A fast-moving object the size of Manhattan is hurtling toward our solar system, set to make its closest pass to Earth on December 17th. Is it a comet, an asteroid, or something else entirely? A Harvard astrophysicist believes there’s a strong likelihood this is a craft of alien origin, and the implications for humanity would be profound.
Avi Loeb, professor at Harvard, joins me now. Great to see you. Thank you. I’ve been reading with interest what you’re putting out there—it’s very provocative.
Well, you know, science is fun as long as you allow yourself to learn something new. The problem with experts is that they insist on past knowledge that they promoted in echo chambers. Obviously, anything in the sky they argue is a comet. But we should be open-minded because, you know, if we have a visitor from the cosmic street to our backyard, it may not be a rock. It could be a tennis ball thrown by a neighbor. So let’s look at the data.
That’s a very interesting analogy. All right, Dr. Loeb. It is called 3I/ATLAS. Give me the best case for why you think this object may be extraterrestrial and maybe of alien origin.
Well, first, its brightness implies that if it represents reflection of sunlight from a solid object, it needs to be 20 kilometers in diameter. That’s bigger than Manhattan Island. And this is a giant rock. The previous interstellar objects were hundreds of times smaller. So it just doesn’t make sense that the third object from interstellar space would be 100 times bigger than the previous two.
In the last few hours, social media platforms have erupted with reports claiming that 3I/ATLAS transmitted a message to Earth. What began as scattered whispers across niche communities quickly escalated into a storm of viral posts, reaching hundreds of thousands of people in mere hours. The story gained traction because it coincided with fresh telescope data released to select research groups, and soon speculation turned into widespread suspicion that something monumental had just taken place.
On the 5th of June 2025, the SETI Institute confirmed that a narrowband radio signal had been received from the direction of Kepler-442b, a potentially habitable exoplanet located roughly 1,200 light-years away. For over four decades, SETI has scanned the skies in search of meaningful transmissions, logging and analyzing thousands of unusual bursts of static, pulsar noise, and satellite interference. But this signal stood apart from the rest. It did not arrive randomly. It repeated. Even more surprising, the signal’s modulation patterns carried unmistakable traces of structure, as if encoded language had been woven into its intervals. Scientists who compared it to traditional codes like Morse noted the resemblance but stressed that it was far more complex, with levels of organization beyond any natural explanation.
The first press briefing revealed how extraordinary this find was. Dr. Lena Ramani, an astrophysicist from Berkeley who had long collaborated with SETI, addressed the world. Her voice trembled as she described the phenomenon. She admitted that it was unlike anything the institute had ever encountered and acknowledged that the patterns bore the unmistakable hallmarks of intelligence. She stopped short of drawing absolute conclusions but made it clear the discovery was far beyond ordinary space noise. Then the stream abruptly cut off mid-question and never returned. Viewers initially thought it was a technical glitch, but when the press conference vanished entirely without follow-up, unease began to spread.
Two days later, on the 7th of June, an anonymous user on an underground forum posted what they claimed was an internal NASA briefing document. While the source seemed questionable, the file contained technical data that was far too elaborate to dismiss. Spectrograms, waveform breakdowns, encryption models, and even AI-assisted translations were included. The most shocking part was a partial transcript of the decoded message. It stated, “We have watched, we come in cycles. You are not alone. Prepare.” The starkness of the words fueled an online firestorm. Independent researchers, data analysts, and amateur astronomers rushed to examine the document, cross-referencing its content against known signal analysis techniques. The thread exploded across platforms, leaping from online forums that investigate the unknowns of our world to mainstream social media, with entire communities working in real time to unravel the mystery.
By the 9th of June, the information vanished. Threads were deleted, accounts banned, links erased—even archived snapshots disappeared. To many, this erasure only reinforced the suspicion that something genuine had slipped out.
