In today’s world, it appears that we are surrounded by all sorts of distractions that keep our attention glued to screens, social media, and the latest celebrity gossip. But when a truly fascinating story emerges, like that of 2I/Borisov, you would think people might prick up their ears. Instead, we’ve got yawns and shoulder shrugs from the very folks who should be curious and concerned.

The narrative around 2I/Borisov, a mere ball of ice and rock, opens up the possibility of extraterrestrial wonders. While NASA assures it’s just another comet, our own Central Intelligence Agency chooses to remain silent, neither confirming nor denying any information about this interstellar visitor. Naturally, one must ask: why are they so quiet about an ordinary space rock? What do they know that we don’t?

Now, it’s not surprising that a government agency famous for its cloak-and-dagger antics would give such a coy response. The CIA retaining their cards close to their chest has historically meant there’s more than meets the eye. If this were simply a comet hurtling its merry way through our solar system, one might assume our top spies wouldn’t even blink an eye. So, either there’s something fishy going on, or our tax dollars are entertaining a curious bunch in Langley.

Incredibly, despite this juicy mystery—potentially even involving aliens, mind you—the public and media reaction is akin to watching paint dry. People are more interested in the latest TikTok dance than the possibility of otherworldly societies. Imagine if this object did send a signal indicating something truly out of this world. Likely, the headline would take a backseat to some Hollywood scandal. We once reached for the stars, but today, it seems, most can’t be bothered to look up.

It’s worth wondering where the public’s sense of wonder has wandered off to. Once upon a time, we were captivated by the final frontier, inspired by discovery, and hopeful for humanity’s future. These days, it seems our culture’s attention span is as fleeting as our trust in mainstream media. We assume that any mention of extraterrestrial life is the stuff of science fiction rather than potentially groundbreaking reality.

At its core, the disinterest in a story like 2I/Borisov is a symptom of a broader cultural malaise—a disenchantment with the challenges and wonders of the universe in favor of the instant gratification of the mundane. The narrative presented to us often suggests we should remain complacent, discredited, and distracted. But those who hold dear the values of curiosity, vigilance, and tradition know better. It’s time to shake off the cloud of indifference and reignite our collective fascination with the heavens. After all, as history has shown, our greatest discoveries are often hidden in plain sight.