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What if interstellar objects were not just simple rocks and conventional comets as science has proposed in recent years? This question has been unsettling major space agencies following the discovery of 3I/ATLAS and the revelation of all the information surrounding it, including the monitoring of its trajectory toward Earth.
Avi Loeb, a specialist from Harvard University who has been working on theories regarding the extraterrestrial nature of 3I/ATLAS, has reignited the debate with this question: Should humanity and the scientific community consider that some interstellar objects might have a technological origin, and should they prepare for it?
The question ceased to be fiction for many since the comet 3I/ATLAS, a cosmic visitor coming from some point in deep space that will reach its closest point to Earth (perigee) on December 19, 2025, began to show strange behaviors that do not entirely fit into the 'common comet' category, leaning more toward a mysterious—or, as some claim, alien—origin.
And although most experts insist on treating it as a natural object, some scientists like Loeb maintain that ignoring these anomalous signals could come at a cost to humanity: if 3I/ATLAS were advanced technology, humanity has no action protocol, no defenses, and no idea how to react to such currently hypothetical circumstances.
That lack of preparation has led Loeb and other colleagues with similar theories to suggest that the first encounter, if it were to occur, would force the world to invest billions in alert systems, space interceptors, and missions to analyze these interstellar visitors—which could repeat the visit of 3I/ATLAS—up close.
But there is a fundamental problem, says Avi Loeb. Science is acting as if the subject were closed and as if there were no possibility of the existence of other galactic civilizations that possess the capability to reach Earth.
Loeb points out that Earth and space science are missing 'gigantic opportunities.' The astrophysicist explains that science is a living process, not a finished manual; it is research, uncertainty, correction, and continuous surprise. In his recent blog, the expert refers to Albert Einstein, who was wrong more than once, and notes that various popular theories have been debunked over time.
Regarding this, he notes that the scientific community tends to avoid reputational risks, such as denying the possibility that the comet is actually an extraterrestrial craft, and limits itself to disseminating only safe conclusions. This leaves errors, doubts, and anomalies out of the dialogue, fueling the idea of a rigid and exclusive science when, in reality, it has advanced thanks to the exact opposite.
'By ignoring these anomalies, comet experts are missing important opportunities,' says the Harvard professor.
Another point he makes about why experts do not want to study these objects further and create hypotheses about extraterrestrial origins is that, according to him, they have decided to prioritize the search for microbes on other worlds, allocating more than $10 billion to observatories focused solely on primitive life, while the search for extraterrestrial technology has been relegated to the background.
The argument of those who criticize this decision is clear: although microbes may be more common, technological signatures are easier to detect. Something as simple as a metal structure, artificial emissions, or unnatural patterns could reveal more than decades of biological analysis.
Meanwhile, the public's interest lies elsewhere. The idea of extraterrestrial technology is what truly excites people and keeps them interested in science, he asserts.
The specialist points out that the search for extraterrestrial intelligence has inspired a new generation of young people to become interested in science. Avi Loeb notes that the emails, messages, and requests from students who want to dedicate themselves to researching the universe have skyrocketed in recent years.
With 3I/ATLAS getting closer to Earth every day, the astrophysicist's main question and critique remain: Would humanity be prepared for what may come, or will it continue to ignore what truly matters?
[Publicidad]