Harvard Data Science Review Podcast Can or Should the Question, “Are We Alone?” be Answered by Data Alone?
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Apr 22, 2022 
In this discussion, Abraham (Avi) Loeb, Harvard's leading astrophysicist and author, dives into the search for extraterrestrial evidence through rigorous data collection, emphasizing the value of reproducible instruments. Nick Pope, former UK Ministry of Defence official, shares insights on the gap between military investigations and scientific methods concerning UFO sightings. They explore the importance of corroborated data versus eyewitness accounts, the innovative Galileo Project, and whether humanity should actively announce its presence in the cosmos.
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Truth Isn’t Determined By Popular Belief
- Scientific truth is independent of public belief or social pressure.
- Avi Loeb argues scientists must follow evidence, not popularity or ridicule.
Instruments Over Eyewitnesses
- Eyewitness testimony cannot form the basis of a scientific paper because people hallucinate and misinterpret.
- Loeb insists instruments under control and reproducibility are required for scientific claims.
Build Reproducible Sky-Monitoring Programs
- Start a reproducible scientific program to record sky data with instruments rather than anecdotes.
- Loeb recommends focusing resources on instrumented observations like the Galileo Project.
