Mysterious interstellar object may be the source of unexplained signal beamed at Earth 48 years ago

• MORE: Stephen Hawking's chilling alien doomsday prediction spreads as scientist issues alarming warning

By CHRIS MELORE, US ASSISTANT SCIENCE EDITOR

A mysterious space signal that has never been explained may have come from an equally mysterious object racing through our solar system.

Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb, who has continued to theorize that the object known as 3I/ATLAS could be an alien craft, has said the famous 'WOW! signal' may have come from this fast-moving visitor.

3I/ATLAS was first detected by astronomers this summer and is now only days away from making a close pass by Mars.

Loeb has noted several irregularities in the supposed comet that suggest it could be something that's artificially constructed with a mysterious mission that takes it past three planets in the solar system.

Now, Loeb has drawn a connection between 3I/ATLAS and this unexplained space signal received in 1977.

The WOW! signal was captured by the Ohio State University's Big Ear radio telescope for 72 seconds, in a burst so unusual that it prompted astronomer Jerry Ehman to write 'WOW!' on the telescope's readout.

Loeb's new analysis has found that on August 12, 1977, just a few days before the WOW! signal was detected, 3I/ATLAS was in a part of the sky very close to where the signal came from.

The chances of two random points in the sky being this close are only about 0.6 percent, which makes this potential connection even more compelling.

3I/ATLAS (pictured) is the third interstellar object discovered by astronomers as it passes through our solar system

The 'WOW! signal' was received on Earth back in 1977 and scientists have not been able to explain what produced it

If the signal did come from 3I/ATLAS, Loeb explained that it would have needed a transmitter as powerful as a nuclear power plant on Earth to send it from that distance.

Although astronomers have not found any proof of artificial technology on the surface of the object nearing Earth, Loeb has previously theorized that 3I/ATLAS could be a nuclear-powered vessel.

His claims were based on 3I/ATLAS appearing to generate its own light in a photo by the Hubble Telescope in August.

'3I/ATLAS could be a spacecraft powered by nuclear energy, and the dust emitted from its frontal surface might be from dirt that accumulated on its surface during its interstellar travel,' Loeb wrote in a statement.

Since then, scientists have widely dismissed the alien spacecraft theory, concluding that the interstellar object is a strange comet that's composed of a completely different chemical makeup than most comets created in our solar system.

So far, no one has checked if 3I/ATLAS has been sending out radio signals, but Loeb hopes this coincidence will encourage scientists to take a closer look.

This year, Earth spacecraft near Mars and Jupiter will get a chance to observe 3I/ATLAS as it passes by, which could give us more clues.

NASA has just unveiled a new tracking system for 3I/ATLAS, which allows anyone to zoom in and look at the object up close. According to NASA's simulation, it's a giant space rock with a white tail that will make it's closest pass by Mars on October 3.

3I/ATLAS will make a close pass by Mars on October 3 and NASA has just unveiled a new tracking tool for the public

As for the WOW! signal, it exhibited several intriguing characteristics, including a narrow bandwidth, high signal strength, and a frequency close to the natural radio emissions produced by neutral hydrogen - an element abundant in the universe.

These properties have led many to speculate the signal could have come from an alien origin, possibly sent by an extraterrestrial intelligence.

Looking at its possible connection to 3I/ATLAS, the signal showed a slight shift in frequency, which could match the speed of the comet moving toward the sun, though it's not a perfect match.

'In case we detect an artificial signal from an interstellar object, how should we engage with it?' Loeb asked in his latest paper on the interstellar object.

However, the Harvard professor said the answer is more complicated than some might think, warning that an alien intelligence could pose a threat to the human race.

'We must consider the possibility of a black swan event from interstellar objects resembling a comet at large distances, but potentially carrying devastating consequences to our future like a Trojan Horse,' Loeb warned.

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NASA whistleblowers claim astronauts could die in horrific space tragedy: 'No one is coming to save us'

• MORE: Meet NASA's newest recruits! Space agency introduces 10 new astronauts 

By CHRIS MELORE, US ASSISTANT SCIENCE EDITOR

NASA whistleblowers have come out with a dire warning, predicting that an astronaut will likely die in a tragic accident due to shocking changes at the space agency.

In a 21-page report released by the US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, NASA employees claimed leadership has been keeping plans secret, with no written records, and shutting down open communication.

Whistleblowers believed future astronauts were at risk because of significant budget cuts proposed by the Trump Administration and an alleged culture of fear that's stopping workers from reporting safety problems.

One person who spoke to the committee warned that this could lead to an astronaut death soon due to ignored safety issues on upcoming space flights.

The committee specifically point the blame at the Trump White House and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), led by Director Russell Vought, for these safety risks, accusing them of illegally forcing unapproved budget cuts on NASA this year.

The budget cuts included a proposed rollback from $24.8 billion to $18.8 billion for NASA's 2026 budget, a 24 percent overall slashing.

That May proposal focused on a 33 percent cut to science projects, a 47 percent reduction in NASA projects, and laying off 32 percent of the agency's workforce.

