One astrophysicist has proposed a chilling theory that could put Earth in danger, as he sounds the alarm over a mysterious object hurtling towards Earth that could delve into the extraterrestrial.
The prospect of alien life is something that has fascinated humans for hundreds if not thousands of years, yet it is particularly within the last century that many have become obsessed with the prospect of visiting extraterrestrials.
While the highly secretive base of Area 51 might not be the alien testing center that many believed it to be, that certainly hasn't stopped countless UFO hunters from scouring the land and skies for any potential otherworldly beings from space, especially among the United States' recognized alien hotspots.
One scientist and space expert has proposed a chilling theory for the near future though, as an unidentified object hurtling towards Earth is theorized to be a potential alien visitor, or perhaps something far more sinister.
What has the expert spotted?
As reported by the Daily Mail, Harvard astrophysicist Professor Avi Loeb is known for his controversial views on extraterrestrial life, and his latest theories surrounding the unidentified object known as '3I/ATLAS' have sparked debate once more.
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Professor Loeb's newest study, published in three pre-print parts, offers analysis that 3I/ATLAS could very well be sign of an impending alien invasion, and it could have a catastrophic effect on Earth.
This theory comes from the fact that the object is larger than what you'd typically expect, and there is no sign of any cometary gas trailing behind it. It also has a current trajectory that passes unusually close to Jupiter, Mars, and Venus, implying that it is looking for a potential target.
"In case 3I/ATLAS represents a spacecraft of 20-kilometer size, we should worry about its intent," Professor Loeb outlined. "At its closest approach to the Sun on October 29, 2025, the stock market might crash if fears of an alien invasion skyrocket. In that scenario, citizens would lose their trust in governments to protect them."
Should we be fearing an alien invasion?
If Loeb is right then he proposes that any possibility of an alien invasion would spell bad news for our planet, especially in relation to the disparity between our equipment and that of the intergalactic 'enemy'.
"Facing a high-tech alien visitor could feel like Iran's air defenses when US B-2 bombers appeared," Loeb illustrates. "Silent, unstoppable, and far outmatched."
He also predicts that an 'optimal' timeline for this mystery object to intercept Earth would be around late November or early December this year, giving the planet just a few more months to properly prepare for the possibility.
Some other scientists aren't quite as convinced as Loeb when it comes to 3I/ATLAS' identity though, as Chris Lintott of the University of Oxford countered with the argument that "any suggestion that it's artificial is nonsense on stilts."
The astronomer then added that Loeb's wild yet terrifying claims are an "insult to the exciting work going on to understand this object."
Loeb invites this criticism though, urging dissenting scientists to "collect as much data as possible in an attempt to prove me wrong," yet many would likely argue that the burden of proof is on Loeb himself, as it's far more likely not to be an alien invasion.