#2401 - Avi Loeb

The interstellar object 3i Atlas has sparked rigorous scientific debate and analysis led by Avi Loeb, who suggests that the object may not be natural due to several peculiarities.

Loeb's Analysis Suggests 3i Atlas May Be Non-natural

Loeb studies anomalies with 3i Atlas that are not typical of natural celestial objects. He scrutinizes 3i Atlas's unique features, such as a gas jet towards the Sun and its anti-tail configuration, which point to a non-optical illusion phenomenon.

Avi Loeb Noted 3i Atlas's Peculiarities: Gas Jet Towards Sun, No Cometary Tail, High Nickel vs. Iron Levels

Observations indicate that 3i Atlas has a glow that appears elongated towards the Sun, contrasting the traditional direction of cometary tails. The Hubble Space Telescope provided sharp images that support these findings. Loeb criticizes experts who attribute the bizarre phenomenon to comets' inherent strangeness without exploring further. For instance, he notes an unusual composition exhibiting high nickel content but low iron levels, which contradicts what is commonly found in cometary materials.

Anomalies of 3i Atlas' Artificial Origin Dismissed by Scientists

Loeb taught a class on using spectral lines to determine the composition of gas plumes. The atypical nickel abundance could imply an industrially produced material reminiscent of nickel alloys used in aerospace. However, other scientists suggest the lesser-known carbonyl pathway might naturally account for these anomalies, a pathway familiar in industrial settings but not observed in nature.

Loeb also discusses the jet-like feature pointing toward the Sun, with comet experts quickly diagnosing 3i Atlas as a comet due to initial tail-like images. However, their quick dismissal fails to address the lack of a typical comet tail and other oddities.

Loeb Estimates 3i Atlas Over 5 Kilometers, Larger Than Typical Comets or Asteroids

Using data from observatories around Earth, Loeb finds that 3i Atlas's trajectory is shaped only by gravity, with no evidence of recoil, suggesting a mass of 33 billion tons. This mass, matched with solid density, implies a size more than five kilometers in diameter, which is larger than standard comets or asteroids.

Studying Interstellar Objects Like 3i Atlas Offers Insight Into Extraterrestrial Intelligence

Potential non-natural origins and the presence of interstellar ...

Avi Loeb discusses the resistance he faces from the scientific community when proposing unconventional ideas, such as the potential extraterrestrial origins of interstellar objects.

Loeb Ridiculed by Colleagues For Proposing Unconventional Ideas About Interstellar Objects

Colleagues Undermine Loeb's Proposals By Pressuring Journal Editors and Contacting Media to Cast Doubt

Loeb recounts several instances where his suggestions of technological origins for interstellar objects were not taken seriously by the scientific community. He mentions personal attacks against him when he began receiving media attention for his first paper on Oumuamua, which suggested the object might be technological. Loeb also describes how his more unusual proposals, such as those about the trajectory of 3i Atlas, were disparaged, to the extent that the editor asked him to remove a sentence hinting at extraterrestrial technology from a paper. Colleagues even contacted the media, including a New York Times reporter, to cast doubt on his findings.

Resistance Stems From Jealousy, Status Quo Maintenance, and Bias Against Deviating From Accepted Scientific Thinking

Loeb indicates the underlying motivations for this resistance, as he sees it, include the maintenance of the status quo, bias against deviating from accepted thinking, and personal jealousy within academia. He describes the tenure system as initially intended to protect intellectual exploration and risk-taking but points out that his peers appear to propagate conformity and ridicule anything different.

Reluctance to Consider Extraterrestrial Evidence Rooted In Science and Culture

Fear of Damaged Reputations Makes Researchers Avoid Unconventional Ideas

Loeb suggests that a fundamental lack of curiosity and unwillingness to consider new paths in science, stems from a fear of damaging reputations and biases towards traditional scientific thinking. While imaginative ideas are rewarded in the study of cosmology, proposing non-traditional ideas in the realm of comets and asteroids meets strong resistance.

Human Tendency to View Our Civilization as M ...

Avi Loeb urges for a more aggressive investment in understanding extraterrestrial intelligence, citing potential national security risks and the significant impact that such discoveries could have on humanity.

Loeb Argues It's Irresponsible Not to Invest More In Studying Anomalous Phenomena Related To Extraterrestrial Intelligence

Loeb compares the implications of encountering alien technology to black swan events, highlighting the need for serious consideration given their potential impact. He asserts that the lack of investment in studying interstellar objects and the potential for extraterrestrial intelligence results in lost essential data. Loeb emphasizes the importance of investigating anomalies that go beyond human-made technologies, deeming it significant and irresponsible of the scientific community to ignore. During a briefing to the US Congress, Loeb discussed the work they are doing, advocating for increased investment in observing and understanding these phenomena.

Loeb Suggests Observatories and Sensors Network to Monitor Skies for Interstellar Objects and Non-human Intelligence

Loeb emphasizes the need for better observation capabilities, pointing to the risk posed by interstellar objects like 3i Atlas and the possibility they could be associated with extraterrestrial intelligence. He discusses waiting for the government to reclassify information on unidentified objects as ineffective and advocates for independent observatories built specifically for monitoring the skies. Loeb reveals his direct involvement by providing routine updates about 3i Atlas to congresspeople, including a congresswoman he mentions by name, advising policymakers on matters related to extraterrestrial intelligence.

Loeb suggests the creation of a network of observatories and sensors to systematically study the sky. He explains that the Galileo project is aimed at constructing a reliable set of sensors in an observatory configuration to collect scientific quality data on millions of objects in the sky per year. He reveals they have three observatories already funded by private investors. Additionally, Loeb proposes a full alert system and the development of interceptors, spacecraft capable of meeting interstellar objects detected by the observatories.

Loeb Argues For Allocating Billions, Even From Military Budgets, Due to National Security Risks Associated With Advanced Extraterrestrial Technology

Loeb makes a case for allocating billions, suggesting even leveraging military budgets, to research interstellar objects and extraterrestrial intelligence. He cites the use of drones by adversarial nations as a risk that justifies this level of investment. Loeb argues for sophisticated planetary defense against technological gadgets from extraterrestrial origins, which could be poles apart from mere rocks, and justifies diverting a significant portion of the $2.4 trillion military budget towards it.

Loeb Is Frustrated b ...