Avi Loeb: We Need to Find a Civilization Smarter Than Ours

What if we’re not alone — and the problem is that we simply aren’t looking hard enough? In the first episode of Podcastimus, I speak with Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb about why humanity should actively search for intelligent civilizations beyond Earth — and why discovering a civilization smarter than ours could fundamentally change the way we see ourselves. We talk about ʻOumuamua, the mysterious first known interstellar object detected passing through our Solar System; Avi’s expedition to the Pacific Ocean in search of material from an interstellar meteor; and the resistance his unconventional ideas have encountered within the scientific community. The conversation goes beyond extraterrestrial life. We discuss why academia can discourage intellectual risk-taking, what makes a good scientist, how curiosity gets lost as we grow older, and why Avi believes science should remain open to possibilities rather than defend established explanations. We also explore science and religion, the possibility that sufficiently advanced scientists might one day learn how to create new universes, and why humanity may need to encounter something smarter than itself to finally gain a little cosmic perspective. A conversation about aliens — but also about curiosity, courage, science and our place in the universe. Podcastimus explores science, technology and the ideas shaping humanity’s future.