Astronomy professor Leslie Looney recently appeared on The UIUC Talkshow for a wide-ranging conversation about what astronomy really is—and what it means to explore a universe that’s often difficult to even imagine. In the episode, he reflects on how astronomers turn faint signals into evidence, where our understanding of the universe comes from, and what he sees as one of humanity’s next great scientific questions: whether we are truly alone.
The discussion also touches on ideas that resonate deeply with students and science enthusiasts alike, from curiosity as a defining trait of advanced civilizations to the role of next-generation telescopes (including the possibility of building one on the Moon). Along the way, Professor Looney explores topics such as Dyson spheres, the experience of being the first person in history to observe a new cosmic source, and his perspectives on teaching, research, and making astronomy more accessible and inclusive for the next generation.