Trust reliable sources, not social media

Recently, a rumour has been circulating on social media that a massive comet named 3I/ATLAS is hurtling towards Earth, bringing destruction for humanity. People have been debating how to divert it from striking the planet. Some posts even claim that international military preparations have begun. The entire issue has created widespread panic.

In July 2025, a mysterious shadow was detected by a NASA telescope. The shadow came from outside the Solar System. Scientists named it 3I/ATLAS. Following ‘Oumuamua’ and ‘Borisov’, this is the third known interstellar object to enter our Solar System. However, 3I/ATLAS is unlike the others – it is incredibly large, massive, and moves in unusual ways. From the beginning, Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb and his team have been monitoring its speed and behaviour.

Discussions linking 3I/ATLAS to aliens began on 29 September 2025 through a New York Post report titled: ‘Massive comet heading our way’. It claimed the object is larger than previously thought and might be of extraterrestrial technology: “It could change everything for us,” scientists were quoted as saying.

The speculation spread on X (formerly Twitter), with posts like: Steven Greenstreet stating, “Scientists say a massive alien spacecraft is heading for Earth. Why isn’t anyone talking more about this?” Dr Discloser wrote, “This is why all generals are convening!” mentioning meetings of US military leaders, which gained nearly 500,000 views. Richard Roper posted, “A huge comet is approaching Earth at 130,000 miles per hour! Can we stop it? I hear two missions are underway – one with the Messiah Crew, and another with two teams, ‘Freedom Team’ and ‘Independence Team’.”

Meanwhile, scientists reassured the public: “Don’t worry – we can handle it!”

Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb and his team fuelled the discussion, suggesting that the object’s unusual motion and acceleration make it difficult to classify as a natural body. Its mass exceeds 33 billion tonnes, with a central diameter of over 3.1 miles. It travels at roughly 200,000 kilometres per hour, a record speed for any object entering the Solar System. Its orbit, rotation, and structure are all unusual, unlike ordinary comets or asteroids.

A research paper published on 17 July suggested that 3I/ATLAS may not be entirely natural; it could be a technological object created by an alien civilisation. This theory is based on its abnormal non-gravitational acceleration. It will pass Venus, Mars, and Jupiter on an unexpected trajectory. Scientists were further surprised by its low retrograde tilt, meaning it rotates opposite to most objects in the Solar System. Its path indicates it will pass near Earth without obstruction.

Loeb notes that if an intelligent lifeform were aboard, it could use planetary orbits and masses to determine optimal paths within the Solar System, possibly observing and measuring our civilisation.

A social media account named Lord Bebo falsely attributed to US physicist Michio Kaku a quote saying the object was sent to Earth “for observation, potentially with hostile intent,” which received nearly 300,000 views. Astronomy Vibes wrote, “While most scientists think it is a strange comet, some bold voices suggest it could be sent by another civilisation.”

What is inside 3I/ATLAS may remain unknown, but scientists have been clear that it does not pose a threat to Earth. Instead, false information has been circulated using names of prominent figures. Al Jazeera’s fact-checking unit, SANAD, found that NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) confirmed 3I/ATLAS is not a threat to Earth. On 21 July 2025, its distance from Earth was about 270 million kilometres, more than 2.5 times the distance between Earth and the Sun. It will reach its closest approach to the Sun on 30 October 2025, while still maintaining a safe distance from Earth – approximately 210 million kilometres.

Recently circulated claims such as “Elon Musk said 3I/ATLAS is coming to Earth” or “NASA issued a warning” are entirely false. Elon Musk has made no posts on his verified X account, and no scientific organisation has declared it dangerous. Similarly, Michio Kaku has not stated it is an alien ship; these quotes are fabricated. SANAD verified that these were taken from an old interview in 2025, long before the discovery of 3I/ATLAS.

In short, whatever social media claims, 3I/ATLAS is not a threat to humanity. Avi Loeb’s alien hypothesis lacks scientific evidence and remains speculation. The important point is that 3I/ATLAS presents a rare research opportunity for space scientists, challenging conventional ideas about interstellar objects. Therefore, interest and careful observation, rather than panic, are warranted. To do so, it is essential to distance oneself from social media rumours and rely on trusted sources for scientific information.