Episode
#154 – Avi Loeb: Aliens, Black Holes, and the Mystery of the Oumuamua
2:51:24
Published: Thu Jan 14 2021
Description
Avi Loeb is an astrophysicist at Harvard. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: - Zero Fasting: https://go.zerofasting.com/s/lex-promo to get 30% off annual subscription - LMNT: https://drinkLMNT.com/lex to get free sample pack - Sun Basket: https://sunbasket.com/lex and use code LEX to get $35 off - Pessimists Archive: https://pessimists.co/ EPISODE LINKS: Extraterrestrial (book): https://amzn.to/39xdnkT Avi's Website: https://astronomy.fas.harvard.edu/people/avi-loeb PODCAST INFO: Podcast website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8 RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/ YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/lexfridman YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/lexclips SUPPORT & CONNECT: - Check out the sponsors above, it's the best way to support this podcast - Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman - Twitter: https://twitter.com/lexfridman - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LexFridmanPage - Medium: https://medium.com/@lexfridman OUTLINE: Here's the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time. (00:00) - Introduction (10:08) - Are we alone in the universe? (14:23) - Consciousness (19:01) - Sending digital copies of humans to space (23:38) - Oumuamua (45:42) - Alien space junk (49:41) - What do aliens look like? (1:06:58) - Drake equation (1:08:00) - Industrial polution from aliens (1:19:52) - UFO sightings (1:27:48) - How long will human civilization last? (1:30:28) - Radio signal from Proxima Centauri (1:33:49) - Breakthrough Starshot project (1:36:49) - Space race (1:42:00) - Human space exploration (1:47:15) - Social media is a threat to society (1:52:04) - Are humans ready for discovering an alien civilization? (1:56:15) - Mayans used astrology to wage war (1:57:31) - Black holes (2:16:20) - Stephen Hawking (2:19:59) - Grigori Perelman (2:24:24) - Theory of everything (2:31:23) - Dark matter (2:34:06) - Advice for young people (2:37:10) - Memories of my father and mother (2:41:38) - Existentialism (2:43:52) - Mortality (2:46:27) - Meaning of life
Chapters
Astrophysicist and cosmologist, Avilobe discusses his latest book, Extraterrestrial, exploring the possibility of intelligent life beyond Earth.
00:00 - 10:22 (10:22)
Summary
Astrophysicist and cosmologist, Avilobe discusses his latest book, Extraterrestrial, exploring the possibility of intelligent life beyond Earth.
Episode#154 – Avi Loeb: Aliens, Black Holes, and the Mystery of the Oumuamua
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The existence of other alien civilizations with the potential of having something like consciousness is not impossible.
10:22 - 21:53 (11:31)
Summary
The existence of other alien civilizations with the potential of having something like consciousness is not impossible. Creating synthetic life forms that can exist in other planets might be achievable with the help of AI and 3D printing.
Episode#154 – Avi Loeb: Aliens, Black Holes, and the Mystery of the Oumuamua
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
Astronomer Avi Loeb discusses the discovery of 'Oumuamua, the first known interstellar object that entered our solar system, and the possible implications of its existence.
21:53 - 25:44 (03:50)
Summary
Astronomer Avi Loeb discusses the discovery of 'Oumuamua, the first known interstellar object that entered our solar system, and the possible implications of its existence.
Episode#154 – Avi Loeb: Aliens, Black Holes, and the Mystery of the Oumuamua
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
Scientists are searching for objects like Oumuamua, that could be approaching us, and potentially hold answers about extraterrestrial life.
25:44 - 33:45 (08:01)
Summary
Scientists are searching for objects like Oumuamua, that could be approaching us, and potentially hold answers about extraterrestrial life. The LSST survey could potentially find an Oumuamua-like object every month.
Episode#154 – Avi Loeb: Aliens, Black Holes, and the Mystery of the Oumuamua
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The primary force acting on a rock like an asteroid is gravity, while for a comet, sunlight reflecting off its surface gives it a push.
33:45 - 36:43 (02:57)
Summary
The primary force acting on a rock like an asteroid is gravity, while for a comet, sunlight reflecting off its surface gives it a push. About a tenth of the comet's mass needs to be evaporated to create enough push.
