The catalyst for the sudden global focus is the object’s erratic behaviour, with scientists documenting rigid, physics-defying anti-tail jets and unexplained pulsations Chaos, panic and everything in between (Image: David Jewitt and Jane Luu/The Astroner's Telegram)

A wave of large-scale planetary defence drills has been carried out across the world in recent weeks, prompting speculation that governments are preparing for the unpredictable behaviour of the interstellar object known as 3I/ATLAS.

Although each exercise has been presented as routine, their timing and scale have raised questions among space analysts and defence officials. The European Space Agency initiated the sequence with the activation of its full planetary defence triad, which includes mission control, rapid-re

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