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harvard & aliens & crackpots: a disambiguation of Avi Loeb

Angela Collier · 604.2K views · 2022-08-25 · 1:06:38

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Overview

Physicist Angela Collier gives an hour-long critique of Avi Loeb's alien claims and reputation, placing them within the broader topic of physics crackpots. The Loeb discussion starts around the 24 minute mark.

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Frequently linked as an in-depth, well-presented skeptical take whenever Loeb's alien claims come up.

Recommended by 5 HN people across 2 months · HN mentions 2023–2025

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What people said

DemocracyFTW2 · 2023-08 · Strong recommendation

Yeah, that guy again. Required viewing: acollierastro harvard & aliens & crackpots: a disambiguation of Avi Loeb [VIDEO]

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DemocracyFTW2 · 2023-07 · Strong recommendation

posted here a few days ago: [ harvard & aliens & crackpots: a disambiguation of Avi Loeb ]( [VIDEO] ) by Angela Collier. It's 1h6m long but I was surprised about myself that I watched the entire thing and I guess it's because of the high quality of the presentation and the occasional deadpan remark that keep you awake. Talk about Avi Loeb specifically start at 24 minutes. The most damning part of her takedown is probably when she shows zoom footage of a physicists' video conference and other snippets where Loeb is literally foaming with expletives directed mostly at fellow physicists, y'know, the Establishment who just wouldn't follow his by-now predictable but wholly unsupported jump from "I found mineral spherules on the bottom of the ocean" to "these must come from that deep space meteorite that I lately discovered" to "It's aliens!". Collier is such a sound antidote to all that flaky and faky science coverage we're getting. For all the clear words that she finds she still leaves viewers with an open question: "So is Loeb a grifter? I don't think so. Is he a crackpot? Future will tell."

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hikingsimulator · 2023-08 · Recommendation

Since it's on topic, I'd like to share a small youtuber who does science communication. She covered Loeb and the topics of crackpots in science [1]. Her other video on string theory and how it damaged science communication is really good too. [1] [VIDEO]

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Sources

Video by Angela Collier , played through YouTube.

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