Scientists Consider Possibility of Alien Attack on Earth in November

The interstellar object known as 3I/ATLAS was recently detected by the ATLAS system (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System), a network of telescopes designed to identify near-Earth objects that might pose a collision risk, such as asteroids and comets. Created to provide early warnings of potential impacts, ATLAS has played a crucial role in sky surveillance, constantly monitoring thousands of celestial bodies within our solar system and beyond.

The discovery of 3I/ATLAS attracted special attention as it is the third confirmed interstellar object to pass through our solar system — a rare phenomenon that has generated great interest among the scientific community. The first two known visitors, the enigmatic “Oumuamua” in 2017 and comet 2I/Borisov in 2019, sparked debates about their origin and nature, but 3I/ATLAS exhibits even more peculiar characteristics. Its dynamic behavior includes unusual maneuvers and accelerations that do not fit conventional explanations for natural objects, such as gravitational forces or solar radiation pressure.

This series of anomalies has led some researchers to hypothesize that 3I/ATLAS may not be a natural body, but rather an artificial probe or spacecraft of extraterrestrial origin. Even more surprising, a scientific paper published on July 22 proposes that the object may be deliberately maneuvering to approach Earth — possibly with hostile intentions — and that this approach could culminate in an attack predicted for November of this year.

In 2017, another interstellar object had already raised suspicions about its true origin and nature: Oumuamua. Discovered unexpectedly as it passed through our solar system, Oumuamua exhibited unusual characteristics that intrigued scientists worldwide. Unlike typical comets or asteroids, it showed no visible coma or tail, despite moving at high speed and experiencing unexpected accelerations that defied conventional explanations.

Its elongated, cigar-like shape, combined with these strange behaviors, sparked a range of hypotheses, from natural explanations—such as outgassing or solar radiation pressure—to more speculative ideas, including the possibility that it was an artificial probe sent by an extraterrestrial civilization. The mystery surrounding Oumuamua highlighted how little we still understand about objects coming from outside our solar system and set a precedent for future discoveries, like 3I/ATLAS, to be analyzed with a mix of scientific curiosity and caution.

One of the leading proponents of the idea that Oumuamua was not a natural object but rather an artificial probe is Professor Avi Loeb, a renowned astrophysicist at Harvard University. Loeb has been an influential voice in the debate over the origins of these interstellar objects, proposing that they may be evidence of advanced extraterrestrial technologies. Interestingly, he is also one of the authors of the recent research suggesting that the object 3I/ATLAS could be an alien spacecraft with possible hostile intentions toward Earth.

3I/ATLAS: A Hostile Alien Spacecraft?

The scientific paper proposing that the object 3I/ATLAS may be a hostile alien spacecraft and could potentially attack Earth in November of this year has not yet been peer-reviewed, but it presents intriguing data that, according to the authors, show why this possibility should not be dismissed outright.

The study, released on July 22, 2025, via the arXiv preprint server, offers a preliminary analysis of the astrodynamic characteristics of 3I/ATLAS — the third confirmed interstellar object to cross our solar system — and examines the hypothesis that it may be a technological artifact, possibly with hostile intent, aligning with the so-called “Dark Forest” hypothesis within the Fermi Paradox.

Among the most attention-grabbing data points are:

• The retrograde trajectory, nearly coplanar with the ecliptic, has an extremely low probability (~0.2%) of occurring by chance.
• The object’s approaches to planets like Venus, Mars, and Jupiter have an estimated random occurrence chance of less than 0.005%.
• The perihelion is expected on October 29, 2025, during which the object will be hidden behind the Sun from Earth’s point of view — a condition the authors suggest could allow covert maneuvers, such as the hypothetical “Reverse Solar Oberth Maneuver,” a theoretical technique to significantly alter a spacecraft’s speed.

“If 3I/ATLAS is a technological artifact, its planned trajectory approaching the plane of the ecliptic and its perihelion behind the Sun could allow for a covert infiltration maneuver, such as a reverse solar Oberth maneuver, used to change direction at high speed without easy detection from Earth.” “This could, in theory, enable a surprise attack on Earth or its neighbors, using targets already positioned on Venus, Earth, or Mars.”

While the authors clarify that the study is an educational and intellectual exercise, they also state that if the hypothesis is correct, the implications for humanity would be significant.

What Avi Loeb Says About 3I/ATLAS

One of the authors of the paper is Avi Loeb, an astrophysicist from Harvard University and a well-known figure in debates over interstellar objects. In 2017, he publicly argued that Oumuamua, the first known interstellar object, might have been an artificial alien probe.

In a post published on Medium, Loeb expands on the arguments regarding 3I/ATLAS, highlighting:

• The retrograde trajectory may represent a strategic advantage for an extraterrestrial intelligence, allowing it to approach Earth with relative impunity.
• The high difficulty for humans to launch an intercept mission, due to the object’s extreme speed (about 60–68 km/s), while an advanced civilization could use exotic propulsion or simply send smaller “gadgets” to nearby planets with a ΔV of less than 5 km/s, something theoretically feasible even with ballistic missiles.
• The possibility of a programmed arrival around November or December 2025, when tactical or scientific objectives could be executed by a highly advanced civilization.

Loeb emphasizes that, although the most likely explanation is that 3I/ATLAS is a natural comet, exploring extreme hypotheses can stimulate scientific inquiry and justify the urgent collection of more data on this unusual cosmic visitor.

To access the article, click here.