'No one is coming to save us,' a whistleblower said in the report.

NASA recently revealed 10 new astronauts who will make up its first new recruits since 2021, including some who may be the first people to set foot on Mars 

Under the Trump Administration's budget cuts, nearly every area of NASA would see reductions, including a nearly 50 percent cut to major science programs (Stock Image)

The NASA staffers told the committee leadership, including Chief of Staff Brian Hughes, ordered them to only follow the unapproved 2026 budget (PBR) and that 'if it's not in the PBR, it does not count.'

This prompted them to come forward because they saw the policy changes as breaking NASA's rules and endangering its mission.

The whistleblowers added they spoke out to protect NASA's future, expressing heartbreak over losing young talent and fearing that without action, the agency's safety and innovation could collapse.

'I see safety issues around us all the time,' one witness claimed in the report.

Another NASA employee said they were, 'very concerned that we're going to see an astronaut death within a few years.'

The committee added that the US Constitution is clear in this situation, declaring that the executive branch is not allowed to unilaterally impose a president's proposed budget without the approval of Congress.

'NASA's legal office should know better,' a whistleblower said.

Those that have come forward added that NASA employees are generally 'keeping their heads down' out of fear of retaliation for raising safety concerns.

Former NASA chief Bill Nelson told the Daily Mail that by cutting efforts to return to the moon and to pursue Mars missions undermines NASA's future (Stock Image)

During a recent NASA press conference, which announced the discovery of microbial life on Mars, new NASA Administrator Sean Duffy was pressed on the impact of the $6 billion budget cut to the agency.

Speaking specifically about how the proposed budget would cancel a sample retrieval mission to Mars, Duffy said NASA was looking at their budgets and finding faster and more cost-effective ways of completing space missions.

Despite the cuts, Duffy declared that the US would launch the Artemis II mission, which will orbit the moon, in less than two years.

He added that the Artemis III astronaut mission would then 'land and establish a long-term presence of life on the moon led by America.'

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• NASA astronaut reveals exactly how much they get PAID in blunt three–word statement

This month, former NASA chief Bill Nelson voiced his opposition to the cuts, fearing that future missions to Mars involving robots like the Perseverance rover were now in jeopardy.

'A lot of things I deeply care about and worked hard on are getting cut,' lamented Nelson, the former Democratic senator who flew aboard the space shuttle and served as NASA's 14th administrator.

However, the White House has dismissed the criticism and maintained that NASA has been 'grossly over budget,' arguing the same goals could be met through future manned Mars missions instead.

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Saturn's moon could harbour ALIEN life: Scientists discover new complex organic molecules spewing from Enceladus – suggesting it could be habitable

• READ MORE: NASA scientists discover the clearest signs of life on Mars 

By WILIAM HUNTER, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY REPORTER

Saturn's moon, Enceladus, could harbour alien life deep within its underground oceans of water, according to the European Space Agency (ESA). 

Although the moon may appear barren, near the South Pole, tiny grains of ice are constantly being spewed into space through cracks in the icy surface.

Using data collected by the Cassini spacecraft, scientists have found that these ice crystals are packed with complex organic molecules.  

According to a new study, some of these molecules could be part of the chain of chemical reactions that ultimately lead to life. 

The researchers say this discovery means Enceladus now 'ticks all the boxes' to be a world capable of supporting life. 

The moon has a constant supply of liquid water, a source of energy from hydrothermal vents, and the right set of chemical elements and complex organic molecules. 

This isn't necessarily proof that life already exists on Enceladus, but it makes it much more likely that Saturn's moon is habitable.  

Lead researcher Dr Nozair Khawaja, of Freie Universität Berlin, says: 'Even not finding life on Enceladus would be a huge discovery, because it raises serious questions about why life is not present in such an environment when the right conditions are there.'

Scientists have found that grains of ice spewed from Enceladus, Saturn's sixth–largest moon, contain organic compounds that could lead to life. Pictured: Enceladus' south pole as seen by the Cassini spacecraft 

The European Space Agency found that water forced up from the underground ocean carried a set of complex organic molecules that are likely produced by chemical reactions around deep hydrothermal vents

What is Enceladus?

Enceladus is Saturn's sixth–largest moon, at 313 miles wide (504 kilometres).

It is an icy satellite with hydrothermal activity – a rare combination – with vents spewing water vapour and ice particles out from a global ocean buried beneath the moon's frozen crust. 

According to NASA observations, the plume includes organic compounds, volatile gases, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, salts, and silica.  

Microbes on our planet either produce these compounds or use them for growth, leading some to speculate that tiny organisms live in Enceladus' hidden ocean. 

With a diameter of 310 miles (500 km) – about as wide as Arizona – Enceladus is Saturn's sixth–largest moon.

On the surface, conditions are exceptionally cold with temperatures as low as –201°C (–330°F).

However, in 2005, scientists discovered that a huge liquid ocean was actually trapped beneath the icy shell.

Jets of water erupt like geysers through cracks near the South Pole and, while some fall back down to the surface, some escape and form a ring around Saturn that traces the moon's orbit.

