Avi Loeb, a Harvard cosmologist previously known for his work on black holes and galaxies, has been appointed to lead a new scientific advisory council tasked by the White House with studying unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP), commonly known as UFOs. The council will focus on the national security risks associated with mysterious objects reported by military personnel.
Loeb, who led Harvard's astronomy department until 2020, has gained notoriety for his theories suggesting some UAPs could be extraterrestrial in origin. His views have drawn both praise from UFO enthusiasts and criticism from academic peers who argue he often makes unsubstantiated claims and bypasses traditional peer review.
"It's like a detective story," Loeb said in an interview. "It's a lot of fun, as long as you don't pay too much attention to the critics."
His work gained significant public attention in 2017 with the analysis of an interstellar object, 'Oumuamua, which Loeb proposed could be a 'light sail' from an alien spacecraft. More recently, his Galileo Project team retrieved metallic spheres from the Pacific Ocean, which he suggested might be of extraterrestrial origin, a claim challenged by other scientists.
Despite criticism, Loeb maintains that his critics lack imagination. He stated his approach to the UAP council will be grounded, starting with the assumption that these phenomena are human-made, with a focus on national security. He believes that increased government investment in UAP data collection could potentially resolve questions about their nature.
The team assembled by Loeb includes over a dozen scientists and UFO activists. Notable members include Timothy Gallaudet, a retired rear admiral who has spoken about potential nonhuman intelligence influencing UAP, and billionaire Ben Lamm, who is involved in species de-extinction efforts.
Following its first meeting last month, the advisory council has requested over 50 videos, images, and documents from the Pentagon related to known UAP incidents. Loeb has committed to public briefings and establishing a website to share the group's findings.
This initiative is part of a broader push by the Trump administration for greater transparency regarding UFOs, which has led to the Pentagon releasing several batches of files. The UAP Governance Board, overseen by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, was established in response to a directive for more openness on the subject. Loeb's team and other advisory groups support this board.
Sean Kirkpatrick, a physicist and former investigator at the Pentagon's UAP office, has expressed skepticism about Loeb's appointment, citing Loeb's standing within the scientific community and lack of national security experience. He suggested the White House might be prioritizing unconventional theories over rigorous scientific inquiry. The White House has not commented on this criticism.
Loeb, however, remains focused on the scientific process, stating, "Let's keep our eyes on the orbs, not the social media."