CAMBRIDGE, MA — As a mysterious object streaks through our solar system, Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb is raising eyebrows with a bold hypothesis: this isn’t just another space rock—it might be an alien probe.
Dubbed "ISO-2025-B" by astronomers, the interstellar visitor was first detected last month by the Pan-STARRS observatory in Hawaii. Traveling at 175,000 km/h on a trajectory from beyond our solar system, its speed, trajectory, and unusual properties have ignited scientific debate. But it’s Dr. Loeb, former chair of Harvard’s astronomy department and founder of the Galileo Project, who has taken the controversy further.
"Natural origins can’t easily explain its acceleration and reflectivity," Loeb told The Harvard Gazette. "Unlike comets, it shows no gas emissions or debris tail. Its surface is unusually smooth and metallic—like something engineered."
Loeb’s theory echoes his earlier work on ‘Oumuamua, the first-known interstellar object detected in 2017. Back then, he argued its bizarre acceleration and pancake-like shape defied conventional explanations. Now, he sees ISO-2025-B as reinforcing his long-held view: humanity might be glimpsing extraterrestrial technology.
In a 2018 analysis cited by Loeb, he noted that ‘Oumuamua’s motion couldn’t be attributed to cometary outgassing alone, suggesting "light sail" propulsion—a concept used in human-designed probes like Breakthrough Starshot. ISO-2025-B, he claims, exhibits similar anomalies.
Not everyone agrees. Dr. Karen Meech, an astronomer at the University of Hawaii, cautions: "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. Interstellar objects are rare, but natural explanations—like exotic ices or fractal dust structures—should be exhausted first."
The scientific race is on. NASA has redirected the James Webb Space Telescope to observe ISO-2025-B, while Loeb’s Galileo Project—which scans skies for alien tech—plans independent analysis. "If it’s artificial, we might detect radio signals or structural symmetry," Loeb speculates.
Critics argue Loeb’s views risk undermining scientific credibility. Yet his retort is unflinching: "Fear of ridicule shouldn’t blind us. If we ignore possibilities because they’re ‘unlikely,’ we might miss the greatest discovery in history."
Loeb expanded on these ideas in a recent Newsweek interview, linking ISO-2025-B to broader questions about life in the cosmos. "We’re like ants assuming the forest is empty of humans," he mused. "Why not look up?"
The object will exit our solar system by early 2026, leaving astronomers little time. For now, ISO-2025-B remains a riddle—one that, alien or not, challenges our understanding of the universe.
—Elena Rodriguez, Science Correspondent
Key Facts:
- ISO-2025-B: Detected June 2025; 400m wide, hyperbolic trajectory.
- Loeb’s Argument: Anomalous acceleration + high reflectivity = possible artificial origin.
- Skepticism: Most scientists cite natural causes like nitrogen ice or cosmic collisions.
- What’s Next: Spectroscopic data from JWST due August 2025.
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