I Want It To Be Aliens Too

3I-Atlas, a mysterious object from beyond the solar system has captured the interest of a diverse range of people. Systematically named, 3I-Atlas is the third interstellar object discovered by a telescope stationed in Hawaii called Atlas. The initial discovery that 3I-Atlas was unlike most comets humans observed in the past prompted shock, confusion, and awe. Credentialed astrophysicists and alien conspiracy theorists together muse about the implications of such a discovery. 

Aside from the inherent mystique of originating from outside the solar system, this object exhibits unique characteristics that do not fit the canonical understanding of comets or asteroids. Avi Loeb, a Harvard astrophysicist, compiled a list of observed features of 3I-Atlas that he uses to inform his estimation that this is no ordinary comet. In fact, he guesses that there’s a 30-40% chance that 3I-Atlas is alien technology. Alien conspiracy theorists have latched on to his credentials to establish these observations as proof for alien technology. For instance, the brightness of 3I-Atlas is observed to be far brighter than expected and initially had a tail that pointed toward the sun. The composition of the object is much richer in nickel than iron, and much larger compared to other interstellar objects we have observed. The travel path even falls on the elliptical plane of the planets. Suffice to say, there are many oddities to this mysterious object. 

Yet as mentioned, this is only the third interstellar object observed by humans. Deep space is veritably gargantuan and all the things that occupy that space capable of traversing the solar system are large in number. Given the lack of observations to compare 3I-Atlas, it is difficult to make one claim or another. Seemingly, this is why Avi allocates a 30-40% probability to being associated with alien life; to hedge his bets and be able to say he still thinks it is more likely to be a strange space object. 

“Dogmatists who insist that 3I/ATLAS is a comet of natural origin must be held accountable to explain all of these anomalies as results of probable natural processes”, is what Avi writes in his compilation of oddities. Certainly a fair point, but conversely, the inability to explain these irregularities due to a lack of prior knowledge of interstellar objects, does not necessarily reinforce his claim that these observations are explained by aliens. Aliens in theory could do anything, because they exist outside our sphere of understanding. In terms of structuring an argument, this is like a silver bullet because then they become the explanation for anything we don’t understand. Brighter than usual? Must be a nuclear reactor powering an alien mothership. Composed of nickel? Must be industrial nickel alloys used to build an alien mothership. Outgassing CO2? Must be signs of life…from aliens in their mothership. 

I don’t mean to discount the fact that a possible explanation is aliens. But our all too human inclination to apply a kind of god of the gaps fallacy to things we do not understand can be very misleading in the pursuit of truth. It is true, I want it to be aliens too, but avoiding the confusion that arises from observing something so rare and strange will prevent finding the truth of the matter. Oftentimes this truth is more alien than any concept of aliens we could dream up in our minds.