Episode#154 – Avi Loeb: Aliens, Black Holes, and the Mystery of the Oumuamua
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
2020SO is an object that shares similarities with both an asteroid and space junk, as it moves in an orbit similar to Earth's but likely originated in another planetary system, carrying residual motion from its host star.
36:44 - 43:38 (06:53)
Summary
2020SO is an object that shares similarities with both an asteroid and space junk, as it moves in an orbit similar to Earth's but likely originated in another planetary system, carrying residual motion from its host star. However, the possibility of a navigation system grid has been proposed as a method to determine its true nature.
Episode#154 – Avi Loeb: Aliens, Black Holes, and the Mystery of the Oumuamua
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The speaker talks about how objects like a plastic water bottle or a smartphone can become "space junk" and how the discovery of such items can reveal information about our technological advancements over time.
43:38 - 52:15 (08:37)
Summary
The speaker talks about how objects like a plastic water bottle or a smartphone can become "space junk" and how the discovery of such items can reveal information about our technological advancements over time.
Episode#154 – Avi Loeb: Aliens, Black Holes, and the Mystery of the Oumuamua
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
Astrophysicist Avi Loeb reflects on the importance of scientific pursuits, highlighting that it shouldn't be about recognition, but rather, discovering the truth.
52:15 - 57:15 (05:00)
Summary
Astrophysicist Avi Loeb reflects on the importance of scientific pursuits, highlighting that it shouldn't be about recognition, but rather, discovering the truth. He also acknowledges that the possibility of aliens cannot be ruled out.
Episode#154 – Avi Loeb: Aliens, Black Holes, and the Mystery of the Oumuamua
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The debate around the unusual object ‘Oumuamua’ being either an artificial construct or a natural occurrence has brought forth many discussions and mainstream interpretations.
57:15 - 1:00:57 (03:41)
Summary
The debate around the unusual object ‘Oumuamua’ being either an artificial construct or a natural occurrence has brought forth many discussions and mainstream interpretations. However, none of the hypotheses offered can be definitively confirmed without significant comprehensive data.
Episode#154 – Avi Loeb: Aliens, Black Holes, and the Mystery of the Oumuamua
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The frequency of planets like earth around stars and the rate of star formation in the Milky Way are experimental tests for extraterrestrial life.
1:00:57 - 1:08:20 (07:23)
Summary
The frequency of planets like earth around stars and the rate of star formation in the Milky Way are experimental tests for extraterrestrial life. The discovery of planets orbiting stars similar to the sun suggests that life elsewhere is a real possibility.
Episode#154 – Avi Loeb: Aliens, Black Holes, and the Mystery of the Oumuamua
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
Polluting gases may be used to terraform planets that are too cold, transforming them into habitable environments.
1:08:20 - 1:15:11 (06:51)
Summary
Polluting gases may be used to terraform planets that are too cold, transforming them into habitable environments. Scientists are searching for oxygen in the atmospheres of planets as a potential marker of life, despite the fact that Earth's atmosphere struggled with a shortage of oxygen in its earlier years.
Episode#154 – Avi Loeb: Aliens, Black Holes, and the Mystery of the Oumuamua
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The podcast discusses the importance of asking fundamental questions of science, such as exploring exoplanets and searching for industrial pollution, regardless of taboo or funding limitations.
1:15:11 - 1:19:50 (04:38)
Summary
The podcast discusses the importance of asking fundamental questions of science, such as exploring exoplanets and searching for industrial pollution, regardless of taboo or funding limitations.
Episode#154 – Avi Loeb: Aliens, Black Holes, and the Mystery of the Oumuamua
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The stigma around UFO sightings creates a barrier to scientific investigation and funding for sensor networks that can collect better resolution and information, leading to clearer understanding of these phenomena.
1:19:50 - 1:28:10 (08:20)
Summary
The stigma around UFO sightings creates a barrier to scientific investigation and funding for sensor networks that can collect better resolution and information, leading to clearer understanding of these phenomena. With proper scientific investigation, it is possible to determine the legitimacy of sightings and potentially identify extraterrestrial technology.
Episode#154 – Avi Loeb: Aliens, Black Holes, and the Mystery of the Oumuamua
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The effectiveness of treaties for regulating space exploration and communication is questionable, as commercial entities may find ways around them.
