Harvard astronomer Avi Loeb is actively researching the third interstellar object currently flying through our Solar System—3I/ATLAS. Unlike his colleagues, who consider it to be a normal comet, Loeb has put forward a sensational hypothesis: it could be a technological artifact from an extraterrestrial civilization.
Loeb carefully described the properties of 3I/ATLAS, which, in his opinion, go beyond the ordinary. These include its unusually large size, its axis of rotation, which is almost perfectly perpendicular to the Sun, and its “precisely tuned” trajectory, which took the object close to Mars and Jupiter. It was these details that led the scientist to consider its artificial origin.
Conflict with NASA and questions for the CIA
The scientist openly criticizes NASA for insisting on the natural origin of the object despite his arguments. He accuses them of “arrogance.” Moreover, Loeb was concerned about the CIA’s response to enthusiast John Greenewald’s request for any documents related to 3I/ATLAS.
The response states that the CIA “neither confirms nor denies” the existence of such records. Loeb finds this strange: if the object is just a natural comet, why would information about it be so secret?
Trojan horse?
?The CIA will "neither confirm nor deny the existence or nonexistence of records" pertaining to interstellar object 3I/ATLAS.
— John Greenewald, Jr. (@theblackvault) January 5, 2026
The fact of documents existing or not existing is classified. pic.twitter.com/UNWXUL2Av0
The astronomer suggests that the government may have investigated 3I/ATLAS as a threat to national security. He wonders whether the authorities, even considering the extraterrestrial scenario unlikely, might have concealed discussions about it to prevent panic without good reason. Loeb even compared the potential probe to a “Trojan horse” disguised as a comet.
Search for truth
However, most of the scientific community remains skeptical. Loeb’s theory is refuted by new data. Without compelling evidence, it is difficult to imagine what exactly could be hidden if the object is just a harmless piece of ice.
But Loeb is not giving up. He calls for a thorough study of 3I/ATLAS when it approaches Jupiter again in March. “If we don’t check, we’ll never know if it’s a white swan or a black swan,” the scientist concludes. The hunt for answers continues.
Earlier, we reported on how the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS surprised scientists with its behavior.
According to futurism.com
