Alien life
may well exist in a primitive form somewhere in our corner of the galaxy, famed
astrophysicist Stephen Hawking said Monday.
Given the
size of the universe, it is unlikely that Earth is the only planet to develop some
sort of life, Hawking told an audience at George Washington University in
Washington, D.C. He added that humanity must embrace space exploration, if only
to ensure its
long-term survival.
"While
there may be primitive life in our region of the galaxy, there don't seem to be
any advanced intelligent beings," said Hawking
during a lecture as part of a series commemorating NASA's 50th anniversary this
year.
The lack of
success by the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI) project to
discover signals from an alien civilization suggests that none exist within
several 100 light-years of Earth, Hawking said, though he offered three
theories on the dearth of interplanetary communications.
The
probability of primitive
life developing on a suitable planet may be extremely low, or it may be
high, but aliens intelligent enough to beam signals into space may also be
smart enough to build civilization-destroying weapons like nuclear bombs, he
said. More likely, he added, is that primitive life is likely to develop, but
intelligent life as we know it is exceedingly rare.
"We don't
appear to have been visited by aliens," Hawking said, adding that he discounts
reports of UFOs. "Why would they only appear to cranks and weirdoes?"
Alien life
aside, Hawking said humanity must pursue a long-term effort of space
exploration that would span hundreds of years in order to ensure the survival
of the species. He likened those opposed to spending money on space science and
exploration to those who wrote off Christopher Columbus' trans-Atlantic Ocean
voyage in 1492 as a waste of money.
"The
discovery of the New World made a profound difference on the old. Just think,
we wouldn't have had a Big Mac or KFC," Hawking said.
"Spreading
out into space will have an even greater effect," he added. "It will completely
change the future of the human race, and maybe determine whether we have any
future at all."
Hawking,
66, is a renowned
theoretical physicist and cosmologist who suffers from the neurological
disorder amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). He uses a wheelchair, communicates
with the aid of a computer, and co-wrote a children's book about science -
"George's Secret Key to the Universe" - with his daughter Lucy in the hope of
inspiring youth to pursue studies in science and technology.
"We live in
a society that is increasingly governed by science and technology," Hawking
said. "Yet fewer and fewer people want to go into science."
Sending
astronauts back to the moon, establishing a lunar base with a clear target of
going on to Mars would do much to restore the public's support for spaceflight,
he added.
"If the
human race is to continue for another million years we will have to boldly go
where no one has gone before," Hawking said.
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