A strange object hurtling through space toward Earth has triggered a new wave of cosmic speculation — and now even Elon Musk has joined the conversation. The world’s richest man weighed in on what Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb has called a “non-natural interstellar visitor,” igniting global debate over whether humanity could be facing its first verified extraterrestrial artifact.
The mystery began when astronomers tracking debris beyond the solar system detected an object moving in a way that defied known physics. According to Loeb, the object’s speed, rotation, and reflected light suggest it wasn’t a rock, comet, or asteroid — but possibly something “engineered.” His controversial paper, published through Harvard’s Center for Astrophysics, describes it as “a thin, metallic-like body” traveling at an unnatural trajectory toward Earth’s orbit.
“We’ve never seen anything like it,” Loeb told The Guardian. “The way it’s moving — decelerating without visible propulsion — suggests artificial origin. It’s either a fragment of alien technology or a probe.”
Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb says a mysterious object entering our solar system shows signs of being “not natural.” @guardian
Within hours of the claim spreading online, Musk responded in typical deadpan fashion. “If it’s aliens, I hope they’re chill,” he wrote on X, adding a UFO emoji and a wink. The post has since racked up more than 40 million views and thousands of replies — some joking, others panicked, and many demanding answers from space agencies.
NASA confirmed that it is “tracking the object closely,” though officials stressed there is “no evidence it poses any danger to Earth.” In a statement shared by NASA, spokesperson Karen Fox said, “It’s most likely a fragment of interstellar debris or a previously unclassified satellite component.”
But Loeb isn’t convinced. He says the object’s behavior is eerily similar to ‘Oumuamua — the cigar-shaped anomaly that flew past Earth in 2017 and was also described as possibly “technological.” His latest observation, he claims, “moves too smoothly to be natural.”
“The odds that two separate interstellar objects with non-gravitational acceleration are both random rocks are astronomically low,” Loeb told NBC News. “Nature doesn’t repeat mistakes like this.”
Elon Musk responds to claims that a mysterious space object heading toward Earth may be “not natural.” @PopBase
The phenomenon, now being tracked under the provisional name “AIM-23,” has been observed by multiple telescopes across Hawaii and Chile. Early readings show it has an odd, mirror-like surface and appears to be tumbling slowly as it crosses into the inner solar system. Its estimated arrival near Earth’s orbital path is projected for late 2025 — though its exact origin remains a mystery.
In one striking Space.com analysis, researchers noted the object’s shape “could produce solar acceleration” similar to a light sail — a type of propulsion technology theorized by physicists for decades. “If this thing is indeed a light sail,” wrote the authors, “it could represent evidence of intelligent design.”
Musk, who previously joked about “buying Area 51,” later followed up his post with a more serious take, hinting that SpaceX might attempt to capture imagery of the object. “We’ve got Starlink eyes everywhere,” he wrote. “If it’s artificial, we’ll know soon.”
Online, reactions have been wild. UFO enthusiasts see Loeb’s findings as confirmation of what they’ve long suspected — that Earth has been quietly observed for years. “Harvard says it’s not natural. Elon says aliens might be ‘chill.’ This is how sci-fi movies start,” one user wrote on X.
“If it’s aliens, we deserve a second opinion,” joked one reply under Musk’s viral post. @etnow
Critics, however, accuse Loeb of chasing headlines. Astrophysicist Dr. Jill Tarter, one of the original SETI pioneers, told reporters that while the findings are “curious,” extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof. “We’ve had interstellar debris before,” she said. “Just because it glints doesn’t make it a UFO.”
Still, the object’s unique behavior is keeping researchers on edge. A paper in the Astrophysical Journal noted that AIM-23’s luminosity fluctuates in ways that “don’t align with natural tumbling bodies.” One possible explanation? It’s hollow.
“If this turns out to be artificial,” wrote Forbes science editor David Roth, “it would make AIM-23 the most important discovery in human history.”
Meanwhile, the internet is in full conspiracy mode. TikTok videos claiming “NASA found alien tech” have gathered millions of views, while Reddit threads speculate the object could be a decades-old classified military satellite. Others joked that “Musk probably sent it himself.”
But perhaps the most chilling part of Loeb’s theory isn’t that AIM-23 might be artificial — it’s that he thinks it might have been drifting, broken and silent, for centuries. “If it’s real,” he told CNN, “it may not be active anymore. It could be a dead messenger.”
“A Harvard scientist says a ‘non-natural’ object is heading for Earth. Elon Musk says: ‘If it’s aliens, cool.’” @buzzingpop
NASA is reportedly collaborating with the European Space Agency and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency to refine tracking data, as international observatories scramble to study AIM-23 before it passes Earth’s orbit next year. “If it’s a rock, we’ll know soon enough,” one NASA scientist told reporters. “If it’s not, well — history just changed.”
Musk ended his online commentary in typical style. “If they’re friendly,” he wrote in a late-night post, “maybe we can offer them a job at SpaceX.” The post has since been shared nearly a million times, sparking equal parts amusement and anxiety. “He’s joking,” one user wrote, “but what if he’s not?”
As Loeb and his team continue analyzing light curves and trajectories, the world watches with a mix of awe and dread. “The universe is talking to us,” Loeb said in his latest interview. “The only question is — are we ready to listen?”
