Latest news with #AviLoeb
Hans India
31-05-2025
- Science
- Hans India
What is Oumuamua? 6 Fascinating Facts About the First Interstellar Visitor to Our Solar System
In 2017, astronomers made a groundbreaking discovery: the first known interstellar object to pass through our solar system. Named 'Oumuamua—a Hawaiian word meaning 'a messenger from afar arriving first'—this mysterious object has intrigued scientists and the public alike ever since. Here are six key facts about this cosmic visitor. 1. Discovery That Changed Astronomy Oumuamua was detected on October 19, 2017, by the University of Hawaii's Pan-STARRS1 telescope. Officially designated 1I/2017 U1 by the International Astronomical Union, it was first classified as an asteroid before further analysis revealed behavior more akin to a comet, due to its unexpected acceleration. 2. Unusual Shape and Speed Oumuamua is estimated to be up to 400 meters long and unusually elongated—possibly ten times longer than it is wide. Its reddish hue is similar to many distant solar system objects. What stunned astronomers further was its rapid rotation every 7.3 hours and dramatic brightness variations. It was clocked moving at a staggering speed of 196,000 miles per hour (87.3 km/s). 3. A Dry, Mysterious Surface Unlike typical comets, Oumuamua displayed no visible gas or dust, which left astronomers puzzled. Its dry, metallic or rocky surface lacked the comet-like tail typically seen in icy bodies, leading researchers to suggest it had been bombarded by cosmic rays for millions of years during its interstellar journey. 4. Anomalous Acceleration After its closest approach to the Sun on September 9, 2017, Oumuamua began accelerating in a way that couldn't be fully explained by gravity alone. This unexpected movement sparked debate over its true nature—was it a comet, an asteroid, or something entirely different? Though it entered from the direction of the Lyra constellation, its origin remains unknown. 5. Natural Object—or Alien Tech? Some experts, most notably Harvard astronomer Avi Loeb, suggested Oumuamua could be a piece of alien technology, such as a light sail. While this theory captured the public imagination, the dominant scientific consensus holds that it is a natural object—perhaps a fragment of a hydrogen ice body or a 'dark comet' unlike any seen before. 6. A Fleeting Visitor with a Long Legacy After briefly visiting the inner solar system, Oumuamua is now heading toward the constellation Pegasus, having already passed Mars's orbit by late 2017. It's expected to exit the solar system entirely by 2038. Scientists believe such interstellar objects may pass through our solar system roughly once a year, but most remain undetected due to their small size and speed.
Bloomberg
16-05-2025
- Science
- Bloomberg
AI's Most Promising Alien Hunters
Are we alone in the universe? Harvard Professor Avi Loeb says he doesn't think so. He and his team have set up the Galileo Project, aiming to bring a more rigorous approach to the study of unidentified aerial phenomena, or UAP. Using advanced technology such as high-resolution cameras and spectrographs to capture and analyze data on UAP, they hope to better understand the universe around us. (Source: Bloomberg)
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Proof of life on K2-18b ‘not at all obvious': Harvard professor
Although scientists at the University of Cambridge suggest they have detected chemical signs of life on a planet 124 light years from Earth, a Harvard professor says there are problems with that theory. Avi Loeb, a Harvard professor of science and theoretical physicist, told NewsNation that while dimethyl sulfide and dimethyl disulfide appear to be present in the atmosphere of the planet K2-18b, that isn't necessarily proof of extraterrestrial life existing on the planet. Loeb said the molecule is produced by microorganisms in the Earth's oceans. However, K2-18b has a 1,000 times greater abundance of the molecule, which is also produced in comets, where no life exists, so far as is known. 'So, it is not at all obvious that if you find such a molecule in the atmosphere of a planet, it is indicative of life,' the professor said. K2-18b is an exoplanet that is nearly nine times the size of Earth, according to NASA. The Hycean exoplanet, which has the potential of possessing a hydrogen-rich atmosphere and an ocean-covered surface, was discovered in 2015, according to USA TODAY. While theories about whether life exists on K2-18b, Loeb said that the fundamental question becomes, just because the molecule exists in the atmosphere, does it guarantee that life is also present? Loeb noted to NewsNation he is much less excited about the discovery made by the Cambridge researchers than he would be about finding intelligent beings in the cosmos. 'An advanced civilization is someone that we can learn from,' Loeb continued, adding, 'It will be very likely that anywhere where you have liquid water, you also have the chemistry of life as we know it.' He said, 'I think we should hedge our bets and search for primitive forms of life and intelligent forms of life, because the evidence could be far more convincing if we find a gadget in our backyard that was produced by another civilization.' NewsNation's Michael Ramsey contributed reporting to this story Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
