Redditor Debunks Viral Panama Alien Meteorite TikTok Hoax

A Reddit user claims to have debunked TikTok’s viral Panama alien meteorite hoax. For days, millions of users were captivated by a story from Panama, in which a young man claimed to have found a meteorite from which an alien entity suddenly emerged and rapidly evolved.

The story began in Pedregal, Panama, when TikTok user @kinpanama posted a series of videos on Aug. 29. In his footage, a rocklike object appeared to sprout a gelatinous, greenish-yellow growth resembling algae. Over time, the substance darkened and expanded, taking on a more elaborate form that viewers likened to Marvel’s Venom.

The clips quickly went viral across TikTok and X, drawing millions of views and sparking fevered speculation. Some online commentators expressed genuine fear at the idea of an alien organism growing in a backyard, while others remained skeptical but unable to determine how the hoax had been carried out: AI? CGI?

@kinpanama Cuando llega la noche me siento tranquilo, se que no crecerá , cada vez que se los enseño, al alumbrarlo crece y me pone en peligro , nadie se a interesado en mi 😰#vemonkin #videosvirales #viraltiktok #Viral #tiktok ♬ sonido original – Kin👾

Redditor debunks the Panama alien meteorite hoax with basic chemistry

Amid the frenzy, Redditor HighStrangeness stepped in to provide a scientific explanation — the most plausible one so far. According to the post, the mysterious black substance exposed in Panama is not an alien meteorite entity at all but rather a silicone-based polymer known as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), combined with small amounts of hexane, a common organic solvent. Both materials are widely used in everyday applications ranging from medical implants to cookware.

The unsettling “wiggling” and “breathing” movements seen in the videos were attributed to a phenomenon called swelling-induced snapping motion. When PDMS absorbs hexane, it swells; as the solvent evaporates or redistributes, different parts of the polymer contract at uneven rates. This creates sudden snapping movements that appear organic, almost as if the material were alive. The irregular rhythm of the contractions mimicked muscle-like motion, while PDMS’s flesh-like texture and the black coloration amplified the alien illusion.

Though visually striking, scientists have long studied this behavior for practical uses in soft robotics, artificial muscles, and smart materials that respond to environmental changes. The Redditor noted that while PDMS and hexane are not especially hazardous in small amounts, inhaling hexane vapor in confined spaces should be avoided.

What captivated millions as a terrifying or wondrous display of alien biology was, in fact, an elegant demonstration of materials science. As the Reddit post concluded, the Panama “alien” was not proof of extraterrestrial life but rather a hoax, and a reminder of how convincingly simple chemistry can imitate the appearance of living organisms.

The Panama meteorite keeps stirring passions on TikTok

Other users had previously tried to provide explanations for the elaborate spectacle. Some argued that the alleged alien entity was in fact the “Devil’s Fingers” or “Octopus Stinkhorn,” a fungus that initially resembles a white egg or stone. As it matures, the outer shell splits open, releasing several long, red or black tentacle-like arms that give it a grotesque, alien appearance.

In the early stages of the case, some users suggested the meteorite was merely a potato painted silver, with Colombians joking that it resembled the country’s popular papa criolla. Other users also mentioned that early videos were deleted, notably the one of the meteorite crash site where, in the small flaming crater, matches could be seen.

Many also pointed out the carelessness with which the young man handles what he claims to be an extraterrestrial creature: touching it with bare hands, no masks, no basic precautions, as well the contrast between his apparent dramatic tone and his way of dealing with the “Venom”.

If the explanation reaches the wider public, it remains to be seen how the audience — and the TikTok user himself — will react, as his showcase was taken very seriously by many investigators and extraterrestrial life enthusiasts.

For now, many aspects of the Panama alien hoax remain unexplained: How did @kinpanama manage to create such a sophisticated structure? What materials were used? And was there a purpose beyond social media clout?

In his most recent videos, the man from Panama released footage of the alleged alien creature taken from a camera he placed inside the safe where he keeps it. The Venom-looking entity can be seen breathing — or, as Redditor HighStrangeness suggests, making a snapping motion caused by swelling.

@kinpanama compré varias cosas que necesito en el supermercado, veo como muchos han tomado esto en broma 😞#vemonkin #videosvirales #tiktok #Viral #viraltiktok ♬ sonido original – Kin👾