No, 3I/ATLAS Isn’t Alien Tech — But the Kim Kardashian Plot Twist Is Real

Short answer: There’s no evidence that 3I/ATLAS is alien technology or a threat to Earth. It’s an interstellar comet with some unusual, but natural, features. Now the twist: a Harvard astrophysicist really did invite Kim Kardashian to join his research chats after a rapid reply from NASA’s acting chief — and a U.S. government shutdown is slowing some data releases. Here’s what’s fact, what’s fluff, and what we still don’t know.

The headline correction most people missed

The Mars “images” causing a stir weren’t from NASA’s famous HiRISE camera. The public pictures so far are from Europe’s ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter, which captured 3I/ATLAS as a faint smudge near Mars on Oct. 3, 2025. There’s no public HiRISE image as of today. That matters, because calls to “release the HiRISE photos” are part of the controversy. Source and images: ESA (https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2025/10/ExoMars_Trace_Gas_Orbiter_observes_comet_3I_ATLAS_static?utm_source=openai)

What’s solid and what’s spin

What we can verify

• 3I/ATLAS is real and interstellar. It’s the third known visitor from outside our solar system and is being categorized as a comet. Discovered July 1, 2025 by the ATLAS survey. NASA overview: (https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/comets/3i-atlas/?utm_source=openai)
• No danger to Earth. Closest to the Sun: around Oct. 29–30, 2025 (~1.36–1.4 AU). Closest to Earth: about 1.8 AU on Dec. 19, 2025 — roughly 170 million miles. Not “hurtling toward Earth.” NASA: (https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/comets/3i-atlas/?utm_source=openai)
• Not “Manhattan‑sized.” Hubble limits the nucleus to roughly 0.44–5.6 km across — far smaller than the tabloid claim. NASA: (https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/comets/3i-atlas/?utm_source=openai)
• Its gas cloud looks CO2‑heavy. That’s unusual but natural. Teams using JWST/SPHEREx report strong carbon dioxide with relatively little water vapor detected at that time. Preprint: (https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.18209?utm_source=openai)
• ESA imaged it near Mars. Those faint pictures exist. There is no public HiRISE image. ESA release: (https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2025/10/ExoMars_Trace_Gas_Orbiter_observes_comet_3I_ATLAS_static?utm_source=openai)
• The viral exchange happened. Kim Kardashian asked for “the tea” on X; Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy replied: “No aliens. No threat to life here on Earth.” Coverage: (https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/3i-atlas-researcher-avi-loeb-invites-kim-kardashian-join-research-team-1752146?utm_source=openai)
• The invite is real. Harvard’s Avi Loeb published a Medium post welcoming Kardashian to his 3I/ATLAS discussions and pressing NASA to release Mars‑orbiter data. Loeb’s post: (https://avi-loeb.medium.com/kim-kardashian-is-welcome-to-join-my-research-team-on-3i-atlas-975ea3356581?utm_source=openai)
• Shutdown context is real. A U.S. federal shutdown began Oct. 1, 2025, and agencies have cited delays. Politico: (https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/01/us-gdp-loss-shutdown-00590927?utm_source=openai)
• The “bluer than the Sun” bit. Near perihelion, the comet brightened and looked unusually blue in some data — consistent with gas emissions dominating the light, not a “tech glow.” News coverage: (https://www.newsweek.com/comet-3i-atlas-getting-brighter-reason-unclear-say-scientists-10966308?utm_source=openai)

