Does intelligent life exist beyond Earth? | The Stream

Astronomer Avi Loeb argues that a 2017 sighting of an interstellar space object, which scientists named ‘Oumuamua, was evidence of advanced alien technology.

His controversial hypothesis generated curiosity and excitement while also putting him at odds with astronomers who believe in a more natural explanation for the ‘Oumuamua phenomenon. Perhaps ‘Oumuamua was an abnormal asteroid or comet, some say. But Loeb, a Harvard professor and a former chair of its astronomy department, believes the oblong space object was an alien lightsail, propelled through our solar system by energy from a sun or star.

In this episode of The Stream, we’ll speak to Avi Loeb about his latest book, “Extraterrestrial: The First Sign of Intelligent Life Beyond Earth” and ask why he believes we are not alone in the universe.


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[aljazeeraenglish]

Thanks for watching. Do you think there's anybody out there..? Tell us in the comments below.

[Baking_baked]

This host could sing the phone book and I'd be in awe. What a pleasant and positive journalistic voice.

[imranali]

I only clicked on this because the meteorite looks like a joint. Except it will be smoking us!

[ExploreLearnEnglishWithGeorge]

This man is not controversial. A new study of exoplanet data suggests there are at least 300 million potentially habitable planets orbiting stars like the sun, and likely way more. Nearly 4, 300 exoplanets have been discovered by astronomers, and it's quite obvious now our galaxy is filled with them.

[stephensbubble]

@ajstream's interview was the most refreshing departure from the usual hubris of national broadcasters. In a demonstration of devestating femininity and intellect, she attacks the axiomic premise of the professors argument. His response was to immediately acknowledge the questions, as if from a promising collaborating student, and treat us all to a wonderful reprise of the field.
My favorite question was where she posed an incomplete question asking the professor to fill-in the blanks, unwilling to pre-emt the answer and inviting the professor to indulge his passion.

[vikz]

If we are alone then there must be a lot of empty real estate out there. I wouldn't mind owning a couple of star systems.

[terramater]

Our sun is a cool star, but it's also pretty ordinary; one of an estimated 100 billion to 400 billion in the Milky Way galaxy alone. And the Milky Way is itself just one galaxy among hundreds of billions or perhaps trillions in the observable universe. Then there’s Earth, a lovely place for us humans but across all of space, there may be quintillions of potentially habitable planets. So isn’t it self-conceit to assume that we’re the only life around?
What do you think, are we alone? And if not, are we looking hard enough for them?

[supedersen]

Good idea of searching for intelligence in outer space. It is hard to find here on earth!

[philippe]

I like his analogy of a caveman finding a cell phone and thinking this is a very shiny rock. But all the pictures we find of oumuamua show something that looks very much like a rock to us. Not something made by an intelligent being. So we are the cavemen of the universe?

[debbiemarquis]

I believe so...i wish they could take me away from here tho..

[RM-soop]

"Life is only on Earth. And not for long." -
Melancholia (2011)

[muzammilghous]

We are like microorganisms floating on the universe

[UFOhunter]

I never get tired of scientists get excited over the prospect of finally finding life, whether they think this is it they are still excited by the idea

[marierocher]

Very interesting to meet them. Perhaps Earthlings will be invited and understand how they live. How smart are they . 😄

[SweetyDonaldTrump.]

What is our purpose In life is as important as as this question!

[bobbywong]

It’s been a long time that I heard from a REALIST and a person who make an honest attempt to seek truth. It is human like you that contribute to the wealth of knowledge rather than being silence by the voices of “old boys network”.

[ronlei]

they should change the format of the news, and deal more often with this kind of topic; instead of misinforming "and turning people against each other!

[rhetleonard]

Almost certainly there is other life in the universe. The elements required are not uncommon and the space so vast. Even in our infancy regarding the exploration and understanding of the universe many, many planets have been charted within the “goldilocks” zone of a star.

[sushantobanerji]

You can get answers to any question(s) in India. Jupiter takes 12 years to take one round around the sun, NASA told when it came into being in 1950. India has been organising 'Kumbh Mela' after every 12 years since time immemorial. We knew that Jupiter takes 12 years to circumvent the sun.

[justdogood]

I'm an intelligent life right here😹