Two days later, on the 11th of June, the White House issued a carefully worded statement. It acknowledged that anomalies had been detected in communication arrays but insisted there was no evidence suggesting an intelligent origin. The message also urged the public to ignore misinformation spreading on unofficial platforms. That same day, NASA’s Deep Space Network went offline for what they described as scheduled maintenance. SETI’s official website locked into restricted access, and the Allen Telescope Array live stream—once running around the clock—displayed only an error page. The timing of these shutdowns was too precise to be dismissed as coincidence.
Soon after, a whistleblower using the alias Jake stepped forward. He had previously worked with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and his credentials were verified before his profile was scrubbed from the internet. He revealed that the transmission had not been a one-way occurrence. Earth’s scientists had sent a ping back to the source, and multiple responses had been received in return. These replies were transmitted across different frequencies, carrying the unmistakable fingerprints of intelligence. When pressed further about the content of the new messages, he revealed only that it was not a threat but an invitation.
Despite the magnitude of this revelation, media coverage dwindled. Major networks avoided the story. Independent journalists reported unusual difficulties in publishing, and podcast episodes covering the subject vanished from their platforms. Even notable scientists who spoke out seemed to retract their statements. Neil deGrasse Tyson briefly wrote that first contact might not be dramatic but instead strangely ordinary, only to delete the remark shortly afterward. What should have been the most significant news of the century seemed to dissolve into silence.
As the days passed, strange visual phenomena were reported in the skies. On the 15th of June, amateur astronomers in Chile, Japan, and Canada began documenting flashes of light from the direction of Kepler-442b. Unlike supernovas or stellar bursts, these appeared as deliberate pulses, repeating in a pattern: three flashes followed by six, then three again, in cycles occurring roughly every 19 hours. Some observers linked the sequence to the original transmission intervals. Others speculated it might be a countdown or a form of secondary communication. The absence of confirmation from mainstream observatories only deepened the mystery.
While governments and institutions maintain silence, the public conversation spread through social media, encrypted channels, and grassroots networks of sky watchers. Every new observation was shared, debated, and analyzed, but official acknowledgment remained absent. For those who had followed the story from the beginning, the sequence of events formed a clear timeline: A structured signal was received. It was decoded into an intelligible message. Earth responded, and multiple responses were sent back. Then came a coordinated effort to suppress public knowledge.
The decoded phrase “prepare” became the focus of debate. What were humans being asked to prepare for? Some argued that it was an announcement of arrival, a warning that a presence was drawing nearer. Others believed it was an invitation for dialogue, a call for humanity to step beyond isolation and into a galactic community. A smaller group feared that the message signaled a shift in cycles, suggesting that whatever intelligence had reached out had done so many times before, always watching, always waiting, returning according to some unknown timetable.
The flashes of light, repeating in their 3-6-3 pattern, were seen as proof that the message had extended beyond radio waves and into visual signaling. This dual-method communication demonstrated a sophistication that left little doubt as to its deliberate nature. Combined with the whistleblower’s statement that Earth’s response had been acknowledged, it formed a chain of evidence too compelling to ignore. The silence of institutions has become its own message. By withdrawing access, restricting data, and avoiding the subject in public forums, they have only confirmed the reality of the phenomenon to those who have seen the evidence. Instead of calming speculation, the silence has fueled suspicion that humanity stands on the edge of contact and that governments are struggling with how to manage the revelation.
The events of June 2025 mark a turning point in humanity’s story. For decades, people speculated about the possibility of receiving a message from the stars. Few expected it to arrive with such clarity, repetition, and undeniable structure. Fewer still imagined that it would be followed by deliberate suppression and silence. Yet the facts remain. A message came. It was decoded. Earth replied, and the reply was answered. The truth of this moment may not be broadcast across televisions or printed in headlines. But it exists in the records of those who paid attention. It exists in the flashes of light witnessed by sky watchers, in the documents briefly leaked online, and in the words “prepare” that continue to echo in every conversation about what comes next.