1:28:10 - 1:39:29 (11:19)
Summary
The effectiveness of treaties for regulating space exploration and communication is questionable, as commercial entities may find ways around them. Alternative methods for communication, such as using photovoltaic cells to produce laser beams aimed at sails in space, may be more viable in attempting to communicate with other civilizations.
Episode#154 – Avi Loeb: Aliens, Black Holes, and the Mystery of the Oumuamua
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The speaker discusses the excitement of colonizing Mars and the issue of confirmation bias in the scientific community.
1:39:29 - 1:49:04 (09:34)
Summary
The speaker discusses the excitement of colonizing Mars and the issue of confirmation bias in the scientific community.
Episode#154 – Avi Loeb: Aliens, Black Holes, and the Mystery of the Oumuamua
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
Social media is a powerful tool that can lead people towards groupthink, causing them to close themselves off to differing opinions and evidence.
1:49:04 - 2:00:35 (11:30)
Summary
Social media is a powerful tool that can lead people towards groupthink, causing them to close themselves off to differing opinions and evidence. This can be harmful to society, as it prevents people from discovering important information and can lead to bad decision making.
Episode#154 – Avi Loeb: Aliens, Black Holes, and the Mystery of the Oumuamua
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
Black holes accrete gas from their host galaxy and when that happens, they emit bright light visible from Earth.
2:00:35 - 2:09:29 (08:53)
Summary
Black holes accrete gas from their host galaxy and when that happens, they emit bright light visible from Earth. A hundred years after Einstein's theory of gravity, the LIGO Observatory detected gravitational waves which were immediately suggested to be black holes by Ed Salketer and Yakov Zaldovich.
Episode#154 – Avi Loeb: Aliens, Black Holes, and the Mystery of the Oumuamua
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
Combining LIGO with the detection of a black hole at the center of the Milky Way and in many other galaxies like quasars, black hole research is becoming a popular topic.
2:09:30 - 2:17:51 (08:21)
Summary
Combining LIGO with the detection of a black hole at the center of the Milky Way and in many other galaxies like quasars, black hole research is becoming a popular topic. The possibility of a black hole being Planet Nine is very exciting for research.
Episode#154 – Avi Loeb: Aliens, Black Holes, and the Mystery of the Oumuamua
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
Theoretical physics is often detached from empirical evidence and the natural progression of science based on trial and error.
2:17:51 - 2:28:20 (10:29)
Summary
Theoretical physics is often detached from empirical evidence and the natural progression of science based on trial and error. The interest in unifying the laws of physics and the theory of everything may distort the way we do science.
Episode#154 – Avi Loeb: Aliens, Black Holes, and the Mystery of the Oumuamua
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The nature of dark matter remains a mystery that is keeping us from truly advancing our understanding of the universe.
2:28:21 - 2:34:20 (05:59)
Summary
The nature of dark matter remains a mystery that is keeping us from truly advancing our understanding of the universe. The possibility of dark matter particles having a small electric charge is still a speculation, but a valid one nonetheless.
Episode#154 – Avi Loeb: Aliens, Black Holes, and the Mystery of the Oumuamua
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The speaker shares his thoughts and advice for young people on life, inspired by his mother who pursued intellectual work despite the challenges of the Second World War.
2:34:20 - 2:41:19 (06:58)
Summary
The speaker shares his thoughts and advice for young people on life, inspired by his mother who pursued intellectual work despite the challenges of the Second World War.
Episode#154 – Avi Loeb: Aliens, Black Holes, and the Mystery of the Oumuamua
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The idea of the meaning of life is inappropriate to assign, as civilizations will eventually perish and leave nothing behind.
2:41:19 - 2:50:08 (08:48)
Summary
The idea of the meaning of life is inappropriate to assign, as civilizations will eventually perish and leave nothing behind. A scientific expert gives insight into the meaning behind the journey of science.
Episode#154 – Avi Loeb: Aliens, Black Holes, and the Mystery of the Oumuamua
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
Astrophysicist Avi Loeb discusses his new book which argues that Oumuamua, a mysterious interstellar object spotted in our solar system, could be the work of extraterrestrial intelligence.
2:50:08 - 2:51:16 (01:07)
Summary
Astrophysicist Avi Loeb discusses his new book which argues that Oumuamua, a mysterious interstellar object spotted in our solar system, could be the work of extraterrestrial intelligence.