Renowned Harvard astrophysicist Professor Avi Loeb is once again challenging the scientific status quo—this time over a mysterious interstellar object known as 3I/ATLAS—and calling for greater humility, transparency and curiosity in science.
In a wide-ranging interview with filmmaker and author L.A. Marzulli, Loeb explained why this object, which entered our solar system from outside, cannot be casually dismissed as “just another comet.”
“There are a large number of anomalies about this object,” Loeb said. “And in my view, irrespective of what your opinion is—even if you think it’s just a comet—you have to be curious about what is the origin of those anomalies and why do they exist, because that’s an opportunity to learn.”
Loeb emphasized that 3I/ATLAS is only the third interstellar object ever observed, implying that scientists lack a meaningful baseline for comparison. “There is no expertise that we developed with respect to interstellar objects,” he said, adding that assuming it must behave like familiar solar system comets is a form of scientific arrogance.
One of the most striking features, according to Loeb, is a persistent jet pointing toward the sun, sometimes called an “anti-tail”—the opposite of what is typically seen with comets.
“In a comet situation, usually you have dust and gas being pushed away by the solar radiation pressure,” Loeb explained. “But in this case, you see the glow extending in front of the object towards the sun.”
Even more puzzling, Hubble Space Telescope images revealed four distinct jets, symmetrically spaced and behaving unlike known cometary activity. “I just don’t know what the origin of that is,” Loeb admitted. “I tried to explain it… But it remains a puzzle.”
Loeb also pointed to unlikely orbital coincidences. The object travels almost exactly within the plane of the planets—an alignment with only a one-in-500 chance of happening randomly. “Why is the rotation axis directed at the sun?” he asked. “That’s a coincidence of half a percent and not explained.”
Adding to the mystery is the object’s unusual composition, which contains large amounts of nickel and very little iron. “The only place we find that is in industrial production of nickel alloys that we produce technologically,” Loeb noted. “Nature never shows that in any other object.”
Marzulli drew parallels between Loeb’s experience and historical figures who challenged dominant narratives. Loeb agreed that institutional resistance is real, as evidenced by the rejection of one of his scientific papers. “The editor said, ‘I’m not sure that it’s of interest to the scientific community,’” Loeb recalled. “Without review.”
For Loeb, the issue is larger than one object. He warned that dismissing unlikely scenarios can have consequences, calling such moments “black swan events.”
“You multiply small probability by big impact, and you end up with something that must be taken seriously,” he said.
Looking ahead, Loeb highlighted a key moment: Mar. 16, 2026, when 3I/ATLAS enters Jupiter’s gravitational domain. “That should be exciting to watch,” he said.
Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the upcoming book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment.
