N. Prabhakaran Dubai: The refusal of the American intelligence agency, the CIA, to disclose records regarding 3I/ATLAS, the third interstell...
N. Prabhakaran
Dubai: The refusal of the American intelligence agency, the CIA, to disclose records regarding 3I/ATLAS, the third interstellar object to pass through our solar system, has sparked a global debate.
The world is questioning why the CIA has turned its back on requests for documents concerning the origin of 3I/ATLAS. In response to an application filed under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the CIA stated that it could "neither confirm nor deny" the existence of such records.
The response was issued to John Greenewald Jr., founder of the website 'The Black Vault'. When asked if the CIA possessed any information on 3I/ATLAS, the agency gave the rare reply that they could not confirm or deny the presence of such records. They further clarified that even the existence or non-existence of such information is currently classified.
Discovered in 2025, 3I/ATLAS is the third guest identified from outside our solar system, following 'Oumuamua' and 'Borisov'. NASA had previously stated that this object is merely a comet of natural origin, dismissing rumors of any connection to extraterrestrial life.
While NASA maintains it is a common comet, the CIA's decision to keep information regarding it highly classified has triggered discussions among scientists and the public. Prominent Harvard scientist Avi Loeb and others had previously expressed suspicions that the object might have an artificial origin.
Although the CIA's stance increases the mystery, some experts suggest it is standard practice for intelligence agencies to monitor any celestial anomaly as a matter of national security. It is also believed that such secrecy is maintained to prevent public panic.
Contradicting Stances
The fact that NASA and the CIA are treating the same object differently has raised eyebrows. Generally, the CIA issues such "Glomar responses" only for matters of grave national security. The big question remains: why grant such high-level secrecy to an investigation involving a comet?
In a press conference held in November 2025, NASA firmly asserted that 3I/ATLAS is a natural comet with no links to aliens. However, Avi Loeb argues that if it is indeed a natural object, there should be no reason for the CIA to keep its records secret. He describes this as a "Black Swan Event"—an extremely rare occurrence that has the potential to transform humanity.
Unique Characteristics of 3I/ATLAS:
The 'Anti-Tail': While the tails of normal comets point away from the sun, 3I/ATLAS features an 'anti-tail' that points toward the sun.
Chemical Composition: It contains significantly less water (ice) than typical comets, showing a higher concentration of elements like Nickel instead.
The scientific community is hopeful that more information will be revealed this month (January 2026) as 3I/ATLAS passes near Jupiter. Meanwhile, John Greenewald has filed an appeal against the CIA's response.
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