On October 19th of 2017, an interstellar object was observed in our solar system for the very first time. Observed through Hawaiian telescopes, scientists named it Oumuamua. What has followed, is a curious exploration into what, in fact, this interstellar visitor actually is. The topic of of borderline scientific brawls, new Harvard papers this week suggest the possibility that Oumuamua is in fact a solar sail, hull, or ship-based alien probe.

This week, on The What If? Podcast, we dive into what makes this object so different from the comets and asteroids we're familiar with, and why the hypothesis of some very smart people lead us down a line of questioning, that entertains the possibility of alien life.

Karen J. Meech's TED Talk on Oumuamua.

Outro music by Lydia Liza and Big Cats

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