Majority of experts in space biology think aliens exist in the Universe

Many experts believe that aliens exist in the universe, with the key elements needed to sustain life found on comets, asteroids and distant worlds

Nine out of 10 experts in space biology agree aliens exist in the Universe. Two-thirds think ET will be highly intelligent. A survey of 521 astrobiologists and 534 scientists and physicists found 87% agreed extraterrestrial life exists.

Around 67% believe alien life will be ‘complex’ or ‘intelligent’, according to a study published in scientific journal Nature Astronomy. Experts say mankind is in a ‘much better position to discover it’ than ever before due to recent scientific advancements.

The boffins based their views on the odds of finding other living creatures in a place as vast as the Universe and the discovery in other worlds of Earth elements that produce life. It comes after Putin dubbed 3I/ATLAS ‘Russia’s secret weapon’ as the planet braces for alien invasion.

The Galaxy contains up to 400 billion stars and astronomers have already found 4,000 orbiting planets. The Milky Way is just one millionth of the observable Universe.

That means there are likely 100 sextillion stars – or 100,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 – each potentially hosting planets. That suggests there could be 13.33 billion planets in the Universe.

Boffins agree it is inevitable at least one has given rise to intelligent alien life. Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen – elements that make up living things on Earth – have all been detected on comets, asteroids and distant worlds.

Astronomers have also identified many planets where water – another key ingredient – is present. KOI-5715.01 – an exoplanet around 3,000 light-years away – is one of the most Earth-like mankind has found so far.

It is a similar size to Earth, sits in a habitable temperature range and shows signs of water – making it a prime candidate in the hunt for alien life.

Mike Garrett, chair of astrophysics at the University of Manchester, told BBC Science Focus: “We now know that most stars have a planetary system.

“That means there are loads of places where life can arise. “Besides, simple life arose so quickly on Earth. To me, that’s a key sign that it must be happening elsewhere. “We’re in a much better position to discover it now than we were five years ago.

“Everything is going in the right direction for detection. “Advancements in computing, digitisation, and artificial intelligence mean that we are moving very rapidly towards alien detection because the technology improves so fast now.”

Douglas Vakoch, author and founder of METI – aka Messaging to Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence which researches communication with alien life – said: “When the Earth formed 4.5 billion years ago at first its surface was hellishly hot. “Flowing oceans of magma covered the Earth’s surface, creating an inhospitable environment for life.

“And yet, life arose as soon as the terrain cooled. Once life arose on Earth it spread everywhere.

“The same evolutionary principles that allow life to adapt on Earth should operate throughout the Universe, creating exotic alien lifeforms unlike anything that we can imagine. Science is inherently sceptical. We want proof and so far there’s no direct proof of life beyond Earth.

“But a few decades ago the same was true for planets orbiting other stars. We thought they might exist, but we couldn’t see them.

“In the next 20 years we’ll have telescopes that can scan the atmospheres of planets that orbit stars as we search for signs of life.”

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