying it’s worth testing and tracking. It’s the kind of open-minded but skeptical science that conservatives often support, as long as it sticks to facts and not fear-mongering.
But the political response online shows something else: whether it’s a border crisis or a comet, conservatives want accountability, strong defense, and answers – not spin from experts or global elites.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
