SMRTR Science & EngineeringNov 10, 2025Wired

The First Radio Signal From Comet 3I/Atlas Ends the Debate About Its Nature

SMRTR summary

Comet 3I/Atlas sparked conspiracy theories about its potentially artificial nature, but new radio telescope observations from South Africa's MeerKAT observatory have provided strong evidence of its natural origin. The telescope detected hydroxyl radical absorption patterns at specific radio frequencies, which is consistent with typical comet behavior as ice sublimates near the sun. Despite this scientific confirmation, some researchers like Avi Loeb continue advocating for further monitoring to fully determine the object's nature.

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