Avi Loeb, Professor of Science at Harvard University, joins us to discuss a recent interstellar visitor, if we've already encountered alien technology, and whether we're ultimately alone in the cosmos.
Topics discussed in this episode include:
-Whether 'Oumuamua is alien or natural in origin
-The culture of science and how it affects fruitful inquiry
-Looking for signs of alien life throughout the solar system and beyond
-Alien artefacts and galactic treaties
-How humanity should handle a potential first contact with extraterrestrials
-The relationship between what is true and what is good
You can find the page for this podcast here: https://futureoflife.org/2021/07/09/avi-loeb-on-oumuamua-aliens-space-archeology-great-filters-and-superstructures/
Apply for the Podcast Producer position here: https://futureoflife.org/job-postings/
Check out the video version of the episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcxJ8QZQkwE&ab_channel=FutureofLifeInstitute
See our second interview with Avi here: https://soundcloud.com/futureoflife/avi-loeb-on-ufos-and-if-theyre-alien-in-origin
Have any feedback about the podcast? You can share your thoughts here: www.surveymonkey.com/r/DRBFZCT
Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
3:28 What is 'Oumuamua's wager?
11:29 The properties of 'Oumuamua and how they lend credence to the theory of it being artificial in origin
17:23 Theories of 'Oumuamua being natural in origin
21:42 Why was the smooth acceleration of 'Oumuamua significant?
23:35 What are comets and asteroids?
28:30 What we know about Oort clouds and how 'Oumuamua relates to what we expect of Oort clouds
33:40 Could there be exotic objects in Oort clouds that would account for 'Oumuamua
38:08 What is your credence that 'Oumuamua is alien in origin?
44:50 Bayesian reasoning and 'Oumuamua
46:34 How do UFO reports and sightings affect your perspective of 'Oumuamua?
54:35 Might alien artefacts be more common than we expect?
58:48 The Drake equation
1:01:50 Where are the most likely great filters?
1:11:22 Difficulties in scientific culture and how they affect fruitful inquiry
1:27:03 The cosmic endowment, traveling to galactic clusters, and galactic treaties
1:31:34 Why don't we find evidence of alien superstructures?
1:36:36 Looking for the bio and techno signatures of alien life
1:40:27 Do alien civilizations converge on beneficence?
1:43:05 Is there a necessary relationship between what is true and good?
1:47:02 Is morality evidence based knowledge?
1:48:18 Axiomatic based knowledge and testing moral systems
1:54:08 International governance and making contact with alien life
1:55:59 The need for an elite scientific body to advise on global catastrophic and existential risk
1:59:57 What are the most fundamental questions?
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