Comet 3I/Atlas is only the third confirmed interstellar visitor after ‘Oumuamua and Borisov, and it is driving two conversations at once. The first is strict science based on telescope data. The second is speculation that ranges from coded radio pulses to alien engines.
3I/Atlas has shown a CO2-heavy coma in early James Webb observations, nickel lines in Very Large Telescope spectra without matching iron lines, and a fast brightening near its October 30 perihelion.
Public chatter surged after rumor posts about “Fibonacci” radio bursts, which researchers have not verified. It drew celebrity attention, too. As per the Joe Rogan experience episode dated October 31, 2025, Elon Musk said,
“If I ever came across solid evidence of aliens, Joe, I promise I’ll announce it on your show,”
adding jokingly,
“And just to be absolutely clear, I’m never committing suicide, ever.”
The working view today is clear. 3I/Atlas looks like a rare interstellar comet with intriguing chemistry rather than hostile intent. NASA and ESA teams continue to log data and release images on a rolling basis.
What 3I/ATLAS actually is and what telescopes are seeing now
3I/Atlas was discovered by the ATLAS survey in Chile on July 1, 2025. It follows a hyperbolic track that confirms its origin outside the solar system. Perihelion occurred around October 30 at roughly 1.4 astronomical units. Hubble images constrain the nucleus to an upper limit of about 5.6 kilometres and possibly as small as 320 meters.
The closest Earth distance is far, about 1.8 astronomical units, so there is no impact risk. Webb’s early spectroscopy indicates a coma dominated by carbon dioxide compared with water, a hallmark of cold-formed ices. Ground campaigns and VLT spectra also report CN emission and numerous nickel lines while iron remains undetected, a combination that is uncommon and therefore worth continued checks.
Around perihelion, observers recorded a quicker-than-expected brightening that is still being modeled. As per The Guardian report dated August 19, 2025, ESA scientist Michael Küppers stated,
“It looks like a comet and it behaves like a comet,”
adding,
“These objects are the first building blocks we can observe from those systems”
Together, these measurements support a natural interstellar comet with unusual but testable features.
Why are alien contact theories trending, and what do experts actually say?
3I/Atlas arrived with a social media storm. Posts about a “Fibonacci” radio signal at the hydrogen line spread fast, but technical write-ups pointed to known satellite sources and logging artefacts rather than intelligence. SETI linked work and independent analyses note no verified signal from 3I/Atlas. The striking Sun-facing jet and anti-tail geometry led to more viral claims. Those features have natural explanations in comet jets, dust particle sizes, and viewing angle.
The non-gravitational forces from outgassing can also nudge motion in ways that look odd without context. As per a Live Science report dated October 31, 2025, physicist Romain Maggiolo remarked,
“We have to be careful and take into account aging processes,”
and also noted,
“It’s very slow, but over billions of years, it’s a very strong effect,”
when discussing how long-term space weathering can shape what we see. The mainstream consensus frames 3I/Atlas as a scientifically rich interstellar comet, not an engineered probe.
Avi Loeb’s warnings versus the mainstream and what Elon Musk said
Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb has argued that several “anomalies” around 3I/Atlas deserve open-minded scrutiny. He linked its sky position to the historic Wow! signal and encouraged targeted radio checks near 1420 megahertz. As per a Newsweek report dated October 8, 2025, Loeb said,
“The reason I suggested this hypothesis is to encourage radio observers to search for radio emission from 3I/ATLAS,”
and added,
“If it is a comet of natural origin, no radio signal is expected at 1420 megahertz....Any detection would suggest that 3I/ATLAS is alien technology, potentially explaining some of its anomalies, such as its unusually large mass."
He further stated that any detection would suggest alien technology and help explain perceived anomalies. The counterweight comes from ongoing peer-reviewed and agency-led studies that explain most behavior through standard comet physics, including a CO2-driven coma and dust dynamics.
Musk’s headline-making promise to disclose any alien proof underscored the public mood, but agencies reiterate there is no threat at 1.8 astronomical units and no confirmed signal. The question in the headline remains a live debate for readers and scientists.
Stay tuned for more updates.
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 14: NASA Administrator Bill Nelson attends a press conference at NASA headquarters on September 14, 2023 in Washington, DC. NASA announced the agency has appointed a new director of research to study “unidentified anomalous phenomenon”, formerly referred to as UFOs. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)