In June 2023, I led a mission to explore the Pacific Ocean for debris from an interstellar meteor known as IM1. NASA confirmed its origin, and our team collected about 850 molten droplets, called spherules. We brought them back to Harvard University for analysis. This journey will also be shared in a Netflix documentary and in a book set for release in 2026.
Among the samples, some spherules contained surprising levels of elements like beryllium, lanthanum, and uranium. These were labeled “BeLaU” spherules and had compositions unlike anything seen from Earth’s known materials.
Some skeptics suggested that these spherules might be simply human-made or closely related to naturally occurring tektites—glassy rocks formed from meteorite impacts. However, our research ruled out those theories. We found that the composition of the BeLaU spherules was drastically different from that of coal ash, as shown in our published findings.
This week, Dr. Eugenia Hyung and her team provided further clarity. Their study demonstrated that Australasian tektites, which skeptics claimed were similar to BeLaU, actually align closely with Earth’s upper crust composition, not the unusual elements found in the BeLaU samples.
The origin of IM1 is intriguing. When it entered Earth’s atmosphere in January 2014, it created three explosions detected by U.S. satellites. Our analysis suggested that it came from outside the solar system, setting the stage for our expedition. We retrieved 850 spherules ranging in size from 0.05 to 1.3 mm, primarily consisting of common cosmic materials, but some did not fit into typical classifications.
Among these, the D-type spherules stood out due to their unique categorization and high levels of specific elements. The BeLaU spherules were especially distinct, holding much higher amounts of beryllium, lanthanum, and uranium compared to common earthbound materials.
Comparing these to Australasian tektites—found mostly in areas of Southeast Asia—showed considerable differences in elemental makeup. For instance, while BeLaU spherules are enriched in molybdenum, Australasian tektites exhibited a depletion, reinforcing the idea that they come from significantly different origins.
Moreover, we established that the BeLaU composition did not match that of laterites, which form from soil subjected to extreme weathering. This adds weight to our argument that the BeLaU spherules are unlikely to be made from common terrestrial materials.
It’s easy to speculate about the origins of these samples. Still, our detailed comparisons with well-known terrestrial materials highlight that the BeLaU spherules likely originate from an unknown source beyond Earth. As we pursue these questions, it’s essential to rely on the evidence we gather rather than popular theories.
Scientific progress doesn’t come from critics but from those willing to engage deeply with the data. As John F. Kennedy famously said, we take on challenging tasks, not because they are easy, but because they are hard—a sentiment that resonates with our exploration of the cosmos.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Avi Loeb heads the Galileo Project and is a professor at Harvard University. He has authored notable books, including “Extraterrestrial” and “Interstellar.” He continues to be a leading voice in astrophysics.
