What Should We Do if Extraterrestrials Show Up?
It’s hard to say at this point, but a crucial first step is to establish whether they exist so any future arrival won’t come as a complete surprise
Stories by Avi Loeb
When Did Life First Emerge in the Universe?
We don’t know, but we could try to find out by searching for it on planets orbiting the very oldest stars
How to Photograph a (Possible) Alien Artifact
We don’t know if the interstellar object ‘Oumuamua was natural or artificial—but a new telescope coming online in a few years could help us identify the next one
Was the Interstellar Object ‘Oumuamua a Nitrogen Iceberg?
If so, as has recently been suggested, there are likely many more such icebergs moving between star systems
To Qualify as ‘Scientific,’ Evidence Has to Be Reproducible
We can never be sure if the interstellar object ‘Oumuamua, for example, was artificial—but we could be ready to answer that question for such a visitor in the future
The Shrapnel That Killed the Dinosaurs
Science provides knowledge of objects that threaten Earth and the means to deflect them
Did a Supermassive Black Hole Influence the Evolution of Life on Earth?
The idea isn’t as absurd as it might sound
Experimental Tests of Theology
It’s understandable why some people prefer not to test their beliefs, but evidence-based science teaches us that reality does not go away when you ignore it...
Why Do We Assume Extraterrestrials Might Want to Visit Us?
The idea presumes we’re inherently fascinating, but that’s not necessarily the case
Did We Receive a Message from a Planet Orbiting the Nearest Star?
A radio blip, seemingly from Proxima Centauri, where an Earth-size planet world orbits in the habitable zone, is tantalizing—but it’s probably not a signal from aliens
The Cosmic Dawn of Technology
Earth may well be a latecomer to the fraternity of technological civilizations
Let’s Search for Alien Probes, Not Just Alien Signals
“Multimessenger” SETI would broaden the quest to find celestial companions
Endless Creation Out of Nothing
Could our universe have been an experiment by an ancient civilization?
Noah’s Spaceship
A craft built to save Earth’s biodiversity from a planetary crisis would be far tinier—but vastly more far-reaching—than the biblical Ark
The Scientific Benefits of Social Distancing
Avoiding too much direct contact with colleagues can lead to more independent thinking
The Empty Half of the Glass May Also Be Full
How many scientific breakthroughs have been lost because they came from outside the mainstream?
Black Holes Are Finally Trending
A Nobel Prize is just the latest proof that a concept rejected by Einstein in 1939 has become one of the hottest topics in physics
Living near a White Dwarf
A planet orbiting the glowing corpse of a sunlike star might be a surprisingly benign place to be
Searching for the Atoms of Life
Any extraterrestrial organisms we find will be made of the same atoms we are—yet their existence will be profoundly important to us nonetheless
Academia after COVID
The pandemic offers colleges and universities an unexpected opportunity to reinvent themselves in ways that better serve students and faculty