Claims that don’t hold up

• “Alien engine” in a scientific paper. No peer‑reviewed paper says that. The engine idea appears in commentary around Loeb’s speculation. Scientific work points to natural outgassing and chemistry. Preprint overview: (https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.18209?utm_source=openai)
• Musk “agreed” it’s aliens. On Joe Rogan’s show, Elon Musk did not endorse an alien explanation; he pushed back on sensational claims. Mediaite: (https://www.mediaite.com/media/podcasts/elon-musk-vows-to-only-reveal-alien-evidence-to-joe-rogan-after-podcaster-asks-about-mysterious-manhattan-sized-comet/?utm_source=openai)
• “Unusual maneuvers” near planets. The passes by Mars, Venus, and later Jupiter match a normal, predicted hyperbolic path — no steering required. Planetary Society explainer: (https://www.planetary.org/articles/what-is-comet-3i-atlas?utm_source=openai)
• “Industrial nickel” proof. Spectra showing nickel with little iron at some times can be explained by natural carbonyl chemistry (nickel and iron carbonyls) in a CO/CO2‑rich coma. That’s not an alloy and not unique to industry. VLT/UVES analysis: (https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.26053?utm_source=openai)
• “Beyond gravity” acceleration. Small non‑gravitational acceleration near perihelion is expected from natural outgassing; early orbit fits set tight limits on anything stronger. Preprint: (https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.21408?utm_source=openai)

Uncertain or needs more confirmation

• HiRISE dataset. Loeb says HiRISE shot 3I/ATLAS on Oct. 2–3 and has urged release; as of Nov. 4, 2025, NASA hasn’t posted such images. The shutdown may be slowing things, but we don’t have an official NASA statement confirming the dataset or its release timeline. Loeb’s request: (https://avi-loeb.medium.com/a-request-for-nasa-to-release-scientific-data-on-3i-atlas-32d03580080a?utm_source=openai)
• Congressional pressure. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna posted a letter asking NASA to release data; we haven’t found a formal NASA response. Coverage: (https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/congresswoman-luna-calls-full-disclosure-3i-atlas-composition-public-seeks-answers-1752280?utm_source=openai)

How the frenzy began — and where the facts landed

It started with a comet from deep space and a very online question. Kardashian tossed a playful “what’s the tea?” at NASA’s acting administrator, Sean Duffy — who, yes, is also the U.S. Transportation Secretary — and got a fast reply: third interstellar comet, no aliens, no threat. Reuters on Duffy’s dual role: (https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-transport-secretary-duffy-be-interim-nasa-administrator-trump-says-2025-07-10/?utm_source=openai)

That same week, astrophysicist Avi Loeb urged NASA to release Mars‑orbiter data and publicly invited Kardashian to join his research chats — a media‑savvy way to spotlight a real issue: during a weeks‑long federal shutdown, nonessential releases can stall.

Meanwhile, social posts began stitching together dramatic claims — “Manhattan‑sized,” “blue engine glow,” “suspicious flybys.” The science, when you read it, tells a quieter story: a small interstellar comet, rich in carbon dioxide, doing comet things on a predictable path, with some odd chemistry that’s interesting precisely because it can teach us new natural processes.

The coolest weird bits — explained simply

• CO2‑dominated coma: Think of the coma as the comet’s “atmosphere.” 3I/ATLAS puffed out a lot of carbon dioxide compared with water vapor. That’s unusual for comets we’ve studied up close, but not unnatural. It may mean it formed in a very cold, different place. JWST/SPHEREx: (https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.18209?utm_source=openai)

• “Bluer than the Sun” brightness: Blue, here, doesn’t mean “LED engine.” Gas emissions can make a comet’s light skew blue in certain instruments, especially when it’s most active near the Sun. News coverage: (https://www.newsweek.com/comet-3i-atlas-getting-brighter-reason-unclear-say-scientists-10966308?utm_source=openai)

• Nickel without iron (sometimes): If you flood a region with CO or CO2 and warm it, nickel and iron can form gas molecules called carbonyls. Nickel carbonyl and iron carbonyl behave differently, which can make nickel appear “over‑represented” at times. That’s chemistry, not industrial waste. VLT/UVES: (https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.26053?utm_source=openai)

• “Non‑gravitational” push: When a comet vents gas, it gets a tiny shove — like a slow leak nudging a balloon. Detectable? Yes. Evidence of a motor? No. Orbit analysis: (https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.21408?utm_source=openai)

• Aligned with the planets’ plane: Loeb argues just a 0.2% chance; other estimates say closer to ~9% for being within 5 degrees of the ecliptic by chance. Interesting, but not a smoking gun. Loeb commentary: (https://avi-loeb.medium.com/on-the-uncertain-nature-of-3i-atlas-476865b5c96b/?utm_source=openai)

