Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb says comet 3I/ATLAS may have shown signs of “controlled manoeuvering,” sparking renewed debate over its origin. Other scientists say there’s no evidence it’s anything more than a natural space rock.
Mysterious comet 3I/ATLAS has reignited debate among space scientists after controversial Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb suggested it might have performed “controlled manoeuvering.” The interstellar comet, discovered in July, is now approaching the Sun, where its behaviour has caught fresh attention.
In a blog post, Loeb said images suggest the comet’s tail shifted direction in a way that could indicate “braking thrust.” He argued that if the object is slowing down deliberately, “the transition would constitute a technosignature… indicative of controlled maneuvering, possibly with the intention of achieving a bound heliocentric orbit.”
Loeb estimated there’s a “30–40% likelihood” that 3I/ATLAS does not have a “fully natural origin,” calling it a potential “black swan” event.
But other scientists strongly disagree. “It’s seen in solar system comets occasionally,” said Dr. Mark Norris of the University of Central Lancashire. “You have to have the right mixture of materials and spin rate. It’s not shocking.”
Norris added that 3I/ATLAS is behaving exactly as gravitational models predict. “It’s interesting, but it’s not proof of anything. It’s normal,” he said.
The comet is currently hidden behind the Sun and will reappear in early December. The European Space Agency’s JUICE spacecraft will attempt new observations next month as the debate over its mysterious movement continues.