In this episode Curt Jaimungal talks with astrophysicist Avi Loeb about the scientific and cultural implications of alien life, controversial ideas like Oumuamua, Bob Lazar, wormholes, and the many‑worlds interpretation. They also explore consciousness, free will, and the challenges of pursuing unconventional research.
- 00:00:00 - Introduction
- 00:01:27 - On writing to sharpen one's thinking, and the purpose of Avi's writings
- 00:04:16 - Don't let the repudiation by "experts" deter your ideas
- 00:11:49 - Academia requires other people's evaluation and conformance
- 00:17:12 - How do you allow outré ideas while retaining integrity?
- 00:18:21 - Responding to the Pluto-like rock of Oumuamua theory of Desch and Jackson
- 00:25:37 - Why is investigating aliens considered academically uncouth?
- 00:29:16 - How the discovery of intelligent aliens would change society
- 00:30:27 - How to find alien relics
- 00:31:53 - Privatizing the search for aliens, and Elon Musk
- 00:34:03 - The problems with inhabiting Mars are deeper than Musk thinks
- 00:35:41 - Sean Carole's Many Worlds Interpretation
- 00:41:14 - Are singularities "real"?
- 00:44:13 - Bob Lazar
- 00:49:35 - Cosmic Inflation is not falsifiable
- 01:00:26 - Comparing velocities across different points on a manifold
- 01:05:56 - Testing Wolfram's theory using the lower bound on masses
- 01:07:42 - Eric Weinstein and innovation coming from the outside
- 01:12:34 - Gödel's theorems and a Theory of Everything
- 01:15:02 - Science learning from religion (and falsifying religion)
- 01:21:35 - What is the meaning of life? The question Avi would ask an alien
- 01:24:29 - Living forever. Heaven and hell as psychological phenomenon.
- 01:26:04 - Consciousness, emergence, and free will
- 01:28:46 - Wormholes
- 01:29:29 - Why is the universe "fine tuned" for life?
- 01:30:37 - Wisdom vs Intelligence
- 01:34:09 - Which goal should you follow?
- 01:36:00 - Steve Scully: Infinity of smallness and largeness
- 01:37:15 - Can you interpret data without presuming a theory?
- 01:40:02 - Barfyman: How has aging changed how Avi learns new math / physics?
- 01:42:25 - Learning math when you're over 40
- 01:43:26 - Artificial wisdom vs Artificial intelligence
- 01:44:11 - Brian Keating: Does Avi Loeb dislike the criticism of his ideas, due to his fame?
- 01:49:47 - How to balance work and life if you're extremely productive and work constantly?
- 01:51:09 - Why does Avi do podcasts?
- 01:53:09 - On abnegating social media
- 01:56:58 - Rabbitskywalk3r: Claims of Haim Eshed (former Israeli director of space programs)
- 01:57:39 - On UFO's and Prof. Kevin Knuth's analysis
- 01:59:36 - Getting data on aliens visiting Earth
- 02:01:09 - Amjad Hussain: Panpsychism, proto-consciousness, and aliens living with us
RESOURCES:
- YouTube link: https://youtu.be/hTHDCD4MnqY
- Patreon for conversations on Theories of Everything, Consciousness, Free Will, and God: https://patreon.com/curtjaimungal
- Help support conversations like this via PayPal: https://bit.ly/2EOR0M4
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOEwithCurt
- iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/better-left-unsaid-with-curt-jaimungal/id1521758802
- Pandora: https://pdora.co/33b9lfP
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gL14b92xAErofYQA7bU4e
- Google Podcasts: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Id3k7k7mfzahfx2fjqmw3vufb44
- Discord Invite Code (as of Mar 04 2021): dmGgQ2dRzS
- Subreddit r/TheoriesOfEverything: https://reddit.com/r/theoriesofeverything
- Brian Keating's channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmXH_moPhfkqCk6S3b9RWuw
- Steve Scully's channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM8_4BUpeNfEWJ-wwdIDJxQ
- Better Left Unsaid: http://betterleftunsaidfilm.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