When the Cassini spacecraft flew through Saturn's rings, it took samples of these ice grains and found that they showed signs of complex chemical reactions that could be associated with life. 

Dr Khawaja says: 'Cassini was detecting samples from Enceladus all the time as it flew through Saturn's E ring. 

'We had already found many organic molecules in these ice grains, including precursors for amino acids.'

But some of these grains were hundreds of years old, so the scientists couldn't be sure whether the chemicals within had been altered by radiation from the sun.

In 2005, the Cassini spacecraft discovered striking tectonic faults at the south pole known as 'tiger stripes' (bottom right). These allow ice to escape from the oceans into space

Some of the ice falls back to the lunar surface, but much of it escapes into space, where it forms a ring around Saturn. In 2005, the Cassini spacecraft gathered samples from this ring and found that the ice contained organic molecules. Pictured: Artist's impression of Enceladus' surface

That changed when Cassini flew straight through Enceladus' spray in 2008, gathering ice crystals on its Cosmic Dust Analyser (CDA) as they emerged from the moon's interior. 

As Cassini whipped through the cloud at 11 miles per second (18 km/s), it gathered the freshest and fastest ever collected.

That speed actually makes a big difference to the quality of the data, since it helps scientists separate water from other interesting molecules.

'At lower impact speeds, the ice shatters, and the signal from clusters of water molecules can hide the signal from certain organic molecules,' explains Dr Khawaja.

'But when the ice grains hit CDA fast, water molecules don't cluster, and we have a chance to see these previously hidden signals.'

After spending years working through the vast amounts of data collected by Cassini, Dr Khawaja and his co–authors have finally confirmed that these fresh ice crystals also contain organic molecules.

Those molecules included some that had been found around Saturn and some new chemicals that hadn't been detected before.  

That means the molecules found in Saturn's ring and in Enceladus' ice geyser must be formed within the moon's ocean, not created later by reactions with solar radiation. 

Cassini (artist's impression) was able to fly directly through the plumes of ice emerging from the south pole and gather tiny particles of ice at extremely high speeds. This proved that the organic molecules found in Saturn's ring were formed in Enceladus' ocean

On Earth, these molecules are part of the chemical reactions that lead to life. This means that the moon now 'ticks all the boxes' to be a habitable world capable of sustaining living organisms 

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• NASA reveals MULTIPLE life forms likely lived on Mars 

On Earth, these organic molecules are involved in the chains of chemical reactions which lead to life, raising the tantalising possibility that Enceladus could be home to life.

Dr Khawaja says: 'There are many possible pathways from the organic molecules we found in the Cassini data to potentially biologically relevant compounds, which enhances the likelihood that the moon is habitable.'

In the future, ESA is planning to launch a mission to Enceladus that will collect more grains of ice from the South Pole plumes and even land on the moon's surface.

This would be the first time that any space agency has landed on Enceladus and could reveal more details about the possible conditions for life. 

WHAT DID CASSINI DISCOVER DURING ITS 20-YEAR MISSION TO SATURN?

Cassini launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida in 1997, then spent seven years in transit followed by 13 years orbiting Saturn.

An artist's impression of the Cassini spacecraft studying Saturn 

In 2000 it spent six months studying Jupiter before reaching Saturn in 2004.

In that time, it discovered six more moons around Saturn, three-dimensional structures towering above Saturn's rings, and a giant storm that raged across the planet for nearly a year.

On 13 December 2004 it made its first flyby of Saturn's moons Titan and Dione.

On 24 December it released the European Space Agency-built Huygens probe on Saturn's moon Titan to study its atmosphere and surface composition.

There it discovered eerie hydrocarbon lakes made from ethane and methane.

In 2008, Cassini completed its primary mission to explore the Saturn system and began its mission extension (the Cassini Equinox Mission).

In 2010 it began its second mission (Cassini Solstice Mission) which lasted until it exploded in Saturn's atmosphere.

In December 2011, Cassini obtained the highest resolution images of Saturn's moon Enceladus.

In December of the following year it tracked the transit of Venus to test the feasibility of observing planets outside our solar system.

In March 2013 Cassini made the last flyby of Saturn's moon Rhea and measured its internal structure and gravitational pull.

Cassini didn't just study Saturn - it also captured incredible views of its many moons. In the image above, Saturn's moon Enceladus can be seen drifting before the rings and the tiny moon Pandora. It was captured on Nov. 1, 2009, with the entire scene is backlit by the Sun

In July of that year Cassini captured a black-lit Saturn to examine the rings in fine detail and also captured an image of Earth.

In April of this year it completed its closest flyby of Titan and started its Grande Finale orbit which finished on September 15.

'The mission has changed the way we think of where life may have developed beyond our Earth,' said Andrew Coates, head of the Planetary Science Group at Mullard Space Science Laboratory at University College London.

'As well as Mars, outer planet moons like Enceladus, Europa and even Titan are now top contenders for life elsewhere,' he added. 'We've completely rewritten the textbooks about Saturn.'

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