A Surface Knowledge of Oumuamua

In October 2017, something strange passed through our solar system, which was fast, silent, and not from around here.

Meet ʻOumuamua: the first confirmed interstellar object ever detected in our skies. Was it a comet? An asteroid? A giant hydrogen snowball? Or, as one Harvard astrophysicist controversially suggested… something else entirely?

In this episode of Surface Knowledge, we explore the mystery of ʻOumuamua:

How it was discovered (just in time)

Why its shape, spin, and movement baffled scientists

The wild scientific theories about what it could be

Avi Loeb’s bold claim that it might be alien technology

The legacy it left behind — and why it still matters

It’s a story that sits perfectly between science and science fiction. A reminder that even with all our tech, the universe still throws curveballs.

If you love weird space stories, unsolved mysteries, or challenging what we think we know... this one’s for you.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Pan-STARRS Telescope (Hawaii)
• Extraterrestrial by Avi Loeb
• The Galileo Project
• Project Lyra
• LightSail & solar sail technology
• Interstellar objects and future missions

Follow us for bite-sized facts and behind-the-scenes content:

@surfaceknowledgepod on TikTok, Instagram, Bluesky, and YouTube

Got questions, theories, or corrections? Email: gottillfive@gmail.com

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Presenter: Max Kurton

Intro Voiceover: John Raynar

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