3I/ATLAS Has a Heartbeat, The Age of Disclosure, and Krampusnacht

Today on Headlines from the Beyond:

New data on interstellar visitor 3I/ATLAS reveals a strange “heartbeat” pattern in scattered sunlight—fueling fresh debate over whether its anomalies are natural, technological, or something entirely unexpected. We break down what scientists know so far and why the UN is running a planetary-defense exercise at the same time.

Then: Who is Avi Loeb, and what exactly is the Loeb Scale that’s reshaping how astronomers classify interstellar objects? We explore why his ideas inspire some researchers—and frustrate others.

And finally: It’s Krampusnacht. We take a quick cultural detour into the horned, birch-rod-bearing figure who roams Central Europe on December 5th, punishing misbehaving children, marching in Krampuslauf parades, and accepting schnapps offerings along the way.

Three stories, one briefing on the strange, the storied, and the extraordinary.

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Show Notes:

https://astronomy.fas.harvard.edu/people/avi-loeb

Loeb Scale:

https://avi-loeb.medium.com/the-loeb-scale-astronomical-classification-of-interstellar-objects-62b909644351

The Age of Disclosure: https://www.primevideo.com/detail/The-Age-of-Disclosure/0NVVP9AVUZEJKG9CJC4RQE9J27 

Atlas Obscura - What is Krampus: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/what-is-krampus

Typewriter sound effect: “Typewriter snippet 01 mono [loop]” by cabled_mess, via Freesound (CC0).