'An astronomical Sherlock Holmes' WASHINGTON POST'Visionary' STEPHEN GREENBLATT'Compelling . . . The book is not so much a claim for one object as an argument for a more open-minded approach to science - a combination of humility and wonder' NEW STATESMANHarvard's top astronomer takes us inside the mind-blowing story of the first interstellar visitor to our solar system In late 2017, scientists at a Hawaiian observatory glimpsed a strange object soaring through our inner solar system. Astrophysicist Avi Loeb conclusively showed it was not an asteroid; it was moving too fast along a strange orbit, and leaving no trail of gas or debris in its wake. There was only one conceivable explanation: the object was a piece of advanced technology created by a distant alien civilization. In Extraterrestrial, Loeb takes readers inside the thrilling story of the first interstellar visitor to be spotted in our solar system. He outlines his theory and its profound implications: for science, for religion, and for the future of our planet. A mind-bending journey through the furthest reaches of science, space-time, and the human imagination, Extraterrestrial challenges readers to aim for the stars-and to think critically about what's out there, no matter how strange it seems.
'An astronomical Sherlock Holmes' WASHINGTON POST'Visionary' STEPHEN GREENBLATT'Compelling . . . The book is not so much a claim for one object as an argument for a more open-minded approach to science - a combination of humility and wonder' NEW STATESMANHarvard's top astronomer takes us inside the mind-blowing story of the first interstellar visitor to our solar system In late 2017, scientists at a Hawaiian observatory glimpsed a strange object soaring through our inner solar system. Astrophysicist Avi Loeb conclusively showed it was not an asteroid; it was moving too fast along a strange orbit, and leaving no trail of gas or debris in its wake. There was only one conceivable explanation: the object was a piece of advanced technology created by a distant alien civilization. In Extraterrestrial, Loeb takes readers inside the thrilling story of the first interstellar visitor to be spotted in our solar system. He outlines his theory and its profound implications: for science, for religion, and for the future of our planet. A mind-bending journey through the furthest reaches of science, space-time, and the human imagination, Extraterrestrial challenges readers to aim for the stars-and to think critically about what's out there, no matter how strange it seems.
ABRAHAM (AVI) LOEB is the Frank B. Baird Jr. Professor of Science at Harvard University, where he directs the Black Hole initiative and the Institute for Theory and Computation. He was the longest-serving chair in the history of Harvard's astronomy department.A member of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, he also chairs the Advisory Committee for the Breakthrough Starshot initiative and the Board on Physics and Astronomy of the National Academies, and serves as the science theory director for all initiatives of the Breakthrough Prize Foundation.Author of five books and 800 scientific papers, Loeb is an elected fellow of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, the American Physical Society, and the International Academy of Astronautics. He lives near Boston, Massachusetts.
I have a lot of time for Loeb. He has a joy in conjecture and an
omnivorous spirit of inquiry that are more reminiscent of
20th-century thinkers such as Freeman Dyson or Carl Sagan than most
of his peers. His readiness to stake his reputation on such an
unconventional hypothesis is a mark of uncommon bravery . . .
[Carl] Sagan would have liked this book
*The Times*
Compelling . . . The book is not so much a claim for one object as
an argument for a more open-minded approach to science - a
combination of humility and wonder
*New Statesman*
An astronomical Sherlock Holmes . . . You don't have to share his
conviction to be impressed by the breadth of his argument
*Washington Post*
In this passionately argued, visionary book, astrophysicist Avi
Loeb urges us to abandon the arrogant fantasy that we are the only
sentient life form in the universe. The clues are fascinating, and
still more are Loeb's arguments for what they might reveal to us
about our own brilliant, blinkered, and quite possibly doomed
civilization
*STEPHEN GREENBLATT, Pulitzer prize-winning author of THE
SWERVE*
A serious scientist makes a serious argument for the hypothesis
that our solar system was visited by an object from an
extraterrestrial civilization. Is the hypothesis right? Who knows.
But let's try to find out!
*ERIC MASKIN, Nobel laureate in Economics*
It's good to be sceptical of audacious ideas. But it's also
important to be open to audacious possibilities. Loeb's sumptuously
written book will provoke you to think about the possibility of
intelligent life elsewhere in the universe in new and stimulating
ways
*SEAN CARROLL*
An exciting and eloquent case that we might have seen a sign of
intelligent life near Earth - and that we should search further.
World-renowned scientist and innovative thinker, Avi Loeb opens
your mind to some of the most important questions facing us as
humans: scientific curiosity is key to our future success
*ANNE WOJCICKI, CEO and co-founder, 23andMe*
A provocative and thrilling account of the search for
extraterrestrial intelligence . . . Professor Loeb asks us to think
big and to expect the unexpected
*ALAN LIGHTMAN, author of EINSTEIN'S DREAMS*
One of the more imaginative and articulate scientists around . . .
half memoir, half soaring monologue
*New Yorker*
A persuasive scientific argument about 'Oumuamua's otherworldly
origins, and delves into why his peers have been so hostile to the
idea of life outside of Earth
*New York Magazine*
In publishing his theory, Loeb has certainly risked (and suffered)
ridicule . . . Still, it's thrilling to imagine the
possibilities
*New Yorker*
Have aliens ever been to our solar system? A quick trawl of the
internet will reveal any number of people who think that they have,
but when the suggestion comes from a distinguished Harvard
astrophysicist, maybe it's time to sit up and take notice
*Mail on Sunday*
He may or may not be right about 'Oumuamua. But that hardly seems
to make much difference to what is ultimately the main thesis of
his book . . . Mr Loeb is surely correct that scientists studying
the vastness of the cosmos should entertain risky ideas more often,
for the universe is undoubtedly more wild and unexpected than any
extremes conjured by the human imagination.
*The Economist*
Fascinating and very accessible . . . certainly very well worth a
read
*Church of England Newspaper*
'So interesting... I recommend [Extraterrestrial] to people who
have any interest in this extraordinary subject of life existing in
other places than on Earth.'
*WILLIAM SHATNER (from Amazon.com)*
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