Video Misidentified as Comet 3I/ATLAS Revealed as Microbe

A video clip circulating on social media has been incorrectly identified as footage of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS. In reality, the clip showcases a microscopic organism known as a paramecium. The misleading video emerged in a post on X, published by the user @BGatesIsaPyscho on October 27, 2025, with a caption declaring it to be “new 3I/Atlas footage.”

The clip does not come from any recognized astronomical agency and is not associated with credible research. A reverse Google image search conducted on October 29, 2025, failed to yield relevant results, reinforcing the assertion that the video is misattributed. The search engine’s AI has inadvertently adopted the incorrect labels linked to the clip, stating, “The image shows the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS.”

To clarify the nature of the organism shown in the video, Lead Stories contacted Jack A. Gilbert, a professor at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego. Gilbert, who also serves as Associate Vice Chancellor for Marine Science and President of Applied Microbiology International, confirmed that the organism in question is indeed a paramecium, likely a freshwater variety. He noted that improved imaging and contextual information would aid in more accurate identification.

Currently, the official NASA webpage that provides multimedia content regarding Comet 3I/ATLAS displays a notice stating that updates are not being made due to a lapse in federal government funding. The page is archived and shows no new images related to the comet. Previous images released by NASA in July and August do not resemble the paramecium video.

Additional credible images of Comet 3I/ATLAS have been published by the National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory (NOIRLab). A notable photograph released on September 4, 2025, illustrates the comet streaking across a field of stars. Captured by the Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph (GMOS) located at Cerro Pachón in Chile, this image demonstrates how the comet’s fixed position in the telescope causes background stars to appear as colorful streaks during exposure.

In light of this, it is crucial for viewers to verify the authenticity of such footage and to rely on credible sources for information on astronomical phenomena. The spread of misinformation can cloud public understanding of significant scientific discoveries and research. Further investigations into claims surrounding Comet 3I/ATLAS have been conducted by Lead Stories, detailing the importance of accurate representation in scientific discourse.