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A Potential Alien Technosignature & Good Critique of Space Scientists
This is a good book as long as you can tolerate the rather slow initial chapters of filler which I assume were needed to make it long enough for the publisher's requirements. I have seen that some other comments highlight this slow start and it put off readers. Perhaps some will want to skip ahead to the chapters on Oumuamua.I really appreciated the detailed evaluation of the Oumuamua data and was surprised to hear that the object was likely an extremely thin circular artefact. All of the major media has shown us the rocky cigar-shaped body which was first suspected based on the astronomical information returned to earth. I have added an image that shows such a possible solar sail design that would mesh well with the Oumuamua described by Loeb in the book. Because we can't yet send a super fast probe to directly sample this visitor or build a telescope that would see it in detail, there is no way to be absolute on artificiality, but Loeb makes a strong case based on what we do know. Even the intellectual opponents have to come up with exotic solutions to the anomalies involved, no asteroid or comet that we know would fulfil the role.A good part of the book is reserved for criticism of academia, the conservatism and bias that relegates the search for alien intelligence to a joke subject, one that young scientists should avoid if they want to establish a respected name for themselves. This is ironic when considering the public have enormous interest in the possibility such aliens exist and may visit us (past, present or future). Loeb is attempting to change this situation and open a door through which a new generation of space scientists may walk."If you're not ready to find exceptional things, you won't discover them. Of course, every argument needs to be based on evidence, but if the evidence points to an anomaly, we need to talk about an anomaly." - Avi LoebPersonally, I believe Oumuamua 'may' by a true alien technosignature, but in my opinion the case is not as strong as the indications surrounding the object which arrived here 780,000 years ago, parking itself in orbit before leaving behind mysterious highly silica debris. If anyone wants to learn more on that I have provided a good many interviews and discussed the matter in my own book. Hopefully, I can write an acceptable paper on the topic but being from beyond the hallowed halls of academia that is beyond my wheelhouse.I think Extraterrestrial: The First Sign of Intelligent Life Beyond Earth will change the conversation on alien life and make more conservative people open their minds, but for some the subject will always be a joke and nothing the professor says will change that. Well worth reading!Disclosure: I read a free review copy as science editor for the Earth Ancients podcast.
Top reviews from other countries
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MarcosReviewed in Brazil on March 24, 2021
Abordagem puramente científica do assunto
- wonndattReviewed in Canada on February 1, 2021
Brilliant! Readable! Inspirational!
