The most interesting part of the conversation with Professor Loeb came when he discussed the possibility that life on Earth exists elsewhere. He spoke beautifully when he compared our cosmic journey to walking down a new street and meeting beings who are different from us. It was interesting to think of humankind as a family, so exploring life outside of the Earth would be a similar experience to the one a child has when it walks on the street. In the same way that exploration reveals the diversity of life outside our family, we are encouraged to accept the possibility that we may come across beings with higher intelligence on the cosmic street. Through his ideas, Professor Loeb encouraged us to embrace inquiry and humility as we embark on a journey to find our celestial neighbors.
I would ask Professor Loeb about any specific celestial bodies or phenomena that he finds particularly intriguing in the search for extraterrestrial life.
https://www.labxchange.org/library/items/lb:HarvardX:c1543a73:lx_simulation:1?fullscreen=true
I totally agree, Lara! I was also drawn to Professor Loeb’s discussion of life elsewhere in the universe. Until this interview, I don’t think I fully comprehended how vast the universe is; Professor Loeb mentioned that there are 10^22 planets with similar conditions to Earth in the observable volume of the universe. It’s fascinating how it can feel like we are the “center” of the universe, where we are the “special” ones. I also admire Professor Loeb’s humility as he conveys his openness to other life forms and that we are likely not the most advanced forms.