X-Rays, Heartbeats, and Radio Bursts Anomalies
Perhaps the most consequential anomalies involve emissions across the electromagnetic spectrum. Observations linked to the XRISM mission suggest unusual X-ray signatures associated with 31/ATLAS, stretching current models of comet–solar wind interactions.
More on XRISM: https://www.isas.jaxa.jp/en/missions/spacecraft/current/xrism.html
Layered on top of this are reports of a heartbeat-like pulse and unexplained radio signals. While evocative language dominates headlines, researchers remain focused on whether these patterns match known plasma or charge-exchange processes.
Chemistry That Raises Eyebrows
Chemical analyses have added fuel to the debate. Elevated nickel relative to iron stands out among known comets, and some researchers have suggested the possible presence of nickel tetracarbonyl, an alloy previously observed only in industrial contexts.
Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb described 31/ATLAS as “a Manhattan-sized interstellar object emitting an alloy never seen in nature,” a claim that remains controversial and unverified by peer review.
