The most surprising bit of information I learned when watching the PredictionX interview with Professor Avi Loeb is that the presence of uncertainty in science can actually improve our understanding of reality. Although I often think of science as definitive facts, I was surprised to learn that most of science is filled with uncertainty. I also found it intriguing that Professor Loeb sees uncertainty as a resource that helps scientists understand variations in the universe. Instead of referring to uncertainty as only quantifying what scientists don’t already know, Professor Loeb’s comments suggest that uncertainty can help scientists understand how far away something is from an accepted explanation, prediction, or theory. By exploring how systems work, such as the engine in a car, the interview with Professor Loeb demonstrated the importance of understanding the problem first. After understanding the problem, scientists can then apply data to create predictions in a directed way.
Just as a side note, when I watched the interview with Professor Loeb, I was surprised by Professor Goodman’s comment that systems heal themselves in life sciences but not in physical sciences. I hadn’t previously thought about how different fields of science can recover at different rates and the relative stability of the universe.
To learn more about Professor Avi Loeb’s work and prediction, please see the PredictionX interview here!