This individual shared a fascinating video on social media capturing a substantial entity penetrating the clouds. Following its submission, the video spread across various groups, prompting researchers to delve deeper into its nature. According to the individual, while peering out of the airplane window, he noticed something peculiar in the distance. Hastily grabbing his camera, he commenced recording, emphasizing the discernible visibility of the object from a considerable distance. Moreover, he described the object as having four sizable arms that pierced through the layers of clouds. This intriguing occurrence led to widespread discussions as people endeavored to unveil the mystery behind this unprecedented sight.
There was immediate speculation among individuals regarding the unidentified object, with some proposing that it could have been a nearby mountain. Despite the presence of multiple mountains exceeding 20,000 feet, it is challenging to accurately assess the altitude of the object in the footage. The troposphere contains clouds dispersed from 10,000 to 60,000 feet, further complicating the determination of the object’s height. The individual who captured the footage disclosed their location as being en route from Bogotá to Medellín. When they witnessed the object, they affirmed being familiar with the area and stated that the object did not resemble any known mountain. Additionally, they mentioned that the plane was at a high altitude during the sighting and emphasized the absence of any other nearby objects, pointing out the lack of mountainous terrain or elevated areas visible in the lower section of the footage.
The distinct aerial perspective presented a perplexing image to the observer, resembling an immense forearm structure intricately embedded within the clouds. This remarkable sighting evoked a sense of astonishment as the observer acknowledged the unprecedented nature of the spectacle. This interpretation reflects an in-depth and enriched understanding of the observer’s profound reaction to the unique aerial anomaly.
Not everyone was swayed by the evidence, contending that the individual who captured the video may have misjudged their orientation. They expressed doubt, suggesting that the aircraft was actually flying above a mountain that was piercing through the cloud line. Their argument centered on the unusual appearance being attributed to cloud cover enveloping specific sections of the mountain, creating the optical illusion of it having four prominent arms, which in reality it does not possess.
As of the current moment, there has been no additional information made available regarding the photographs. Unidentified flying object sightings, especially when witnessed near aircraft, have been a subject of fascination and contention for many years. The UFO phenomenon is intriguing due to the abundance of firsthand testimonies from pilots, air crew members, and passengers who have witnessed encounters with enigmatic aerial objects. These testimonies depict UFOs as having diverse forms and dimensions, frequently exhibiting exceptional flight abilities that challenge our current understanding of physics. These compelling accounts contribute to the enigma and fascination surrounding UFO sightings, offering a comprehensive insight into the extraordinary nature of these phenomena.
Pilots especially have consistently provided reliable reports of UFO sightings, drawing from their extensive training and intimate knowledge of the skies. Their testimonies describe encounters with UFOs that not only exhibit signs of intelligent control but also showcase capabilities that far exceed those of conventional aircraft. These sightings have taken place during routine flights, military operations, and training exercises, adding substantial credibility to their narratives. The pilots’ accounts are particularly noteworthy due to the detailed descriptions of the maneuvers executed by the UFOs, providing a comprehensive insight into their behavior and performance. These firsthand experiences, grounded in the expertise of skilled aviators, enrich our understanding of UFO phenomena and their interactions with our airspace.
In 2004, there was a significant event involving US Navy pilots who came across an unidentified flying object along the California coast. These highly skilled aviators documented their observation of an object that lacked apparent wings, rotors, or exhaust plumes while it remained suspended at low altitude before executing swift and erratic maneuvers. The encounter was substantiated by multiple witnesses, and it stands out as one of the most extensively documented UFO sightings in recent times. This incident raised significant intrigue and speculation in the realms of aviation and ufology, prompting thorough investigations and discussions regarding potential explanations for the peculiar and unexplained aerial phenomena.