30-04-2025
- Science
- The Hill
Proof of life on K2-18b ‘not at all obvious': Harvard professor
Although scientists at the University of Cambridge suggest they have detected chemical signs of life on a planet 124 light years from Earth, a Harvard professor says there are problems with that theory. Avi Loeb, a Harvard professor of science and theoretical physicist, told NewsNation that while dimethyl sulfide and dimethyl disulfide appear to be present in the atmosphere of the planet K2-18b, that isn't necessarily proof of extraterrestrial life existing on the planet. Loeb said the molecule is produced by microorganisms in the Earth's oceans. However, K2-18b has a 1,000 times greater abundance of the molecule, which is also produced in comets, where no life exists, so far as is known. 'So, it is not at all obvious that if you find such a molecule in the atmosphere of a planet, it is indicative of life,' the professor said. K2-18b is an exoplanet that is nearly nine times the size of Earth, according to NASA. The Hycean exoplanet, which has the potential of possessing a hydrogen-rich atmosphere and an ocean-covered surface, was discovered in 2015, according to USA TODAY. While theories about whether life exists on K2-18b, Loeb said that the fundamental question becomes, just because the molecule exists in the atmosphere, does it guarantee that life is also present? Loeb noted to NewsNation he is much less excited about the discovery made by the Cambridge researchers than he would be about finding intelligent beings in the cosmos. 'An advanced civilization is someone that we can learn from,' Loeb continued, adding, 'It will be very likely that anywhere where you have liquid water, you also have the chemistry of life as we know it.' He said, 'I think we should hedge our bets and search for primitive forms of life and intelligent forms of life, because the evidence could be far more convincing if we find a gadget in our backyard that was produced by another civilization.'
CBS News
18-04-2025
- Science
- CBS News
Scientists find evidence of life on distant planet, Harvard professor says questions remain
Cambridge University scientists say they have found the strongest evidence yet of life on another planet 124 light years away. The planet is called K2-18b and was spotted with the James Webb Space Telescope. Their research leads them to believe there is a 99.7% chance that the molecules they see could lead to there being life. Astronomers spotted two molecules in the planet's atmosphere that give them cause for their theory. The molecules are also present here on Earth. "This molecule is produced in the Earth's atmosphere by microorganisms in the oceans, and there is a claim that perhaps this planet has water oceans, although that is also disputed," said Avi Loeb an astrophysicist at Harvard. Loeb is on the forefront of research into extraterrestrial life. In 2023, WBZ reported that Loeb and his team discovered fragments in a meteor that landed in the ocean. Loeb believes the metallic spherules could be from alien technology. They are still researching. In the meantime, the findings on K2-18b have him curious, but holding off speculation. "There is still the lingering question of whether this could be produced by something else, and to be fully confident, physicists require a confidence level of five sigma which is more like 99.99%," explains Loeb. He says researchers also see these molecules on comets that don't have any life on them. "It may not be indicative of life, but geological processes, chemical processes on the surface of the planet that produced this molecule without life on it," says Loeb. If there was life on the planet, it may be hard for us to communicate. Loeb says any signal sent to the planet would not be returned for at least 248 years. "That's a long time. I'm not that patient to wait 248 years," said Loeb. "It would make much more sense to listen to them. In a good date, when you date someone, the best advice that I have is first listen before you speak. I think we should obviously try to detect any transmission signal and then figure out what to do about it."
