[Johnny555]

I was wondering that too -- also in the news recently, the "interstellar object" that for some reason has attracted enough attention to scan it for "alien life", whatever that means.

https://www.space.com/39100-interstellar-object-oumuamua-ali...

Is this leading up to some big news story to deflect news from something else?

[sitkack]

Look over there, Chrome Space Puppies!

https://harvardgazette.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/jeff-koon...

[phkahler]

>> Is this leading up to some big news story to deflect news from something else?

No. The only way it could deflect from a really big story is if aliens actually came down and said "hi" publicly. It's got to be more subtle.