The mystery surrounding unidentified flying objects spotted in close proximity to aircraft extends far beyond mere hearsay and ventures into the domain of formal government records. Numerous governments, such as that of the United States, have disclosed formerly secret documents pertaining to UFO sightings, offering a profound understanding of the gravity with which such occurrences have been handled by government authorities. This disclosure not only transcends anecdotal evidence but also provides a comprehensive and in-depth exploration of the manner in which these instances have been addressed, highlighting the significance and gravity attached to them by various administrations.
UFO sightings near aircraft continue to be a perplexing enigma, prompting a comprehensive exploration of the phenomenon from scientific standpoints. Numerous scientists and researchers have diligently endeavored to comprehend the underlying physics and mechanics of UFO encounters, acknowledging that the observed flight capacities present a formidable challenge to our existing knowledge of propulsion and aerodynamics. This in-depth analysis seeks to enrich our insight into the matter by delving into the complexities and intricacies of these unexplained aerial occurrences, shedding light on the enigmatic nature of these phenomena.
One theory suggests that the unidentified flying objects might be sophisticated extraterrestrial aircraft or unmanned aerial vehicles. Advocates assert that these entities could utilize unconventional propulsion mechanisms like anti-gravity technology or electromagnetic propulsion to explain their remarkable velocity and agility. Although this hypothesis is based on speculation, it underscores the potential incompleteness of our comprehension of physics. This prompts further exploration and examination of the existing knowledge to accommodate the possible existence of such advanced technology beyond our planet.
From another comprehensive scientific standpoint, it is proposed that certain UFO sightings could potentially find an explanation in atmospheric and meteorological phenomena. It is suggested that optical illusions triggered by atmospheric abnormalities such as temperature inversions or refractive conditions might distort the perception and trajectory of entities in the sky. This comprehensive explanation, however, fails to encompass all UFO incidents, especially those observed by proficient pilots well-versed in distinguishing between traditional aircraft and unconventional aerial entities.
An exceptionally intriguing element of this phenomenon is the consistent sighting of unidentified flying objects displaying superior maneuvering capabilities when compared to fighter jets and military aircraft. The concept of unidentified flying objects surpassing the maneuverability of jets presents a significant challenge to our comprehension of physics and propulsion systems. Although the precise characteristics of these occurrences continue to evade us, scientific viewpoints provide captivating revelations regarding the potential technologies that could elucidate their extraordinary capabilities. Delving deeply into these scientific perspectives can enrich our understanding of the enigmatic UFO phenomena, shedding light on the diverse array of potential propulsion.
One theory suggests that unidentified flying objects might utilize highly sophisticated propulsion mechanisms that function on principles beyond current comprehension. In the scientific community, these mechanisms could potentially incorporate technology related to anti-gravity or propulsion techniques centered on the manipulation of space-time. If these capabilities were under the control of an extraterrestrial civilization or a secret human endeavor, they could possibly explain the remarkable aerial maneuvers observed with UFOs. This implies that these UFOs might be utilizing propulsion systems that operate beyond the current scope of scientific understanding, leading to their astounding capabilities to move in ways that defy conventional aeronautical physics.
Delving into an alternative scientific viewpoint, it is postulated that UFOs might employ electromagnetic propulsion, leveraging the potential of electromagnetic fields to navigate within the atmosphere. Although our own technological advancements are still in the nascent stages of harnessing electromagnetic propulsion, the prospect exists that highly advanced societies have acquired a level of expertise in this area, enabling them to adeptly outpace traditional aircraft through seamless maneuvering. This concept prompts contemplation on the potential capabilities of extraterrestrial civilizations and their mastery of a propulsion method that is yet to be fully realized within our own technological landscape.
Moreover, certain experts propose that these unidentified flying objects might employ advanced materials and aerodynamic configurations that surpass anything attained by humans. These advanced materials, possessing distinct properties, could potentially empower UFOs to endure drastic temperatures, high speeds, and intense gravitational forces, thus facilitating their remarkable agility and maneuvering capabilities. This signifies that UFOs may be equipped with technology and materials far beyond our current understanding, providing them with unparalleled capabilities and performance in flight.
