According to the scientist, if the object 3I/ATLAS is artificial rather than natural, it could pose a danger to humanity. Loeb emphasized that there are currently no protocols in place for responding to potential extraterrestrial technologies.
“If 3I/ATLAS has a technological origin, it could create a threat to humanity. At this moment, we do not have clear plans for responding to extraterrestrial technologies, but after the first contact, if we manage to survive, there will be political will to invest huge resources in warning and interception systems,” noted the astrophysicist.
Loeb also expressed concern about the object's changing trajectory, which could lead to a collision with Earth. He believes that 3I/ATLAS has too many anomalous characteristics to be an ordinary comet.
One such anomaly is the size of the object. Loeb points out that 3I/ATLAS is so large that it raises the question of how natural processes could have delivered it to the Solar System in a relatively short time.
The trajectory of 3I/ATLAS also raises questions. The scientist noted that the object entered the plane of the ecliptic with a deviation of only five degrees, which is extremely unlikely for a random interstellar body.
The third feature is the presence of an anti-tail—a stretched extension towards the Sun, which has not been observed in similar objects before.
The discovery of the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS occurred on July 1, and it was later classified as a comet arriving from another star system. The diameter of its coma is approximately 24 kilometers. Computer models suggest that the object may be over 7.5 billion years old, making it three billion years older than the Sun and possibly the oldest comet ever observed.
Previously, Loeb also noted that 3I/ATLAS emits light reminiscent of car headlights, although the source of this light remains unknown. He speculated that the object could be artificial and possess a powerful energy source. The scientist also reported on the “anomalous evolution” of the comet, including changes in color.
