
That UFO Podcast Avi Loeb: The Interstellar Object the CIA Wouldn’t Discuss
Jan 13, 2026
Avi Loeb, a Harvard astrophysicist and head of the Galileo Project, discusses the intriguing interstellar object 3I/ATLAS. He delves into its unusual features, including an anti-tail and odd orbital alignments, sparking debates on its origins. The conversation touches on the CIA’s curious silence regarding 3I/ATLAS and the societal stigma surrounding the search for extraterrestrial life. Loeb also critiques narrow search strategies while arguing for bold scientific inquiry to explore potential technosignatures beyond our planet.
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3I/ATLAS's Unusual Features
- 3I/ATLAS is an interstellar object with multiple geometric anomalies that challenge a purely natural explanation.
- Avi Loeb argues these low-probability traits merit serious scientific scrutiny rather than dismissal.
Prominent Anti-Tail Toward The Sun
- 3I/ATLAS shows a prominent anti-tail pointing toward the Sun, the opposite of typical comet tails.
- Loeb highlights this anti-tail as a key anomaly needing explanation beyond standard comet physics.
Unusual Nickel-Rich Composition
- Spectroscopy detected nickel with very little iron, a composition more typical of industrial alloys.
- Loeb raises this as a possible technological signature rather than a normal cosmic mixture.




