Avi Loeb, Professor of Science at Harvard University, joins us to discuss a recent interstellar visitor, if we've already encountered alien technology, and whether we're ultimately alone in the cosmos.

 Topics discussed in this episode include:

-Whether 'Oumuamua is alien or natural in origin

-The culture of science and how it affects fruitful inquiry

-Looking for signs of alien life throughout the solar system and beyond

-Alien artefacts and galactic treaties

-How humanity should handle a potential first contact with extraterrestrials

-The relationship between what is true and what is good

You can find the page for this podcast here: https://futureoflife.org/2021/07/09/avi-loeb-on-oumuamua-aliens-space-archeology-great-filters-and-superstructures/

Apply for the Podcast Producer position here: https://futureoflife.org/job-postings/

Check out the video version of the episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcxJ8QZQkwE&ab_channel=FutureofLifeInstitute

See our second interview with Avi here: https://soundcloud.com/futureoflife/avi-loeb-on-ufos-and-if-theyre-alien-in-origin

Have any feedback about the podcast? You can share your thoughts here: www.surveymonkey.com/r/DRBFZCT

Timestamps: 

0:00 Intro

3:28 What is 'Oumuamua's wager?

11:29 The properties of 'Oumuamua and how they lend credence to the theory of it being artificial in origin

17:23 Theories of 'Oumuamua being natural in origin

21:42 Why was the smooth acceleration of 'Oumuamua significant?

23:35 What are comets and asteroids?

28:30 What we know about Oort clouds and how 'Oumuamua relates to what we expect of Oort clouds

33:40 Could there be exotic objects in Oort clouds that would account for 'Oumuamua

38:08 What is your credence that 'Oumuamua is alien in origin?

44:50 Bayesian reasoning and 'Oumuamua

46:34 How do UFO reports and sightings affect your perspective of 'Oumuamua?

54:35 Might alien artefacts be more common than we expect?

58:48 The Drake equation

1:01:50 Where are the most likely great filters?

1:11:22 Difficulties in scientific culture and how they affect fruitful inquiry

1:27:03 The cosmic endowment, traveling to galactic clusters, and galactic treaties

1:31:34 Why don't we find evidence of alien superstructures?

1:36:36 Looking for the bio and techno signatures of alien life

1:40:27 Do alien civilizations converge on beneficence?

1:43:05 Is there a necessary relationship between what is true and good?

1:47:02 Is morality evidence based knowledge?

1:48:18 Axiomatic based knowledge and testing moral systems

1:54:08 International governance and making contact with alien life

1:55:59 The need for an elite scientific body to advise on global catastrophic and existential risk

1:59:57 What are the most fundamental questions?

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