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![Alien life on other planets is a possibility that can't be ruled out according to a top British astronomer. Astronomer Royal and former president of the Royal Society Lord Martin Rees of Ludlow says that scientists could not say whether aliens were 'likely or unlikely'. However, fans of UFO theories shouldn't celebrate just yet as Lord Rees also says he doesn't believe in stories of extraterrestrial encounters.](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/06/03/16/85646969-0-image-a-76_1717428801551.jpg)
Alien life on different planets is a risk that may’t be dominated out in accordance with a high British astronomer. Astronomer Royal and former president of the Royal Society Lord Martin Rees of Ludlow says that scientists couldn’t say whether or not aliens had been ‘possible or unlikely’. Nonetheless, followers of UFO theories should not have a good time simply but as Lord Rees additionally says he does not imagine in tales of extraterrestrial encounters.
![Speaking on the Rosebud podcast, Lord Rees says it is unlikely that aliens exist in the way that movies and media might suggest. However, he says: ¿I think if you asked most astronomers to bet they would bet that lots of these other planets on them.' The 83-year-old astrophysicist is best known for his research into quasars, a type of supermassive black hole, which helped disprove the 'steady state' theory of the universe.](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/06/03/16/85645305-0-image-a-77_1717428820127.jpg)
Talking on the Rosebud podcast, Lord Rees says it’s unlikely that aliens exist in the best way that motion pictures and media would possibly recommend. Nonetheless, he says: ‘I feel should you requested most astronomers to wager they might wager that a lot of these different planets on them.’ The 83-year-old astrophysicist is greatest recognized for his analysis into quasars, a sort of supermassive black gap, which helped disprove the ‘regular state’ concept of the universe.
![However, speaking last week, the Astronomer Royal ¿ meaning he advises the monarch on astronomical matters ¿ thinks the 'most exciting' topic in astronomy is the search for extraterrestrial life. Lord Rees says the existence of aliens is 'a fascinating question' and that scientists 'can't say whether it's likely or unlikely'. But, the Yorkshire-born astronomer still doesn't believe that aliens have visited Earth in the way shown by movies like 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'.](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/06/03/16/85644343-0-image-a-78_1717428830832.jpg)
Nonetheless, talking final week, the Astronomer Royal – that means he advises the monarch on astronomical issues – thinks the ‘most enjoyable’ subject in astronomy is the seek for extraterrestrial life. Lord Rees says the existence of aliens is ‘a captivating query’ and that scientists ‘cannot say whether or not it is possible or unlikely’. However, the Yorkshire-born astronomer nonetheless does not imagine that aliens have visited Earth in the best way proven by motion pictures like ‘Shut Encounters of the Third Type’.
![He says: 'I get letters from people who think they¿ve been visited by the aliens or taken away by them. I don't believe most of those claims. If the aliens made a huge effort to come here would they have just met one or two well-known cranks, maybe made a corn circle and gone away again? It seems unlikely.' Likewise, while Lord Rees says that most astronomers would bet that alien life exists on some distant world, it probably won't be anything like we imagine. He adds: 'Whether they will have anything like aliens with eyes on stalks, as it were, is unlikely.'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/06/03/16/85645319-0-image-a-79_1717428840050.jpg)
He says: ‘I get letters from individuals who assume they’ve been visited by the aliens or taken away by them. I do not imagine most of these claims. If the aliens made an enormous effort to return right here would they’ve simply met one or two well-known cranks, possibly made a corn circle and gone away once more? It appears unlikely.’ Likewise, whereas Lord Rees says that almost all astronomers would wager that alien life exists on some distant world, it most likely will not be something like we think about. He provides: ‘Whether or not they may have something like aliens with eyes on stalks, because it had been, is unlikely.’
![In our own solar system, some scientists believe that we may one day discover traces of alien lifeforms on Mars. Yet, just as Lord Rees suggests, even the most optimistic scientists only hope to discover traces of microbial life. Currently, NASA's Perseverance rover is collecting samples from the Jezero Crater, an area believed to be a dried-up lakebed. The rover recently identified sentiment layers in the crater's rock layers, confirming theories that cold, arid, lifeless Mars was once warm, wet and perhaps habitable.](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/06/03/16/80607281-0-image-a-80_1717428866258.jpg)
In our personal photo voltaic system, some scientists imagine that we could at some point uncover traces of alien lifeforms on Mars. But, simply as Lord Rees suggests, even probably the most optimistic scientists solely hope to find traces of microbial life. At present, NASA’s Perseverance rover is amassing samples from the Jezero Crater, an space believed to be a dried-up lakebed. The rover not too long ago recognized sentiment layers within the crater’s rock layers, confirming theories that chilly, arid, lifeless Mars was as soon as heat, moist and maybe liveable.
![The Mars Sample Return mission is currently being slowed by a lack of funding, but if the samples do return some hope they could show signs of ancient life. Lord Rees, however, believes that the signs of life could be found far further away in the atmospheres of exoplanets (planets orbiting stars beyond our solar system). While their great distance from Earth and extreme dimness make them hard to study, exoplanets are considered to be the best contenders for the location of alien life. 'The exciting thing is that with the latest telescopes, it¿s going to be possible to analyse the light from these planets,' Lord Rees says.](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/06/03/16/85645321-0-image-a-81_1717428881874.jpg)
The Mars Pattern Return mission is at the moment being slowed by a scarcity of funding, but when the samples do return some hope they might present indicators of historical life. Lord Rees, nonetheless, believes that the indicators of life could possibly be discovered far additional away within the atmospheres of exoplanets (planets orbiting stars past our photo voltaic system). Whereas their nice distance from Earth and excessive dimness make them exhausting to check, exoplanets are thought-about to be one of the best contenders for the placement of alien life. ‘The thrilling factor is that with the most recent telescopes, it’s going to be attainable to analyse the sunshine from these planets,’ Lord Rees says.
![By capturing the faint light which passes through the planet's atmosphere, scientists are able to determine the chemical composition of those gases. Lord Rees adds: 'One might find evidence of whether there¿s vegetation on it, oxygen in the atmosphere and things of that kind. It will be a clue that it may have a biosphere with light on it.'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/06/03/16/85645317-0-image-m-83_1717428902424.jpg)
By capturing the faint gentle which passes by the planet’s ambiance, scientists are in a position to decide the chemical composition of these gases. Lord Rees provides: ‘One would possibly discover proof of whether or not there’s vegetation on it, oxygen within the ambiance and issues of that sort. It will likely be a clue that it could have a biosphere with gentle on it.’
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/06/03/16/85658353-0-image-a-87_1717429041643.jpg)
Utilizing this method, astronomers have already found a lot of planets which might already be house to alien life. In Could, NASA found an Earth-like planet 40 gentle years away from Earth which sits inside its star’s liveable zone through which liquid water can exist – a key ingredient for all times.
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/06/03/16/85658355-0-image-m-88_1717429046945.jpg)
Astronomers now plan to investigate the planet, known as Gliese 12 b, to find out if it does have an Earth-like ambiance. Nonetheless, Lord Rees provides that scientists are solely simply starting to know the chemical processes that give rise to life, which is ‘an enormous problem’ for future examine. The complete interview is obtainable on the podcast Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth.
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