Who Is Avi Loeb? Harvard Astrophysicist Leading Trump’s UFO Push

Avi Loeb, a Harvard astrophysicist known for his controversial views on extraterrestrial life, has been chosen by the Trump administration to lead a team of independent scientists studying the national security implications of UFOs, now officially referred to as Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs).

The newly formed advisory council will examine mysterious aerial objects reported by military personnel and help assess their origins.

The group will work alongside a UAP-focused panel established under the Office of the Director of National Intelligence as part of the administration’s broader effort to declassify more information related to unexplained aerial phenomena.

Who Is Avi Loeb?

Avi Loeb was born in Israel and is a theoretical physicist and cosmologist who

has built a distinguished academic career in the United States.

He is a long-time Harvard professor and previously served as chair of Harvard University’s Department of Astronomy until 2020.

His research spans black holes, galaxies, and the early universe, but in recent years he has become widely known for advocating the scientific investigation of potential extraterrestrial technology.

The Search For Extraterrestrial Life

The ‘Oumuamua Theory

Loeb attracted global attention after proposing that ‘Oumuamua, the first known interstellar object to pass through our solar system in 2017, exhibited unusual acceleration that could not be fully explained by conventional comet models.

He suggested the object might have been an artificial structure, possibly an alien spacecraft or a light sail, while acknowledging that no conclusive evidence exists to prove the claim.

The Galileo Project

Loeb is the founder of the Galileo Project, a scientific initiative dedicated to searching for evidence of extraterrestrial technological civilizations. Using telescopes, advanced sensors, and artificial intelligence, the project investigates potential technological signatures in space and studies Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs) through data-driven scientific research.

The IM1 Meteor Expedition

In 2023, Loeb led an expedition to the Pacific Ocean to recover tiny metallic spherules believed to have originated from IM1, a meteor that entered Earth’s atmosphere in 2014.

He argued that the unusual composition of the fragments suggested they may have come from an interstellar object, although many scientists have challenged that interpretation, saying the available evidence does not support such conclusions.

3I/ATLAS: The Interstellar Object Debate

In August 2025, Loeb reignited discussion around theinterstellar object 3I/ATLAS, which is currently moving through the inner solar system. While most astronomers classify it as a comet, Loeb has suggested it may have an unusual or even artificial origin.

This is only the third confirmed interstellar object to enter our solar system. Loeb has argued that its appearance may not be random and has compared it to a kind of Turing Test, suggesting that extraterrestrial intelligence could be observing how humanity responds to cosmic anomalies.

He has also pointed to telescope images, including from Hubble, which he says show unusual brightness ahead of the object rather than a typical comet tail. While most scientists explain this as normal comet behavior caused by solar heating, Loeb disputes that interpretation and keeps open the possibility of non-natural explanations.

NASA and most astronomers, however, maintain that the evidence strongly supports a natural comet origin, with no indication of artificial technology.

(With inputs from AP)