Interstellar Objects: 'Oumuamua, 3I-ATLAS, and more

Send us a text

 Links to materials mentioned in the episode:

• Link to book by Avi Loeb: Extraterrestrial: The First Sign of Intelligent Life Beyond Earth.
• Link to the paper co-authored by Avi Loeb: Is the Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS Alien Technology? (PDF)

Word(s) of the Episode

• ʻOumuamua
  • Hawaiian name for the first observed interstellar object (2017).
  • Meaning: “A messenger from afar arriving first” or “advance scout.”
  • Had unusual properties—possibly pancake-shaped, non-natural trajectory, and odd light reflections that led some scientists (e.g., Avi Loeb, Harvard) to propose it might be an artificial probe.
• 3I/Atlas
  • The third confirmed interstellar object, discovered July 1, 2025.
  • Name breakdown: “3” (third), “I” (interstellar), “ATLAS” (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System).
  • Oddities observed:
    • Appears to off-gas methane based on color/spectral readings.
    • Its “tail” sometimes points toward the sun instead of away.
    • Shows unexplained accelerations—speeding up, slowing down, changing course beyond gravity’s pull.
    • Trajectory lies unusually close to the orbital plane of the planets.

Discussion

• Alien Connection?
  • Avi Loeb suggests these interstellar objects could be probes from advanced civilizations, linking them to the Dark Forest Theory (a proposed answer to the Fermi Paradox).
  • Fermi Paradox: If alien life should exist widely, why don’t we see evidence?
  • Dark Forest Theory: Civilizations hide in fear that others will annihilate them; some may send probes to preemptively eliminate threats.
• Alternative Views:
  • Could just be an unusually shaped or chemically different rock.
  • Only 3 interstellar objects have been observed—too small a data set to generalize.
  • Likelihood of danger is deemed infinitesimally small.
• Hosts’ Take:
  • One host doubts alien life entirely (prefers theological explanation of humanity as unique).
  • The other finds it interesting but not worth worrying about—no control if it were dangerous.
• Speculation:
  • What if aliens invited humans aboard—would you go? (Hosts conclude “not alone, only maybe with whole family, and only with proof of trust.”)
  • Playful talk of aliens celebrating Christmas, or whether to buy presents early if Earth were to be destroyed December 19th (closest approach).

Pop Culture Tangents

• Netflix’s Don’t Look Up (mixed opinions on its ending).
• Light detour into Hawaiian names and humorous restaurant memories.

Closing

• They note how social media obsessions with “jumbotron scandals” drown out real, fascinating science.
• Suggest listeners check out Avi Loeb’s book and recent paper.
• Tease but skip over talking about Charlie Kirk, noting “everyone else is already covering him.”

Tone & Takeaway

• Language lesson: Hawaiian terms like ʻOumuamua; technical naming of 3I Atlas.
• Science lesson: Pareto principle revisited in practice—only a few rare objects spark most debates.
• Life lesson: Balance curiosity with perspective—most things (like alien probes) are unlikely threats, but thinking them through can be fascinating.

---

Any views expressed on this podcast are those solely of the hosts and is for entertainment purposes only. None of the content is medical advice or financial advice.

Special thanks to Tim Wright aka CoLD SToRAGE for his permission to use the song Operatique.