Stunning out-there theory about cigar-shaped space rock
TWO Harvard University researchers have stunned the astronomy world with their claim this week that a cigarshaped rock zooming through our solar system may have been sent by aliens.
While admitting it was an “exotic scenario” they suggested Oumuamua – a 400mlong rock and the first interstellar object to enter our solar system – “may be a fully operational probe sent intentionally to Earth’s vicinity by an alien civilisation”.
Oumuamua, a Hawaiian word meaning “messenger” or “scout”, was first viewed by astronomers in October 2017.
The Harvard researchers – Shmuel Bialy and Avi Loeb – observed in a new paper that it had accelerated away from the sun faster than expected.
“Currently there is an unexplained phenomena, namely, the excess acceleration of Oumuamua,” Mr Bialy said yesterday.
Asked if he believed his own theory, Mr Bialy said: “I wouldn’t say I ‘believe’ it is sent by aliens, as I am a scientist, and not a believer.”