back in October 2017. It passed close to Earth and was flagged as a near-Earth object. But it was actually moving faster than the escape speed of the solar system, so it had come from outside the solar system. Then it was found to be unusual in terms of its shape – most likely flat, based on the variation of light as it was tumbling. And then it was seen being pushed away from the sun without showing any evidence for evaporation, so it was not a comet.
Academics are jealous. They see the attention my research gets and try to step on this flower that rises above the grassnear Papua New Guinea last month for possible extraterrestrial technological artefacts? In January 2019, I was interviewed for a radio programme about a meteor that exploded above the Bering Sea. In reading about meteors, I found this catalogue that Nasa compiled of 273 meteors with velocity information. I told my student Amir Siraj: “Why don’t we go over this catalogue and check the fastest moving meteors – perhaps one of them is like Oumuamua and came from outside the solar system.
You have received some pointed criticism for speaking on these topics. What do you think motivates that backlash? Academic jealousy. They see the attention that my research is getting and they try to step on this flower that rises above the grass level. My point is that science can be exciting if it resonates with the public’s interest. The fact that the government cares about and talks about objects that cannot be identified should make this a subject of inquiry within the mainstream of science. It’s our civic duty as scientists to bring clarity, using scientific instrumentation and methodology.