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Harvard professor with polarizing alien theories is picked to lead new White House UFO council
By Collin Binkley, Associated Press at KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC)
· June 30, 2026
· 5 min read
A polarizing Harvard astronomer known for splashy 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 depart...
Key takeaway It's part of President Donald Trump's push to declassify more information about the issue.
Why this matters in Tomball News
The appointment of Avi Loeb to lead the new White House UFO council may have implications for the Houston area, given the region's strong military presence and proximity to NASA's Johnson Space Center. As Loeb's team delves into the national security risks posed by UFOs, they may potentially collaborate with local experts or draw on resources from the space center. The fact that Loeb's approach will prioritize a national security perspective could also lead to increased scrutiny of UFO sightings in the Gulf Coast region, where military personnel and civilians have reported encounters with unidentified aerial phenomena. With Loeb's team tasked with investigating the origins of these mysterious orbs, Houstonians may be watching closely to see if any local cases are revisited or reexamined as part of the council's work.
About this story
Original reporting by KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) . Tomball News surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
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Category: local ·
Published: June 30, 2026 ·
Source: KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) ·
Reading time: 5 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? A polarizing Harvard astronomer known for splashy 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 depart...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 30, 2026 by KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) and curated for Tomball News readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Collin Binkley, Associated Press at KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC). To learn more about how Tomball News selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from Tomball News, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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