Kevin Knuth

Dr. Kevin H. Knuth is a distinguished physicist whose expansive work spans information physics, inference, exoplanet research, autonomous robotics, and scientific investigations into unexplained phenomena. In September 2019 he published, “Estimating Flight Characteristics of Anomalous Unidentified Aerial Vehicles” co-authored by Robert M. Powell and Peter Reali.

Biography & Academic Roots

Born in 1965 in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, Kevin Hunter Knuth earned a B.S. in Physics and Mathematics from the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh in 1988, followed by an M.S. in Physics from Montana State University in 1990. He completed his Ph.D. in Physics, with a minor in Mathematics, at the University of Minnesota in 1995 under advisor John H. Broadhurst.

His early career included teaching roles across several institutions: at the CUNY Graduate Center (Speech & Hearing Sciences), Albert Einstein College of Medicine (Otolaryngology & Neuroscience), and Cornell University Medical Center (Physiology & Biophysics) between 1997–2000.

He then worked as a Research Scientist at the Nathan Kline Institute (1999–2001) and NASA Ames Research Center’s Intelligent Systems Division (2001–2005). In 2005, he joined the University at Albany (SUNY) as Assistant Professor of Physics (and Informatics), rising to Associate Professor in 2009 and full Professor in 2023.

Research Domains & Scholarly Contributions

Dr. Knuth’s multifaceted research can be grouped into several core areas:

  • Information Physics & Foundations of Physics: He explores the emergence of physical laws from inference principles, focusing on relevance, maximum entropy, and observer-centric frameworks.

  • Bayesian Data Analysis & Machine Learning: Knuth has harnessed Bayesian methods and maximum entropy in algorithm design, notably developing the optBINS histogram binning algorithm, also known as the “Knuth Method,” now a standard in Mathematica.

  • Astrophysics & Exoplanet Discovery: He co-developed EXONEST—a Bayesian model-selection suite instrumental in characterizing exoplanetary systems. Notable findings include evidence for a trojan companion orbiting Kepler‑91b and a unique triple-star system featuring a resonant M‑dwarf pair around a Sun-like star.

  • Autonomous Robotics & Inquiry Theory: His work includes formulating a theory of questions quantified by entropy—an approach allowing intelligent machines to prioritize what experiments or inquiries to undertake.

  • UAP / UFO Research: Dr. Knuth is a leading scientific figure in UAP (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena) research. He serves as vice president of UAPx, contributes to the Scientific Coalition for UAP Studies, is an affiliate of The Galileo Project at Harvard, and serves on the advisory board of SUAPS. In a notable 2019 publication analyzing the Nimitz Tic Tac UAP encounters, his team observed extreme accelerations (estimates ranging from 100 g to thousands of gs) absent sonic booms or heat signatures—suggesting characteristics consistent with interstellar travel capabilities.

Leadership, Honors & Editorial Roles

  • Editor‑in‑Chief of Entropy (MDPI) since 2012; previously served on the editorial boards of Entropy (from 2010) and Axioms (from 2011), and as subcommittee member for the JASP Best Paper Award since 2008.

  • President & Co‑Founder of Autonomous Exploration, Inc. (2008–Present), a company focused on developing robotic autonomy.

  • Advisory Committee Member for the International Workshop on Bayesian Inference & Maximum Entropy Methods (MaxEnt) since 1999.

  • Recognitions include: Third Place in the Foundational Questions Institute Essay Contest (2013), FQXi membership invitation (2013), and election as a Senior Member of IEEE (2008).

Publications, Outreach & Impact

  • Over 100 peer-reviewed publications and more than 100 invited talks delivered across 18 countries.

  • Featured in media and documentaries: e.g., Netflix’s Encounters (Episode 3) and National Geographic’s UFOs: Investigating the Unknown (Season 2, Episode 3).

  • His interdisciplinary approach bridges physics, neuroscience, robotics, AI, and cosmology.

Summary Snapshot

Dr. Kevin H. Knuth is a visionary physicist whose career reflects a rare fusion of theoretical rigor and practical innovation. With roots in physics and mathematics, he pioneered inference-based frameworks for understanding the physical world, advanced exoplanet discovery techniques, spearheaded intelligent autonomous systems, and brought scientific scrutiny to UAP research. As a respected editor, educator, entrepreneur, and communicator, he continues to push the frontiers of how we infer, explore, and understand the cosmos.