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International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
Briane Nebria

3I/ATLAS Update: Harvard's Avi Loeb Says Ignoring Alien Theory 'Risks Scientific Inquiry'

The James Webb Space Telescope detected high carbon dioxide levels in the coma of interstellar object 3I/ATLAS, fueling debate over its unusual nature. (Credit: YouTube)

Is it a silent messenger from a distant civilisation or merely a frozen wanderer caught in the Sun's gravity? The arrival of a new interstellar visitor has triggered a scientific standoff that feels more like science fiction than astrophysics. While the machinery of space exploration typically moves with calculated precision, the discourse regarding this specific object has been anything but quiet.

From the academic halls of Harvard to the enthusiastic observation circles in Hong Kong, where discussions have been fuelled by the early release of stunning high-resolution images from China's Tianwen-1 orbiter, the world is watching a clash of ideologies unfold. The friction isn't just about the composition of a rock; it is about the very philosophy of how we explore the unknown.

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