A Harvard astronomer, known for his provocative theories regarding extraterrestrial visits, has been selected by the White House to spearhead a team of external scientists. Their mission: to investigate the national security implications posed by unidentified flying objects.

Avi Loeb, a distinguished cosmologist who previously led Harvard’s astronomy department until 2020 and conducted extensive research on black holes, was recently appointed to chair a new scientific advisory council. This council is tasked with probing the origins of mysterious orbs and other phenomena reported by military personnel in recent years, an initiative stemming from President Donald Trump’s push to declassify more information on the subject.

Loeb’s team will report directly to a newly established White House panel dedicated to what are now frequently termed unidentified anomalous phenomena, or UAP.

Reflecting on the challenge, Loeb remarked, “It’s like a detective story. It’s a lot of fun, as long as you don’t pay too much attention to the critics.”

For the last decade, Loeb has been scanning the skies and seas for evidence of intelligent alien life. He began the quest in 2017 as scientists puzzled over an interstellar object soaring by Earth. While others proposed it was a comet or ice chunk, Loeb said it could be a thin “light sail” detached from an alien spacecraft.

His theories have won praise in UFO circles but often put him in conflict with academic peers. Other astronomers accuse him of making exotic claims with little evidence. Some chafe at his habit of skipping the peer review process and bringing claims directly to the public.

Steve Desch, an Arizona State University astrophysicist who has challenged some of Loeb’s theories, said Loeb uses flawed methods to reach wild conclusions about alien life — all while shunning a more established branch of science searching for life beyond Earth.

Loeb’s role on the White House panel casts doubt on the entire endeavor, Desch said.

“I don’t know what’s going to come of this, but we’re not going to get any closer to answering these questions with him in charge,” Desch said.

Read More: White House taps polarizing Harvard astronomer to lead new UFO council