Alleged Discovery of Alien Tech by Astrophysicist May Reflect Misapplication of Scientific Principles

Last month, Avi Loeb, a theoretical physicist, made waves in the scientific community by suggesting that minute spherules retrieved from the ocean’s depths were likely of extraterrestrial origin. He proposed to The New York Times that they were “most likely a technological device with artificial intelligence,” sparking a story about the Harvard professor’s controversial assertions. While every major scientific discovery starts with a daring hypothesis, Loeb’s fellow scientists doubt the validity of his claim, not deeming it “good science.”

Loeb’s declarations originated from an object that was recorded by US government sensors on January 8th, 2014. This object, a fireball from space, plunged into the western Pacific Ocean near the northeastern coast of Papua New Guinea. Noting its peculiar speed and trajectory, Loeb, along with undergraduate assistant Amir Siraj, selected this ordinarily insignificant planetary entry for further study.

Just last month, a voyage led by Loeb, and funded by a cryptocurrency entrepreneur, sought to retrieve evidence from the projected crash site of the fireball. They utilized a magnetic sled attached to the expedition boat to collect a series of small spherical objects from the ocean floor. Loeb described these objects as “beautiful metallic marbles” under microscopic examination. Initial analysis suggested that these sub-millimeter orbs were comprised of 84 percent iron, with silicon, magnesium, and trace elements making up the remainder. He theorized that these tiny spherules likely formed from the disintegration of the object’s surface due to exposure to the fireball’s heat.

Never one to shy away from bold statements, Loeb wrote in a Medium post that “their discovery opens a new frontier in astronomy, where what lay outside the solar system is studied through a microscope rather than a telescope.” His summary of the discovery was just as dramatic, likening it to a “miracle.” His excitement caught the attention of CBS News, which ran a story headlined “Harvard professor Avi Loeb believes he’s found fragments of alien technology.” The spheres have been sent to Harvard University, the University of California, Berkeley, and the Bruker Corporation in Germany for further analysis.

Earlier this month, CBS News quoted Loeb stating, “We calculated its speed outside the solar system. It was 60 km per second, faster than 95% of all stars in the vicinity of the sun. The fact that it was made of materials tougher than even iron meteorites, and moving faster than 95% of all stars in the vicinity of the sun, suggested potentially it could be a spacecraft from another civilization or some technological gadget.”

While the potential discovery of alien technology is fascinating, especially with the recent uptick in UFO interest, there’s one issue: the broader scientific community largely disagrees with Loeb’s conclusions, arguing they fall outside the bounds of established science.

Scientists such as Peter Brown, a meteor physicist at Western University in Ontario, and Steve Desch, an astrophysicist at Arizona State University, criticize Loeb’s approach. They argue that most initially interstellar-seeming events typically prove to be measurement errors and, if the object was moving as fast as the data suggests, it would likely have completely burnt up upon entering Earth’s atmosphere. They also take issue with Loeb’s lack of collaboration with peers studying similar unidentified phenomena.

Irrespective of the spherules’ origin, the scientific community expresses concern over Loeb’s propensity for making sensationalized claims, further amplified by his scientific reputation. They argue that being a Harvard-employed astrophysicist doesn’t grant one infallibility or omniscience in scientific matters. Instead, it should be indicative of respect for the principles of scientific restraint and rigorous peer review.

Loeb responds to this criticism with a quote from philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer: “All truth passes through three stages: First, it is ridiculed; second, it is violently opposed; and third, it is accepted as self-evident.” Despite the myriad of unresolved questions surrounding his findings, Loeb seems to view them as “truth.”

Loeb’s excitement about his discovery may be viewed as confirmation bias, which is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as “the tendency to interpret new evidence as confirmation of one’s existing beliefs or theories.” Loeb presents his findings as if they are conclusive, suggesting any criticism from his peers is due to their resistance to his groundbreaking discovery. However, their critiques are not solely about his conclusions; they’re also concerned about a respected colleague making leaps that depart significantly from scientific norms. Desch remarks, “What the public is seeing in Loeb is not how science works, and they shouldn’t go away thinking that.”

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Avi Loeb’s Alien Technology Claim

More about Avi Loeb’s Alien Technology Claim

• Avi Loeb’s Medium Post
• The New York Times Story
• CBS News Article
• The Astrophysical Journal
• NASA
• Arizona State University
• Western University