Oddly enough, a number of researchers have noticed that unidentified objects seem to be interested in passenger planes, with some noting that mysterious objects have been observed following planes for several minutes. One potential explanation for the fascination of UFOs with aircraft could be their attraction to advanced technology. If we perceive UFOs as vehicles of extraterrestrial origin or as highly advanced human creations, it is logical to assume their inquisitiveness about Earth’s technological progress. Notably, aircraft, especially commercial and military planes, represent some of the most intricate innovations engineered by humanity. They serve as a testament to our technological expertise, boasting cutting-edge propulsion systems and state-of-the-art avionics. This level of sophistication could pique the interest of UFOs, leading them to observe and study our remarkable technological achievements.
In this theoretical situation, UFOs might exhibit an interest in aircraft, possibly motivated by the desire to observe and gain knowledge from our technological advancements. Their inquisitiveness may go beyond mere observation and extend to attempts to establish communication with or even replicate our aircraft’s technology for their own objectives. Exploring human technological developments could serve as a primary incentive for UFOs to engage with aircraft as they endeavor to acquire insights into our scientific and engineering capabilities. Consequently, their interaction with planes may be driven by a genuine curiosity to enrich their understanding of our technological progress and potentially adapt it for their own use.
Planes play a distinctive role in providing a perspective to observe human society from an elevated vantage point. They act as vital links between cities, countries, and even continents, enabling the seamless flow of trade, tourism, and communication. The intriguing possibility arises that UFOs might possess an interest in monitoring the intricate web of human movement, communication, and the societal dynamics facilitated by air travel. This interest could stem from a desire to gain valuable insights into the structure of human civilization, its organization, and the trajectory of its technological advancement. Such observations could potentially offer a deeper understanding of human society, providing a comprehensive view of its evolution and the patterns that define it.
Furthermore, aircraft frequently accommodate a wide array of individuals, each bringing their unique backgrounds, cultures, and behaviors on board. UFOs may find the diverse human experiences within the confines of an aircraft cabin to be fascinating. This encompasses observing how passengers react to turbulence and witnessing the crew’s seamless coordination during emergencies through monitoring human responses to different stimuli in these situations. This is based on the understanding that UFOs, if real, might seek to engage with the official representatives and defense establishments of our world, possibly indicating an inclination to establish a form of communication or interaction.
UFOs possessing their own advanced technology could potentially aim to initiate communication with the military forces of Earth to communicate peaceful motives or to initiate a dialogue. This interaction holds strategic significance in terms of national security, potential technological exchange, and peaceful diplomatic engagement. Their behavior may encompass benign demonstrations of advanced technology or non-hostile engagements strategically aimed at sparking the interest of military personnel. Through interactions with military aircraft, UFOs might aspire to establish a means of communication with Earth’s authorities, thereby laying the foundation for subsequent dialogue and collaboration. In this capacity, UFOs would seek to foster a channel of communication with the aim of initiating further interaction and collaboration with Earth’s governing bodies. This strategy could ultimately lead to a potential diplomatic engagement between UFOs and human authorities, potentially opening up new avenues for cooperation and dialogue between the two parties.
The intrigue surrounding aircraft may also stem from the enigma encompassing airborne occurrences and the pursuit of understanding. If UFOs do exist, they may possess sophisticated scientific tools and sensors, granting them the ability to observe Earth’s atmosphere in manners beyond human capacity. Such technology could potentially enable them to identify unusual atmospheric phenomena or irregularities linked to aircraft activities with precision and insight not achievable by humans. This fascination with aircraft is not only driven by their technological advancements but also by the compelling mystery and the desire for deeper comprehension. In this particular situation, unidentified flying objects may have a vested interest in analyzing the laws of physics, meteorological phenomena, and atmospheric conditions that have an impact on flight.
