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In late 2017, scientists at a Hawaiian observatory glimpsed a strange object soaring through our inner solar system. Astrophysicist Avi Loeb conclusively showed it was not an asteroid; it was moving too…
What 190 conversations with the world's leading thinkers reveal about the nature of reality
In this interview I speak to Toby Gad, one of the world’s most successful songwriters & music producers whose songs have won GRAMMYs and a Diamond Award. Toby has been sought after by…
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I worry that we haven't checked our interstellar mailbox, and so we've missed the letter which contained the recipe for our salvation. Perhaps another civilisation sent us a message with the key to our own survival. Physical objects have a huge advantage over listening for signals – you can encode a lot more into a physical object.
— Avi LoebHarvard astrophysicist who studies interstellar objects and extraterrestrial life
My wish would be that if we discover another civilisation, it will teach us that the differences between us humans are insignificant, and that we should treat each other with respect, as equal members of the same species. When you're not the smartest kid on the block any more, you maybe don't feel so significant.
— Avi LoebHarvard astrophysicist who studies interstellar objects and extraterrestrial life
Our experience is very limited to the surface of this rock we call home. You cannot show-off in space, we must be humble. The only purpose for us to seek journeys into space is to learn about the unknown. That's a spiritual conquest. Leaving the solar system has no commercial benefits.
— Avi LoebHarvard astrophysicist who studies interstellar objects and extraterrestrial life
The only way for you to discover something new is to acknowledge the ocean of ignorance in which you are just an island. Experts have a problem with that – they want to get prizes, and get recognised by their colleagues and peers as being very smart. So, when something new comes along... an anomaly... it often gets dismissed for the sake of reputation management.
— Avi LoebHarvard astrophysicist who studies interstellar objects and extraterrestrial life
Science is a learning experience. We are interacting with nature, collecting evidence, and sometimes nature is more imaginative than we are. We ought to be humble when collective evidence, and not assume we know the answer in advance. Many of the realities we create are designed to flatter our ego... We prefer to attach ourselves to virtual realities that flatter us, and that's driven by ego.
— Avi LoebHarvard astrophysicist who studies interstellar objects and extraterrestrial life
You cannot show-off in space, we must be humble. The only purpose for us to seek journeys into space is to learn about the unknown. That's a spiritual conquest. Leaving the solar system has no commercial benefits.
— Avi LoebHarvard astrophysicist who studies interstellar objects and extraterrestrial life
The role of science is to educate us about our reality – and we shouldn't be afraid of it. Once we recognise reality, we can adapt to it. If you don't recognise reality, you act irresponsibly, and your actions won't match the environment.
— Avi LoebHarvard astrophysicist who studies interstellar objects and extraterrestrial life
The only way for you to discover something new is to acknowledge the ocean of ignorance in which you are just an island. Experts have a problem with that – they want to get prizes, and get recognised by their colleagues and peers as being very smart.
— Avi LoebHarvard astrophysicist who studies interstellar objects and extraterrestrial life
Science is a learning experience. We are interacting with nature, collecting evidence, and sometimes nature is more imaginative than we are. We ought to be humble when collective evidence, and not assume we know the answer in advance.
— Avi LoebHarvard astrophysicist who studies interstellar objects and extraterrestrial life
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