Tuesday, January 19, 2021

Life in Space

Extraterrestrial: The First Sign of Intelligent Life Beyond Earth by Avi Loeb
Publication Date - January 26, 2021
4.5 stars


In 2017 a cylinder shaped object, Oumuamua, flew through our solar system and briefly provided data for astrophysicists to study.  While it was widely determined to be interstellar, the theory that it is a technological artifact from an alien civilization was quickly discarded by many scientists...but not by the author.  He advocates for a daring approach to science where we step outside the conservative confines of what is thought to be possible and instead use the data to make bold hypotheses.  I thought this an amazing exploration of what science is capable of, if allowed to take chances.  This was easily readable science but also intermixed with a philosophical analyzation of what discovering alien artifacts would mean for our own civilization.  On a side note, the cover for this book is stunning and I found myself studying it between every chapter.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  



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