CIA's Mysterious Stance on Interstellar Visitor Raises Eyebrows
The interstellar object designated 3I/ATLAS captured global attention when astronomers first spotted it in July last year. This marked only the third confirmed visitor from beyond our Solar System. However, this particular object refused to follow the quiet, predictable path of typical distant comets.
Scientists observed several unusual characteristics that made 3I/ATLAS stand out dramatically. The object displayed strange color changes that puzzled researchers. It showed abrupt variations in its speed that defied normal gravitational expectations. Observers noted both a traditional tail and an anti-tail extending in opposite directions. Most intriguingly, astronomers detected a precise 16.16-hour cycle of brightening and dimming.
From Scientific Curiosity to Online Speculation
These scientific mysteries quickly spilled into public imagination. Online forums buzzed with theories connecting the object to various prophecies. Some discussions referenced predictions attributed to Bulgarian mystic Baba Vanga. Participants claimed she had foreseen contact with extraterrestrial beings by 2025's end.
More mainstream commentators began framing 3I/ATLAS as a potential alien probe. They pointed to its unusual characteristics as possible evidence of artificial construction. NASA maintained a consistent official position throughout this speculation. The space agency repeatedly stated the object was a natural comet. They emphasized it posed no threat to Earth and would pass at a completely safe distance.
Avi Loeb's Controversial Position
Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb emerged as the most prominent dissenting voice. He has consistently argued that scientists should keep open minds about unconventional explanations. Loeb estimates there might be a 30-40% chance that 3I/ATLAS is not a naturally formed object.
"Some features could be related to a power supply that is not natural," Loeb has suggested. "That is technological in origin, some kind of an engine." He has gone further in his assessments, describing the object as "potentially hostile." Loeb even developed his own rating scale for such phenomena. On this "Loeb scale," he ranks 3I/ATLAS as a four, where zero represents ordinary space rocks and ten indicates confirmed artificial origin.
The astrophysicist has also explored speculative ideas about interstellar objects possibly carrying life-forming materials between star systems. This concept, known as directed panspermia, remains outside mainstream scientific consensus. Last year, Loeb suggested the true nature of 3I/ATLAS might become clear by Christmas. That deadline passed without any definitive revelations about alien technology or intent.
The CIA's Cryptic Response
Public attention largely moved on from the interstellar visitor, but Avi Loeb continued his investigation. He recently highlighted a particularly intriguing development on his Medium blog. UFO researcher John Greenewald Jr. submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to the Central Intelligence Agency. This request sought any assessments or records relating to 3I/ATLAS.
The CIA's reply took a deliberately non-committal position. They stated they could "neither deny nor confirm the existence or nonexistence of records" connected to the interstellar object. The agency added that "the fact of the existence or nonexistence of such records is itself currently and properly classified."
This wording represents a textbook example of what intelligence experts call a Glomar response. This approach deliberately avoids revealing whether sensitive material exists at all. Loeb described the CIA's reply as "surprising" given NASA's definitive statements. At a November 19, 2025 press conference, NASA officials had declared 3I/ATLAS was "definitely a comet of natural origin."
Questions About Government Consistency
Loeb raised pointed questions about this apparent discrepancy between agencies. If the scientific community universally accepted NASA's natural origin conclusion, why would CIA records about the object remain classified? Why would even the existence of such records require protection?
In his blog post, Loeb offered his own interpretation of this bureaucratic mystery. He suggested some government officials might want independent verification that 3I/ATLAS wasn't what experts call a "black swan" event. These are rare but high-impact occurrences whose consequences vastly outweigh their low probability.
"This is a wise policy for mitigating societal unrest or instability of financial markets," Loeb wrote. He argued that even extremely unlikely threats might merit quiet monitoring. Public confirmation of an intelligence review could itself trigger unnecessary alarm among citizens. The astrophysicist suggested officials might be balancing scientific transparency with prudent risk management.
The interstellar object continues its journey through space, carrying its secrets with it. Meanwhile, the debate about its true nature persists in scientific circles and public imagination alike. The CIA's mysterious response has only added another layer of intrigue to this cosmic mystery.
