Quick Summary
Renowned Harvard astronomer Avi Loeb is raising eyebrows by questioning why the CIA would issue a “neither confirm nor deny” response concerning records about 3I/ATLAS, an object officially classified as a comet.
What Happened
In a recent publication, Avi Loeb highlighted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request regarding the celestial object 3I/ATLAS. While conventionally labelled a comet, the CIA’s response to the FOIA — stating they could neither confirm nor deny the existence of related records — struck Loeb as highly unusual. This level of secrecy is typically reserved for sensitive national security matters, not natural astronomical phenomena.
Why It Matters
The CIA’s non-committal stance has ignited speculation, especially given Loeb’s past work on potential interstellar objects and unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs). It poses a provocative question: why would an intelligence agency be cagey about what should be a straightforward comet?
“It’s puzzling why a natural comet would warrant such an opaque response,” Loeb reportedly remarked, “unless its nature is not purely natural.”
Bottom Line
Regardless of the CIA’s intent, their evasive answer has only intensified the mystery surrounding 3I/ATLAS. It adds another layer to the ongoing public discourse about transparency concerning unusual celestial observations and potential non-terrestrial objects.
