Noted theoretical physicist says the world will know if there are aliens in three days from today
Kaku, a professor at the City College of New York and author of Quantum Supremacy, said scientists may be able to determine by Oct. 29 or 30 whether the mysterious interstellar object 3I/ATLAS is just a space rock or something much more intelligent.
In a recent television interview, Kaku revealed that the astronomy community is sharply divided over the nature of this object.
“The majority believe this is another rock from deep space, the third interstellar object we’ve ever recorded,” Kaku said. “But a growing number of people suspect it could be something more – perhaps a clever visitor.”
3I/ATLAS’ Curious Oscillation Past the Sun
The object, approximately the size of Manhattan, will reach its closest approach to the Sun (perihelion) on October 29 or 30, giving scientists a rare chance to test whether its motion obeys the known laws of physics. 3I/ATLAS It’s gaining more energy than expected as it passes by the Sun, which could mean something—or someone—is guiding it. “If it received extra energy as it orbited the Sun,” Kaku explained, “that would be outside the usual limits of conservation of energy. This means, in vague terms, that it was guided by some kind of intelligence.”
The effect he is referring to, the Oberth effect, is the principle of orbital mechanics that an object can gain additional speed as it passes near a large body such as the Sun. But the extreme increase in energy would be, as Kaku puts it, a “cosmic calling card.”
What Do We Know About 3I/ATLAS?
3I/ATLAS was discovered by the ATLAS telescope system on July 1, 2025. It is classified as interstellar because its orbit is hyperbolic, meaning it is not gravitationally bound to our solar system.
It will make its closest approach to the Sun around October 29-30, 2025, at approximately 1.4 astronomical units (AU), and will make its closest approach to the Earth on December 19, 2025, at approximately 1.8 AU (about 270 million km).
NASA has been quietly tracking the object for months, noticing unusual movements and energy signatures that do not match the behavior of typical comets.
Kaku echoed the growing excitement among scientists in a post on social media:
“3I/ATLAS is a mysterious interstellar object notable for its hyperbolic path towards the Sun and its very high speed relative to the Solar System. #3IATLAS promises to reveal new information and perhaps new questions in just a few days.”
While 3I/ATLAS has been officially added to the International Asteroid Warning Network, NASA has remained tight-lipped about its unique features. The agency confirmed only that it continues to monitor the object and update its orbital data daily.
But speculation is running rampant. Some scientists and space enthusiasts liken 3I/ATLAS to the cigar-shaped interstellar visitor ‘Oumuamua, which was detected in 2017 and exhibited unexplained acceleration. Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb has suggested that ‘Oumuamua may be an alien probe or a piece of advanced technology.
Kaku refrained from making any direct claims but acknowledged that the possibility was open.
“I would bet that intelligent life exists everywhere in the galaxy, maybe even in our own neighborhood,” he said. “The real question is: Can they reach us?”
As October 30 approaches, telescopes around the world will focus on the edge of the Sun and wait to see whether 3I/ATLAS behaves like a natural object or completely defies the laws of physics.
Meanwhile, social media is awash with speculation. Some users even claimed that NASA had quietly activated its planetary defense network, although there was no official confirmation.
It will soon become clear whether Earth is on the verge of the first evidence of extraterrestrial intelligence or is witnessing another celestial visitor.
