Is 3I/ATLAS Leaking Alien Tech? Avi Loeb Tracks Suspicious Streaming Gas in Anti-Tail Jet

The interstellar mystery of 3I/ATLAS has taken a provocative turn as Harvard astronomer Avi Loeb identifies a potential 'smoking gun' for extraterrestrial technology. While the object was initially classified as a natural comet, Loeb argues that the behaviour of its bizarre, sun-facing 'anti-tail' presents a clear, testable way to determine if it is being propelled by an artificial thruster.

'This interstellar visitor is currently being scrutinised for anomalies that defy standard cometary models.' Loeb has now proposed a specific observation: if gas is detected far beyond the natural limit of a comet's tail, it would suggest an artificial origin.

The Natural Limit Of Interstellar Vapour

During the past two months after its closest approach to the Sun, the anti-tail jet from the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS was observed to extend out to a distance of several hundred thousand kilometres towards the Sun. 'This phenomenon has prompted a rigorous mathematical evaluation of how dust and gas behave in the vacuum of space. Under normal circumstances, solar radiation pressure and solar winds dictate the length and composition of these celestial tails.

Loeb previously demonstrated that dust particles could be dragged by gas near their launch base. 'These particles then reach a scale of several hundred thousand kilometres before being decelerated by solar radiation pressure.' The critical question remains whether the streaming gas accompanies these particles or is pushed back more forcefully.'

How Artificial Thrusters Could Defy Solar Winds

In the context of 3I/ATLAS being a natural comet, volatiles from ices heated by sunlight yield the gas outflow speed is limited by physics. The maximum outflow speed of the gas is comparable to the thermal speed of the dominant constituent of CO₂ molecules, 'V=0.2 km/s.' At its current heliocentric distance of about twice the Earth-Sun separation, the gas is expected to stop at a distance of only 5,000 kilometres.'

This discrepancy presents a clean test for the nature of 3I/ATLAS. 'If it is a natural comet, the anti-tail jet should not include gas beyond a distance of 5,000 kilometres from the nucleus.'

Loeb argues that if the launch speed of the anti-tail jet is set by a technological thruster, the gas could reach much larger scales towards the Sun.' For chemical-propellant thrusters with an exhaust speed of V=5 km/s, the gas could extend out to 25,000 kilometres.' Even more strikingly, ion thrusters with an ejection speed of V=90 km/s could push that gas to 100,000 kilometres.' Detecting gas at this distance would suggest an artificial origin.'

Using the Webb Telescope to Decode Cosmic Anomalies

Data from the James Webb Space Telescope before the comet's closest approach to the Sun estimated a total mass loss of Mdot∼150 kg/s. ' Loeb has adopted an enhanced value of Mdot∼500 kg/s for the post-perihelion calculations.

'The presence of gas can be tested by tagging a molecular tracer like CO₂ or CO along the axis of the anti-tail jet.' Scientists are now looking to ground-based observatories like Keck, VLT, or ALMA to provide the necessary spatial profiles.'

The pursuit of this data reflects a broader commitment to empirical evidence over speculation.' As Loeb notes, 'Science is a learning experience.' The best way to learn is by observing nature rather than forcing it into a popular narrative.' If 3I/ATLAS proves to be more than a rock, it could redefine our understanding of the galaxy.'