The data drama: where things stand

• What’s public: ESA’s Mars orbiter images of 3I/ATLAS as a faint dot. ESA: (https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2025/10/ExoMars_Trace_Gas_Orbiter_observes_comet_3I_ATLAS_static?utm_source=openai)

• What’s not (yet): Any NASA HiRISE pictures, if they exist. Loeb and a member of Congress have asked for release; NASA hasn’t posted them. The current shutdown likely slows nonessential posts and media processing, as agencies everywhere confirm delays. Politico: (https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/01/us-gdp-loss-shutdown-00590927?utm_source=openai)

• What we’re watching: Whether NASA confirms a HiRISE dataset and sets a release date. Without the images, arguments about “what they show” are speculation.

Timeline to keep handy

• Discovery: July 1, 2025 (ATLAS survey)
• Near Mars: Oct. 3, 2025 (~0.19 AU)
• Perihelion (closest to the Sun): ~Oct. 29–30, 2025
• Near Venus: ~Nov. 3, 2025 (~0.65 AU)
• Closest to Earth: Dec. 19, 2025 (~1.8 AU — safe)
• Near Jupiter: Mar. 16, 2026 (~0.36 AU) Reference: NASA overview (https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/comets/3i-atlas/?utm_source=openai) and Planetary Society guide (https://www.planetary.org/articles/what-is-comet-3i-atlas?utm_source=openai)

Bottom line

• What’s true: 3I/ATLAS is an interstellar comet, small by asteroid‑disaster standards, unlikely to come closer than 170 million miles to Earth. Its CO2‑rich coma and odd chemistry are scientifically juicy — and natural. NASA, ESA, and others are studying it. NASA: (https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/comets/3i-atlas/?utm_source=openai)

• What’s overcooked: “Manhattan‑sized,” “engine glow,” “maneuvers,” and claims that Elon Musk “agreed” it’s aliens. The peer‑reviewed literature doesn’t support an engine or alien tech.

• What’s unresolved: Whether NASA’s HiRISE captured usable images on Oct. 2–3 and when they’ll be released. The shutdown is a real factor, but there’s no official NASA schedule yet.

How we reported this

We compared viral claims with primary sources and technical reports:

• NASA’s 3I/ATLAS page: (https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/comets/3i-atlas/?utm_source=openai)
• JWST/SPHEREx and orbit preprints: (https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.18209?utm_source=openai), (https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.21408?utm_source=openai)
• Nickel carbonyl chemistry analysis: (https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.26053?utm_source=openai)
• ESA Mars images: (https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2025/10/ExoMars_Trace_Gas_Orbiter_observes_comet_3I_ATLAS_static?utm_source=openai)
• Loeb’s Medium posts and public letters: (https://avi-loeb.medium.com/kim-kardashian-is-welcome-to-join-my-research-team-on-3i-atlas-975ea3356581?utm_source=openai), (https://avi-loeb.medium.com/a-request-for-nasa-to-release-scientific-data-on-3i-atlas-32d03580080a?utm_source=openai)
• Shutdown context and Duffy’s appointment: (https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/01/us-gdp-loss-shutdown-00590927?utm_source=openai), (https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-transport-secretary-duffy-be-interim-nasa-administrator-trump-says-2025-07-10/?utm_source=openai)
• Media coverage of the Kardashian/Duffy exchange and Musk comments: (https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/3i-atlas-researcher-avi-loeb-invites-kim-kardashian-join-research-team-1752146?utm_source=openai), (https://www.mediaite.com/media/podcasts/elon-musk-vows-to-only-reveal-alien-evidence-to-joe-rogan-after-podcaster-asks-about-mysterious-manhattan-sized-comet/?utm_source=openai), (https://www.newsweek.com/comet-3i-atlas-getting-brighter-reason-unclear-say-scientists-10966308?utm_source=openai), (https://www.planetary.org/articles/what-is-comet-3i-atlas?utm_source=openai)

If you want, I can monitor for any NASA/HiRISE release of 3I/ATLAS data and send an update as soon as it posts.