In October 2017, astronomers made a groundbreaking discovery: an object hurtling through our solar system from beyond the stars. Named 'Oumuamua, a Hawaiian term meaning "scout" or "messenger from afar," this enigmatic visitor captivated the world's imagination, sparking intense debate and speculation. Is 'Oumuamua merely a natural asteroid, or could it be something more extraordinary—a sign of extraterrestrial intelligence? The Interstellar Wanderer: 'Oumuamua's journey began in another stellar system, far beyond the confines of our own. It made its presence known to astronomers when it passed through our inner solar system at an astonishing speed of over 196,000 miles per hour (315,000 kilometers per hour). Its unusual elongated shape, resembling a cigar or a pancake, immediately set it apart from any known asteroid or comet within our solar system. Unlike comets, 'Oumuamua did not exhibit a coma—a cloud of gas and dust that forms around ...
“The universe is not only stranger than we imagine, it is stranger than we can't imagine”