An interstellar object called 3I/ATLAS has recently sparked a wave of excitement — and fear — as some have speculated that it could be an alien spaceship heading toward our solar system.
The mysterious comet, detected by NASA earlier this year, has drawn the attention of conspiracy theorists, but one prominent scientist is speaking out to set the record straight.
Professor Brian Cox has hit out at those speculating that the comet could actually be a spaceship.
The Mysterious 3I/ATLAS Comet
Discovered on July 1 by NASA's Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS), 3I/ATLAS is making headlines not just for its origins, but for the speculation surrounding its purpose.
The comet is roughly the size of New York City, and it will become the third interstellar object to pass through our solar system in recorded history.
The first image NASA captured of Comet 3I Atlas. Credit: ATLAS/University of Hawaii/NASA
Its arrival has set off discussions about alien life and the potential for extraterrestrial contact.
Some, like Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb, have even suggested that the object could be a "potentially hostile" alien spacecraft.
Loeb’s warnings have fueled fears that this comet might be the precursor to an alien invasion — an unlikely scenario that he believes is worth considering.
The Alien Hypothesis: What Loeb Suggests
Loeb, who is no stranger to making bold claims, has proposed that 3I/ATLAS might not be a naturally occurring object but rather a "technological artefact" from an advanced alien civilization.
He even went so far as to suggest that there is a 30 to 40 percent chance that the comet isn't "naturally formed."
Loeb and his colleagues, Adam Hibberd and Adam Crowl, have written a paper outlining their hypothesis.
The theory goes even further, with Loeb positing that the object could be intentionally adjusting its trajectory as it approaches Earth, potentially as part of a deliberate plan.
In his paper, Loeb outlined two possible scenarios: "First, that its intentions are entirely benign and second, they are malign."
Loeb has referred to this theory as a “black swan event,” a term used to describe an unexpected and highly impactful occurrence — like the discovery of alien life.
The comet has some people worried. Credit: NASA
Brian Cox Speaks Out Against the Alien Theory
However, not everyone shares Loeb’s enthusiasm for extraterrestrial explanations.
Professor Brian Cox, a respected physicist, has been vocal in dismissing the idea that 3I/ATLAS is anything but a natural phenomenon.
Taking to social media to address the growing conspiracy theories, Cox wrote: "Just to be clear - given recent drivel on line - Comet 3I/Atlas is a comet, made of carbon dioxide and water ices and bits of other stuff.
"It is entirely natural in origin, its orbit is as expected and it will whizz around the sun and then disappear off into the galaxy again."
Cox’s message was clear: there’s no need for alarm.
He reassured the public that the comet is nothing more than a "pristine lump of rock and ices" that may have originated from a dead star billions of years ago.
He added that if the comet were to encounter another inhabited solar system, he hoped the intelligent life there would "enjoy it for what it is - a visitor from elsewhere in the galaxy."
What NASA Says About 3I/ATLAS
For those still worried about the comet, NASA has provided a reassuring statement. According to the space agency, 3I/ATLAS is classified as an interstellar object because of its orbital path.
Despite its unusual origin, NASA has emphasized that it poses no threat to Earth.
"3I/ATLAS will reach its closest point to the Sun around Oct. 30, 2025, at a distance of about 1.4 au (130 million miles, or 210 million kilometers) — just inside the orbit of Mars," NASA said. "It poses no threat to Earth and will remain far away."