Seeking the Truth When the Consensus Is against You
You should always listen to the experts—except when you shouldn’t
Stories by Abraham Loeb
Making the Church Taller
We should not accept our notions of reality as given, but always make them better
How to Search for Dead Cosmic Civilizations
If they’re short-lived, we might be able to detect the relics and artifacts they left behind
The Fate of Free Will: When Science Crosses Swords with Philosophy
In some domains the two knowledge systems are complementary, but in others they might be headed for conflict
The Power of Anomalies
Progress in science is sometimes propelled by the discovery of experimental oddities that inspire a fresh perspective on nature
Theoretical Physics Is Pointless without Experimental Tests
Our discipline is a dialogue with nature, not a monologue, as some theorists would prefer to believe
Science Is an Infinite-Sum Game
It’s a win–win endeavor with unlimited horizons for expanding our island of knowledge into the ocean of ignorance
Where Do Ideas Come from?
They’re nurtured by informal dialogues in environments where mistakes are tolerated and critical thinking is encouraged
Finding Fuel for Our Frigid Cosmic Future
As dark energy accelerates the expansion of the universe, civilizations will likely migrate into rich clusters of galaxies
Testing Philosophy through Experiments
New technologies could shed light on old philosophical questions, such as the nature of the mind and whether moral values reflect universal truth
Maybe We Could "See" a Singularity After All
When black holes collide, interactions between their cores might leave an imprint on the resulting gravitational waves
Escape from Proxima b
A civilization in the habitable zone of a dwarf star like Proxima Centauri might find it hard to get into interstellar space with conventional rockets
For E.T. Civilizations, Location Could Be Everything
Their economies and their fate may depend on the abundance of gold and uranium, forged in relatively nearby neutron star mergers
Renewing the Contract between Academia and Society
Universities owe the public a fresh look at their educational and research missions
Are Alien Civilizations Technologically Advanced?
The answer may depend on exoplanet sociology
The Case for Cosmic Modesty
If we want to find life elsewhere, we should search for it in all of its possible forms
Cosmic Inflation Theory Faces Challenges
The latest astrophysical measurements, combined with theoretical problems, cast doubt on the long-cherished inflationary theory of the early cosmos and suggest we need new ideas
Portrait of a Black Hole
By adapting a global network of telescopes, astronomers will soon get their first look ever at the dark silhouette of a black hole
The Dark Ages of the Universe
Astronomers are trying to fill in the blank pages in our photo album of the infant universe
Portrait of a Black Hole
By adapting a global network of telescopes, astronomers will soon get their first look ever at the dark silhouette of a black hole