The Harvard Gazette

Avi Loeb

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Dinosaur illustration.

The cataclysm that killed the dinosaurs

New theory explains possible origin of plummeting Chicxulub impactor that struck off Mexico

Science|

DateFebruary 15, 2021March 2, 2021

A binary companion the sun is shown..

Far-out findings from the cosmos

Harvard astronomers research twin suns, a sneezing star, and ‘Oumuamua

Science|

DateSeptember 4, 2020September 4, 2020

Avi Loeb has published four books and over 700 papers on a wide range of topics, including black holes, the first stars, the search for extraterrestrial life, and the future of the universe.

One thing to change: Think more like children

Avi Loeb says youthful curiosity offers a compelling model for creative research

Campus|

DateJune 28, 2019July 12, 2019

Artist's rendering of 'Oumuamua.

Something weird this way comes

Harvard researchers see alien potential in mysterious object

Science|

DateNovember 19, 2018November 26, 2018

Big Bang artwork

New light on dark matter

Researchers explain that dark matter particles may have electric charge, and why that matters

Science|

DateMay 30, 2018November 26, 2018

The cosmological environment where primordial gas undergoes a "direct collapse" into a black hole. The gas flows along dark matter filaments that form a cosmic web, birthing the first galaxies where these filaments intersect.

Just-so black holes

New research backs direct-collapse behemoths — ‘a cosmic miracle’

Science|

DateJuly 21, 2016April 26, 2019

In this artist’s theoretical conception of the Milky Way galaxy, translucent green “bubbles” mark areas where life has spread beyond its home system to create cosmic oases, a process called panspermia. New research suggests that if it occurs, we could detect possible signs of life on planets orbiting distant stars.

Interstellar seeds could create oases of life

Within the next generation, researchers see possibility of detecting signs of life on planets

Science|

DateAugust 27, 2015

Avi Loeb, the Frank B. Baird Jr. Professor of Science and director of the Institute for Theory and Computation, discussed tools to search for extraterrestrial life in a talk titled “New Search Methods for Primitive and Intelligent Life Far from Earth.”

Far-out questions

Harvard astronomer Loeb caught up in the thrill of the search

Science|

DateSeptember 25, 2014November 26, 2018

In this artist’s conception, the atmosphere of an Earth-like planet displays a brownish haze — the result of widespread pollution. New research shows that the upcoming James Webb Space Telescope may have the potential to detect certain pollutants, specifically chlorofluorocarbons, in the atmospheres of Earth-size planets orbiting white dwarf stars.

Targeting alien polluters

New research may offer fresh approach in search for extraterrestrial intelligence

Science|

DateJuly 23, 2014

In examining the origins of the Big Bang, Nobel laureate Robert Wilson (photo 1) pointed out the "problem" that led to its discovery: too much noise picked up by an antenna. It turned out that Wilson’s “noise problem” was a signal from the beginning of the universe. Joining in the discussion were Harvard's Robert P. Kirshner (photo 2), Avi Loeb (below), and MIT's Alan Guth (photo 3).

Sizing up the Big Bang

Nobel winner Wilson joins CfA discussion

Science|

DateFebruary 24, 2014

A team at Tel Aviv University in Israel and the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics has just discovered an exoplanet using a new method that relies on Einstein’s special theory of relativity.

Building on Einstein

Relativity informs planet-finding method

Health|

DateMay 14, 2013

Astronomy Department Chair Avi Loeb discussed the findings from the European Space Agency’s Planck satellite program that showed the universe as being a little older, containing a bit more mysterious dark matter, and expanding more slowly than previously thought.

Tweaking the universe

Planck satellite findings bring Big Bang’s aftermath into crisper focus, astrophysicist says

Science|

DateMarch 27, 2013

Astronomy Department Chair Avi Loeb is helping prepare the next generation of astronomers to interpret the coming flood of data from new, more powerful telescopes with a new textbook, “The First Galaxies in the Universe.”

A learner’s guide to the universe

Astronomer Loeb homes in on ‘cosmic roots’ in textbook

Science|

DateFebruary 28, 2013

A new study finds that researchers can detect oxygen in the atmosphere of a habitable planet orbiting a white dwarf (as shown in this artist’s illustration). Here the ghostly blue ring is a planetary nebula — hydrogen gas the star ejected as it evolved from a red giant to a white dwarf.

Dying stars source of life?

Future evidence for extraterrestrial life might come from dying stars

Health|

DateFebruary 26, 2013

In this artist's conception, a protoplanetary disk of gas and dust (red) is being shredded by the powerful gravitational tides of our galaxy's central black hole.

Planets form in cosmic maelstrom

'It's fascinating to think about planets forming so close to a black hole'

Science|

DateSeptember 12, 2012June 19, 2019

In this artist’s conception, a runaway planet zooms through interstellar space. New research suggests that the supermassive black hole at our galaxy’s center can fling planets outward at relativistic speeds. In this illustration, a glowing volcano on the planet’s surface hints at active plate tectonics that may keep the planet warm.

Planet starship

Runaway planets zoom at a fraction of light speed

Science|

DateMarch 27, 2012June 26, 2019

If an alien civilization builds brightly lit cities like those shown in this artist's conception, future generations of telescopes might allow us to detect them. This would offer a new method of searching for extraterrestrial intelligence elsewhere in our galaxy.

Bright idea

Paper suggests new target in search for alien life: City lights

Science|

DateNovember 9, 2011May 2, 2019

Baby photos from the ultimate edge – a black hole

Associated Press

News|

DateNovember 16, 2010April 18, 2019