Extraterrestrial – The First Sign of Intelligence. Conversation with Deepak Chopra and Avi Loeb

Extraterrestrial – The First Sign of Intelligence. Conversation with Deepak Chopra and Avi Loeb

Short Bio for Avi Loeb
Avi Loeb is the former chair of the astronomy department at Harvard University (2011-2020), founding director of Harvard's Black Hole Initiative and director of the Institute for Theory and Computation at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. He also chairs the Board on Physics and Astronomy of the National Academies and the advisory board for the Breakthrough Starshot project and is a member of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.

Enhanced Bio for Avi Loeb
Abraham (Avi) Loeb is the Frank B. Baird, Jr., Professor of Science at Harvard University. He received a PhD in Physics from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel at age 24 (1980-1986), led the first international project supported by the Strategic Defense Initiative (1983-1988), and was subsequently a long-term member of the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton (1988-1993). Loeb wrote 8 books and over 750 papers on a wide range of topics, including black holes, the first stars, the search for extraterrestrial life and the future of the Universe. He had been the longest serving Chair of Harvard's Department of Astronomy (2011-2020), Founding Director of Harvard's Black Hole Initiative (2016-present) and Director of the Institute for Theory and Computation (2007-present) within the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics . He serves as Chair of the Board on Physics and Astronomy of the National Academies (2018-present) and is an elected fellow of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, the American Physical Society, and the International Academy of Astronautics. Loeb is a member of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) at the White House and a member of the Advisory Board for "Einstein: Visualize the Impossible" of the Hebrew University. He also chairs the Advisory Committee for the Breakthrough Starshot Initiative (2016-present) and serves as the Science Theory Director for all Initiatives of the Breakthrough Prize Foundation. In 2012, TIME magazine selected Loeb as one of the 25 most influential people in space. Click here for Loeb's commentaries on innovation and diversity.

[armass]

Mr. Loeb is amazing...I wish him a good continuation of his studies/work on these theme, and, to become bulletproof against colleques who are not open for this subject, thank you sir's.

[enniopat]

Very smart, hope Harvard looks after him as someone special and rare for our time! His concept of physics is very persuasive! May he have a long creative life ahead!!!!

[gwenniemay]

Deepak you make me laugh with joy. If more people interviewed liked you I would watch more interviews. Your childlike energy is absolutely divine 🙏🏽🥰

[susantheberge]

Kudos to Avi saying that curiosity is more important than his titles and accolades. Also to his "Plan B" that he can always go back to the farm. A man with his feet (and mind) well grounded. Thank-you both.

[marianamazza]

Excellent interview! I cannot wait to watch the 2nd one, whenever that is set!!! So so interesting!

[tariqaftab]

So Nice Of You Deepak! I Don't Know Anything About ANYTHING! But Believe It I Was Completely Engrossed In This Interview To Know Something About Me And The People Around. I M Axiously Wait For The Part-2 Of It! NAMASTE. 🍁🤔

[delfinaleonmillan]

Thank you very much for this suggestive and intelligent conversation. From here new theories may arise, and I'll like to attend the second promised part.

[dcoates]

Thank you for this insightful conversation!

[ginasparks]

Consciousness is tired of being ignored . recognized .

[ManMindMoney]

हस्ते 🤗 रहा करो उदास 😔 रहने से कौन सी ज़िन्दगी 👲 की परेशानियां सही हो जाएगी !!🖋️✨💯

[LaurenBies]

I respect and appreciate this conversation immensely. Thank you 🙏

[rolapack]

Enjoyed it thoroughly. Though a lot of this needs to be heard once again to understand some of it in a spiritual perspective which is my interest. Have downloaded this discussion for further reference 🙏

[NikoOntheMoon]

What a great interview! Two brilliant minds and souls having a beautiful conversations for all to witness. Thank you for this. We need a part two. :)

[caleighemma]

I'm in love with this conversation <3

[christopherlamonbrown]

This is a great interview, definitely has me thinking 👌🏾

[RafiDude]

Very interesting conversation on the boundaries of Physics and Spirituality (Ads every 2 minutes were a little annoying though).

[RWin-fpjn]

Shalom Avi! It is good to see you discussing these and other important topics. The combination of talent, modesty and courage is seldom seen in persons holding a prestigious scientific positions so there may be hope yet for humanity. As for Oumuamua: I have a question there. The arguments you give for it being of alien origin vs. rock/comet are convincing, so lets for now say it is indeed of alien origin. Next you discuss the option of it being a 'random' encounter of alien debris vs. an active/operational craft. Here, I think your argument against an active craft on the basis of 'humanity being of little interest' is not very strong. Here is why: If we accept the Drake equation, then not only is it likely there are multiple civilizations currently, but also that these were present long before we humans came to be. Now since our own scientists and engineers are already discussing colonizing our solar system and eventually way beyond, it is rational to assume these earlier civilizations also developed such colonizing aspirations. This in turn implies that the chances of us being of 'autonomous origin'' vs. a colony from these earlier civilizations may very well be skewed to us being in fact a mere colony. Our colonization can then have the form of a 'petri dish'-like stand alone planting / printing of seeds of life, or at the other side of the spectrum, we could be on-line connected avatars (Avitar in your case). Think e.g. of the our neuron microtubules particles being actually 'quantum entangled' producing 'shared experiences in the cosmic cloud'. But say we are of the petri-dish type colony, isn't it then logical for our colonizers to periodically go check on us (however dumb we are) to see how their off spring are doing (if not, then why bother colonizing in the first place?). 

There are also observational arguments against Oumuamua being simply 'debris'; The extreme eccentricity of the parabolic fly-by is quite remarkable in itself for being a random fly by; But in addition; what would be the chances of any random observable object like Oumuamua coming specifically so close to precisely and only Earth? Moreover; if this was a broken light sail, would the EM fluctuations and 'sudden acceleration push due to solar wind' not be more erratic? Moreover considering its substantial size and oscillating brightness, shouldn’t we have seen in on its incoming trajectory in the first place? What’s more, we only saw Oumuamua already on its way out as you mentioned. From this the community simply ASSUMED it also had an incoming trajectory. I think, if we are talking alien stuff, than all of the arguments above suggest this thing may well have had NO incoming trajectory at all. Why not consider the option it was e.g. stationed at the far side of the moon. Perhaps being disappointed of our status it decided to leave, keeping its departure obscured by the moon itself (or a Lagrange point or at co-orbitals), and only powering up later when it became visible to us on its way out? What if its EM oscillation is not a ‘object tumbling’ solar light reflection but the result of its engines producing a 3 axial oscillating EM field which pinches the solar 'wind' into a high energy density linear exhaust behind it, getting its thrust that way? It may sound extreme, but if we are talking about 'active craft' options, I think this non-incoming trajectory option should also be evaluated...Maybe a nice project for a grad student? Anyway, thanx for this interview and keep safe!

[emms]

This was so beautiful, insightful and so so interesting. Thank you Deepak, Thank you Avi Loeb. Very much looking forward to the next session. Also loved that you touched on the theory of multi universes. I just watched a netflix series on the same subject as a fictional story ofcourse 🤗

[energiesrising]

This guy is amazing!
I could actually see myself having very deep conversations with him! Amazing

[tamarakist]

Deepak! I love you and your content. I can’t stand being interrupted ten times by commercials!!! It really messes with my ability to understand the information! Anyway to fix??