
Can the Universe Provide Us with the Meaning of Life?
Astronomy and space exploration might offer a new perspective on our purpose in the cosmos
Abraham Loeb is chair of the astronomy department at Harvard University, 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 advisory board for the Breakthrough Starshot project. Credit: Nick Higgins
Astronomy and space exploration might offer a new perspective on our purpose in the cosmos
Theoretical models can be complex—but the most successful ones are usually not
Among other things, practice humility—and remember that nature is the final arbiter of what’s true
A BBC reporter asked. Here’s my answer
There’s no proof that it happened—but it’s not impossible
Extraordinary groupthink leads to extraordinary ignorance
Its surface could, in principle, preserve the remains of organisms or even technology from beyond our solar system
What's true for our own lives is also true for the universe
When our cherished ideas are contradicted by the facts, we must avoid the human tendency to double down on those ideas
The federal government must step up funding of science and technology R&D
Identifying an interstellar meteorite— ‘Oumuamua’s cousin — required a national-security waiver...
A new idea in the quest to find life beyond Earth
No—the give-and-take that happens behind the scenes is an essential part of the scientific process
A search of a meteor-detection archive reveals a possible second interstellar visitor
Efforts to create new life-forms—and new universes—will raise profound questions
Thinking outside the box is as important for science as it is for a business start-up
Our descendants’ lives will be intertwined with advanced technologies—and that will revitalize non-technological disciplines such as philosophy
It would pose some dangers, of course—but it could also be fun!
It’s unlikely, and if we keep thinking otherwise, we might be missing some important clues about the existence of extraterrestrial life
We need to tread lightly if we encounter alien ecosystems
Support science journalism.
Thanks for reading Scientific American. Knowledge awaits.
Already a subscriber? Sign in.
Thanks for reading Scientific American. Create your free account or Sign in to continue.
Create Account