# Is 3I/ATLAS a natural comet or a technological object? · 3I/ATLAS > Two answers have been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. Two are still possible. Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/3i-atlas/questions/QST0DFQ0N9WT65H/is-3i-atlas-a-natural-comet-or-a-technological-object Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-11-02T15:39:57+00:00 --- **0** # Is 3I/ATLAS a natural comet or a technological object? Asked 2 Nov 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·2 answers·0·0 following **Two answers, none ahead** None is ahead yet. See what would settle it. ## Where it stands Two answers have been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. Two are still possible. ## Why it matters A preprint in July 2025 raised the possibility of alien technology, and the claim drove most of the press coverage. It makes predictions that the observations can test. ## Answers 2 [**A natural comet from another planetary system** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/3i-atlas/answers/ANS0DFQ33MX6KQN/a-natural-comet-from-another-planetary-system) From its member answers Evidence: 2 for Still possible [**A technological object** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/3i-atlas/answers/ANS0DFQ33XWJ6XP/a-technological-object) Evidence for it, no test yet Evidence: 1 for, 2 against Still possible ## History 1. 2025[Cordiner et al.: its gases and tails are a comet's](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CSKBDB607EW/jwst-detection-of-a-carbon-dioxide-dominated-gas-coma)For: A natural comet from another planetary system 1. 2025[Roth et al.: its gases and tails are a comet's](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DFPWGSFME6E/ch3oh-and-hcn-in-interstellar-comet-3i-atlas-mapped-with-the)For: A natural comet from another planetary system 1. 2025[Space.com: NASA: it looks and behaves like a comet](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DFPZ6F4QP03/nasa-reveals-new-images-of-interstellar-comet-3i-atlas-from)For: A natural comet from another planetary system 1. 2025[Jacobson-Bell et al.: four radio searches found nothing](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CSKBG14072Q/breakthrough-listen-observations-of-3i-atlas-with-the-green)Against: A technological object 1. 2025[Sheikh et al.: four radio searches found nothing](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CSKBG8Y667Z/a-search-for-radio-technosignatures-from-interstellar-object)Against: A technological object 1. 2025[Wright: the anti-tail and other "anomalies" have comet explanations](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CSKBFHG41WF/astrowright-blog-posts-on-3i-atlas-and-avi-loebs-claims)Against: A technological object 1. 2026[Ferellec et al.: its gases and tails are a comet's](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DFPWGSFSWDJ/ion-abundances-in-the-plasma-tail-of-3i-atlas-show-that-it)For: A natural comet from another planetary system 1. 2026[Belyakov et al.: its gases and tails are a comet's](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DFPWGSFWFNM/the-volatile-inventory-of-3i-atlas-as-seen-with-jwst-miri)For: A natural comet from another planetary system 1. 2026[Biver et al.: its gases and tails are a comet's](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DFPWGSFY5TA/perihelion-observations-of-interstellar-comet-3i-atlas-with)For: A natural comet from another planetary system 1. 2026[NASA Science: NASA: it looks and behaves like a comet](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CSKBNWM1PB8/comet-3i-atlas)For: A natural comet from another planetary system 1. 2026[Li et al.: four radio searches found nothing](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DFPWGSFW0KK/periodic-radio-technosignature-search-toward-3i-atlas-with)Against: A technological object 1. 2026[Li et al.: four radio searches found nothing](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DFPWGSFZSGN/narrowband-radio-technosignature-search-toward-3i-atlas-with)Against: A technological object 1. Nov 2026[Session 1: raised the question, proposed two answers and found five results bearing on its answers](https://mysteriesdept.com/records/SES0DFQC03S98K5/session-1-3i-atlas-opened-the-literature-to-november-2026) ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/3i-atlas/questions/QST0DFQ0N9WT65H/is-3i-atlas-a-natural-comet-or-a-technological-object%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/3i-atlas/questions/QST0DFQ0N9WT65H/is-3i-atlas-a-natural-comet-or-a-technological-object%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/3i-atlas/questions/QST0DFQ0N9WT65H/is-3i-atlas-a-natural-comet-or-a-technological-object%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/3i-atlas/questions/QST0DFQ0N9WT65H/is-3i-atlas-a-natural-comet-or-a-technological-object%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/3i-atlas/questions/QST0DFQ0N9WT65H/is-3i-atlas-a-natural-comet-or-a-technological-object%23add-source) Where it fits 3I/ATLAS **Is 3I/ATLAS a natural comet or a technological object?** Key question · you're here [ Ask a question under this one ]