As the interstellar visitor 3I/ATLAS speeds away from our part of the universe, scientists are still engaged in a heated debate that sounds more like a script by Arthur C. Clarke than a typical astronomical report. Is it merely a rock-and-ice wanderer, or a high-tech piece of equipment observing Earth? NASA officials maintain that the object is a regular comet, but Harvard astrophysics professor Avi Loeb, known for his controversial views, is determined that the mystery should not fade into the depths of space.
Professor Loeb has consistently doubled down on his assertion that this cosmic interloper exhibits too many 'anomalies' to be ignored. After initially appearing to soften his stance following the object's closest approach to Earth on Dec. 19, Loeb has returned to his original hypothesis. 'You can't just say, "I know the answer" and ignore the anomalies. That's not viable,' Loeb told reporters.
