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Basement #008: Avi Loeb | 3I Atlas, Oumuamua, and What NASA Won't Say

2026-03-23 Entertainment
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The Why Files
The Why Files
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Description

Avi Loeb is the Frank B. Baird Jr. Professor of Science at Harvard University, a internationally bestselling author, and one of the most decorated astronomers alive. He earned his PhD in Physics from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem at 24, led the first international project supported by the Strategic Defense Initiative, and spent five years at the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton before joining Harvard. He has published over a thousand scientific papers, written nine books, and in 2025 was ranked third in publication record and research impact among all astronomers worldwide. TIME named him one of the 25 most influential people in space. As founder of the Galileo Project, Loeb is the only scientist of his standing conducting systematic, instrument-based research into extraterrestrial technology — and publishing every finding. #3IAtlas #AlienArtifacts #AJGentile #AviLoeb 〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰 Executive Producers: Jennifer Gentile Gino Gentile AJ Gentile Patreon Members Editors: Joe Stone Drew Sullivan Brandon Snyder Ryan Fitzgerald Producers: Victoria Young Haley Burke Research: Haley Burke AJ Gentile Gino Gentile Jen Gentile Victoria Young Written/Hosted by: AJ Gentile Hecklefish J. Moriarty Thank You Mods: The Hybrid Paul Rohrbaugh Mischief SnowCrash BeezySmeezy TrashPanda MaryJaneMcweed AC Sanzel Abbaton SpookyMadison Original Jim With Music on Repeat by Victor Lundberg The Why Files lyrics by Straightjacket Spaceman 〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰 AVI LOEB SOURCES & LINKS https://www.youtube.com/@ProfessorAviLoeb https://www.cfa.harvard.edu/~loeb/ https://avi-loeb.medium.com/ https://open.spotify.com/show/1zhndXkvSY2b8FdjspFpCd https://x.com/ProfAviLoeb 〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰 🎧 The Why Files: OPERATION PODCAST 🎧 🎧 https://thewhyfiles.com/podcast 🎧 〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰 🙏 SUPPORT THE WHY FILES (Fun, Free Perks!) 🙏 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thewhyfiles 🙏 YT Members: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIFk2uvCNcEmZ77g0ESKLcQ/join 👽 BUY WHY FILES MERCH 👽 👽 https://shop.thewhyfiles.com (Code: LIZZIDPEEPLE for 10% off first order) 👽 💬 CHAT WITH US ON DISCORD 💬 💬 https://thewhyfiles.com/discord 💬 〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰 🌐 OFFICIAL WEBSITE: https://thewhyfiles.com 📸 BE A WHY FILES MODEL (and get free stuff!) 📸 Send a photo of you/family/friends watching TWF, 📸 wearing TWF gear, using TWF merchandise: 📸 https://thewhyfiles.com/wild 〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰 ▪TWF ON THE WEBS ▪https://www.reddit.com/r/TheWhyFiles/ ▪https://twitter.com/OMGTheWhyFiles ▪https://www.instagram.com/OMGTheWhyFiles ▪https://www.rumble.com/thewhyfiles ▪https://thewhyfiles.locals.com ▪https://www.tiktok.com/@thewhyfiles ▪https://www.facebook.com/OMGTheWhyFiles 〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰 🐠 BETTER CHANNELS TO WATCH: 🐠 https://www.youtube.com/c/HecklefishMoriarty 🤓 https://www.youtube.com/c/TheWhyFilesBackstage 🎧 https://www.youtube.com/c/TheWhyFilesPodcast

Top Comments (10)

@ProfessorAviLoeb 2026-03-23

Thank you for having me on, AJ. I had a wonderful time speaking with you.

6.0k 527 replies
@theiron2116 2026-03-23

AJ. All these excellent guests agreeing to come on the basement proves that the why files is fantastic on all levels

1.0k 35 replies
@TheLanceFrazier 2026-03-23

Dude. You do realize that you are one of the few people who get to be friendly and sit with some of history's greatest minds... at times, I see it on your face. I'm happy for you AND those of us who patronize you!

814 32 replies
@lloydllewellyn8777 2026-03-23

Aj lining up banger after banger guests love this new format and the quality of the guests

688 14 replies
@crowe668 2026-03-24

AJ thanks for including Hecklefish in the intros for the basement!! It didn't seem right excluding him.😂

525 16 replies
@natewood8497 2026-03-23

Love this style of interviews. No interrupting, finishing the thought and just being allowed to answer questions. Love the why files and the basement both. Great job and great content! ❤

469 17 replies
@dadoftheyear 2026-03-23

AJ bringing us back to great interviews - like Art Bell, Dick Cavett, the masters. Lets his guest speak, gets them jazzed up when needed, fully locked in and engaged. Love this.

243 2 replies
@PhilipMcCooter 2026-03-25

Imagine if every scientist were like Avi Loeb, how far along we would be in *(insert scientific field here)*

40
@natevallo227 2026-03-24

"If you look at the textbooks about cosmology, I wrote a few of them.." is a huge flex 💪

39 2 replies
@RobC1983 2026-03-24

In all the mess we see around every day, everywhere (unfortunately nowadays), being able to listen 3hs of high quality thinking and interaction between 2 brilliant human beings is really a privilege. Thanks AJ.

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