A space boffin says intelligent aliens ‘absolutely’ exist, but blasts UFO cover-up theories as she waits for an ET radio signal to hit Earth
A space boffin is absolutely certain that intelligent alien life is out there – but says they definitely haven’t visited Earth yet. Dr Emma Chapman says finding planets with Earth-like characteristics that could support life is just a matter of time and admits she has “no doubts at all” that complex extraterrestrial civilisations exist.
However, the Nottingham University astrophysicist has dealt a crushing blow to UFO hunters, blasting claims of alien abductions and flying saucers as total nonsense.
Writing in her book, “The Echoing Universe: How Radio Astronomy Helps Us See the Invisible Cosmos”, she revealed that public audiences are always left stunned by her view on the existence of aliens.
She writes: “I am always a little taken aback, as is the audience, when they hear my emphatic answer: ‘Absolutely. I have no doubts at all.’
“My surprise comes about because, as a radio astronomer, I have no doubt that life is out there, and I sometimes forget that there can even be a question about the matter.”
But Dr Chapman completely rules out the idea that little green men have already touched down on our planet, calling out wacky theories about secret cover-ups.
She writes: “Have aliens visited our planet?’ is a fundamentally different question, and one which I can answer just as emphatically: ‘Absolutely not. I have no doubts at all.’
“There is no evidence for interference by extraterrestrial life on Earth. No aliens building the pyramids, no UFOs creating intricate crop circles and no secret government cover-ups.”
Instead, she claims that most flying saucers reports are just the planet Venus gleaming on the horizon, optical illusions, or terrible camera work.
She notes that despite everyone now carrying smartphones, shaky UFO sightings haven’t increased, proving the claims “belong firmly in the realm of conspiracy theories.”
Astronomers are tracking habitable planets thanks to an absolute avalanche of new discoveries. Because the galaxy is teeming with worlds, experts say it is mathematically implausible that we are alone.
But searching for them requires extreme patience. Over 50 years ago, SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) pioneer Frank Drake beamed a coded mathematical message from the massive Arecibo dish into deep space.
That message has now travelled 50 light-years, slicing through the Milky Way at the speed of light, but it still has a staggering 20,950 light-years to go before it reaches its target cluster, M13.
At the time, the UK’s Astronomer Royal, Sir Martin Ryle, was absolutely furious, warning that broadcasting our location was a massive risk because any alien creatures out there “might be malevolent – or hungry.”
However, Dr Chapman completely plays down the terrifying threat of an alien invasion force arriving to conquer Earth, pointing out the huge amount of energy required for interstellar travel.
She backed Drake’s logic on the matter after he previously said: “If I believed the ETs would come out of the sky, I wouldn’t bother. I would just sit outside in a lawn chair and wait for them to show up.”
Instead, scientists say we are far more likely to receive a gentle radio signal. Because the laws of physics are the same across the galaxy, radio waves are viewed as a universal telephone line.
It means an extraterrestrial message could be creeping towards our telescopes right now.
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