A mystery object hurtling through space could be emitting a "technological signature" as it heads toward Earth, a boffin fears. Harvard professor Avi Loeb said 3I/Atlas could even clearing the path from any hazardous micrometeorites that could damage it.
Nasa tried to quash claims the interstellar visitor was an alien spacecraft on Wednesday, but Loeb claims the latest pictures show glowing plume in the direction of motion ahead of it.
Writing in his blog, the theoretical physicist said: "It is easy to explain a plume of gas and dust extended towards the Sun as a result of the illumination of pockets of ice by sunlight or away from the Sun as a result of radiation pressure or the solar wind.
"It is also possible to explain a trailing stream that the object leaves behind as the drag on the solar wind slows it down relative to the object.
"But it is much more difficult to account for a plume extended perpendicular to the direction of the Sun and ahead of the object. Could this be a technological signature of illuminating or clearing the path from any hazardous micrometeorites that may cause damage to a technological object?"
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