Unraveling the Mystery of 3I/ATLAS: A Call for Open Science

A big question is out there in space. Avi Loeb, a smart scientist from Harvard, wants NASA to show pictures of a strange object called 3I/ATLAS. These pictures were taken 40 days ago by a camera on a Mars orbiter. Many people, both scientists and regular folks, are curious about this object. They want to know where it came from and what it is. Loeb thinks NASA should share the pictures quickly. He says keeping them secret because of rules slows down science. He also thinks scientists should be more open to new ideas. He says the universe is huge, and we should be ready to learn about things we don't understand yet. Loeb points out that most stars in our galaxy are older than our sun. He thinks this means we should be humble when we study space. He also says scientists sometimes ignore things that don't fit their ideas. For example, they might call 3I/ATLAS a comet, even if it doesn't act like one. Loeb compares 3I/ATLAS to another strange object, 'Oumuamua. He says both objects move in ways that aren't caused by gravity. He also says they might be artificial, like things humans have sent into space. But scientists often ignore these possibilities. Loeb thinks we can learn more about 3I/ATLAS before it gets closest to Earth on December 19, 2025. He says we should measure its speed, size, and what it's made of. He also says we should look for pieces near its jets. He thinks this will help us solve the mystery. Loeb's call for open science has gotten attention. A congresswoman even asked NASA to release the pictures. She said science should be more important than rules. Loeb also says many people are interested in this story. Even a kitchen worker recognized him and asked for updates. Loeb is optimistic about finding proof of technology from outside Earth. He made a bet that we'll find it by the end of 2030. He also says his research has inspired a young girl to love science. He thinks this is a good thing.