We are not alone: life must exist beyond Earth, says scientist

Life must exist beyond Earth, a leading space scientist has said, adding that it is yet another example of our hubris to suppose otherwise.

- Nicola Davis

The British space scientist Dame Maggie Aderin-Pocock, who will be delivering the Royal Institution Christmas lectures this year, said that while science has made giant leaps in our understanding of space, including the sheer size of the universe, there is still much to learn - not least whether we are alone.

"My answer to that, based on the numbers, is no, we can't be," said Aderin-Pocock. "It's that human conceit again that we are so caught up in ourselves that we might think we're alone." And it is not the only outstanding question.

"The fact we only know what approximately 6% of the universe is made of at this stage is a bit embarrassing," she said, noting the vast majority of the universe is made of dark energy and dark matter - mysterious substances we still do not understand.