A polarising Harvard astronomer known for controversial theories about alien visits has been tapped by the White House to lead a team of outside scientists to study the national security risks posed by UFOs.
Avi Loeb, a cosmologist who studied black holes and served as head of Harvard’s astronomy department until 2020, has been appointed to head a new scientific advisory council tasked with investigating the origins of mysterious orbs and other objects reported by military personnel in recent years, as part of Donald Trump’s push to declassify more information about the issue.
Loeb’s team will report to a new White House panel focused on UFOs, now often referred to as unidentified anomalous phenomena, or UAP.
“It’s like a detective story,” Loeb said. “It’s a lot of fun, as long as you don’t pay too much attention to the critics.”
Question: "Do you feel the current administration is supportive of you, this panel, and any potential findings?"My answer: pic.twitter.com/hWyVyRTcOM— Professor Avi Loeb (@ProfAviLoeb) June 30, 2026
