The Mysterious Interstellar Object Oumuamua With Harvard's Dr. Avi Loeb

A new interview with Dr. Abraham "Avi" Loeb from Harvard and update on the subject of Oumuamua. We detailed point for point his findings that Oumuamua is an extremely strange object, regardless of its origins, and that it may be consistent with a light sail of some type. This is part one of a two part interview with Dr. Loeb.

Have Aliens Found Us? A Harvard Astronomer on the Mysterious Interstellar Object ‘Oumuamua :

"‘Oumuamua’s Geometry Could be More Extreme than Previously Inferred", Siraj and Loeb, 2019.

6 Strange Facts about the Interstellar Visitor Oumuamua:

"COULD SOLAR RADIATION PRESSURE EXPLAIN ‘OUMUAMUA’S PECULIAR ACCELERATION?", Bialy and Loeb, 2018

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MUSIC (Track names on screen in credits)

[matthewgrotke]

There is a proposal to catch Oumuamua. A microsat propelled by 100GW laser array could catch up to it in 7 years if launched today. Obviously, that's not going to happen, but the fact that we may have missed such a (potentially) monumental discovery really highlights the fact that our space technology sucks and that we should seriously beef up our orbital infrastructure.

[xyz]

I have difficult to put into words just how deeply, profoundly and viscerally this video affects me. Thank you for making it exist.

[ericwilliams]

Thanks John, for letting him speak without interruption. Exellent interview and interviewer

[Animefanalpha]

I can tell by the emotion in his voice that Dr. Loeb has a great deal of passion for his research, but I can also hear the frustration in his voice as he's making his argument. I imagine Dr. Loeb has encountered a great deal of scrutiny and probably even criticism for putting forth ideas outside of mainstream science. However I believe Dr. Loeb has some very good points about how past experiences cannot predict new discoveries; and how we have theories that have found acceptance in conventional science when we haven't discovered anything to even prove they're possible and yet we're so quick to dismiss the idea of extraterrestrial intelligence when we already have two examples that proves that it is at least possible (our existence, and the discovery of planets with the same atmospheric makeup as Earth). Now I wish to see a interview between Dr. Loeb and Dr. Karen Meech where they discuss Oumuamua.

[postiemania]

We are proof a civilization can exist.

[moonled]

Fun Fact: "Oumuamua" is a Hawaiian word meaning "a first mesenger from afar" or "advance scout".

[sakketin]

I would honestly cry tears of joy if it were proven that Omuamua is indeed of artificial origin.

[dannyharris]

So refreshing to see a comment section so civil and positive. I am glad to be a part of this comment section.

[RedSkyHorizon]

55 minutes of my life that I don't want back. Fascinating!

[matthewgrotke]

I also read Dr. Loeb's interview in The New Yorker. I'm fairly convinced that he is right. He is looking at the data much more rationally than any of his critics to date. It's never aliens, *until it is.* If there is ANY mundane explanation that can satisfactorily explain the 6 *different* peculiarities about this item, then lets hear them.

[desertweasel]

They have painted this guy as a loon and after listening to him I see its unfounded. He isn't extreme about his views and he covers multiple possibilities. This is how scientific theories begin.

[stricknine]

Wow! This interview was great Dr. Loeb is full of information and his take on things is refreshing in my opinion. I have really enjoyed the other episodes but this one I think has been my favorite I can't wait to hear part two. Also thank you Dr. Loeb for doing these interviews.

[thgir]

the fact about the object being in the local standard of rest is the most peculiar thing in my opinion. Either the math is wrong, we measured it wrong somehow or there is a natural process that boosts it to that frame. The alternative is that it's of artificial origin which is simply tantalizing.

[Ugh-Fudge_Bwana]

The sudden acceleration of Oumuamua away from the sun was always a curiously interesting observation for me, but I'm glad that the astronomy community is starting to provide hard data over about how strange and atypical that phenomenon really was.

Honestly, considering our own history of discovery followed by exploitation, I hope it's not a probe from an alien civilization. We'd probably be at the mercy of any civilization that could make the trip here in person.

[karrde]

All other videos on youtube on this topic have been either crackpots or scared little kittens not brave enough to be open minded. This content is in another league to all that junk, spectacular stuff. Thankyou.

[MrDashCat]

Dr. Loeb is a brilliant man who has the courage to think out of the box. Thank you Dr. Loeb. And thank you JMG for a great channel.

[billlyons]

Loving the continued coverage on Oumuamua, and Dr. Loeb communicates these concepts well.

[thomasa]

Dr. Loeb makes such an excellent point. Why would mainstream science be so resistant to speculating on an "artificial origin" when this object defies pretty much *all* of the 'normal' expected, behavior?

[Deeveeaar]

very interesting and love the new editting!

[bennymarshall]

'Well, is our probe travelling at 0.2c yet?'
'Not quite'
'Why, what happened??'
'Umm, we vapourised it...'